The sun., 1909-12-02

An American wsfnan's Rxperience with
Italian Customs 0sncers.


Americans with terror and acted like Z
al ghtmare on spendthrift women was un'
doubtedly unpleasant. but i wonder whether
the experience Of any lady could DO un'
eArthed which would surpass tilt had lasl
week with three Italian minor officials ol
their dogana as I was passing from France
into Italy by way OF Mount Gems tunnel; Z
tilt from which l staggered on the nelo
vanouished.
I left Paris the afternoon OF November
II, My ticket was for Florence and my lug
rage registered through. although IL was my
Intention to stop for the night at MacoE
and follow my baggage the next day. WheI
at about O'Clock We reached that place q
terrific storm vas raging. The train wa'
nearly empty: 90 having q whole compart.
Ment quite to myself had not the courage
20 leave les comfort and protection to struE.
kie out TO q strange hotel In the torrentis
downpour. determined TO sleep As well a
corld In the car. The story 1 write here ID
sent to TEE Sun that IL may prove warning Q
to solitary females tempted TO do likewise
in Latin countries. and also A. q proof that
even old travellers. for l am one. need ex-
perience.
Ny journey continued without incident
until we left Modans. the italian frontier
station. where the train 10 boarded by the
ofaoials OF the doGana. who visit the bag gage
The inspection takes place in the baggage
oar.
1t is by no means the FIRST time have sub
mitted to this ordeal. and l have always pre-
vionsly been treated with exemplary cour-
tssy and consideration. Never before had
my trunks been so small. Together they
would not equal one sizable steamer trunk.
They were supplemented by q good sized
hat box. bought for general usefulness. a.
n u - Iuy r
was desired to bring my keys I went. with Q
smile on my face and Q clear conscience.
stumbling along the atrociously iolting
train, my footsteps steadied. by the kindly
French conductor. who piloted me to the van.
] was practically the last of the passengers
20 appear on the scene.
when lurched into the car q much
dishevelied woman was standing beside
an open trunk OF the very Tong. narrow, ,
rounded top sort which belongs to the grand
mother period. A smartly uniformed
soldier Of the doKanA. Alpinist I think they
call them as we'll. in a costume made gaudy
with much orange braid and a bowler hat
in which were stuck some impertinently
swagger quilts, leaned in a graceful pose
against the open trunk lid. He was pleas
ing and picturesque TO the eye In that grimy
atmosphere. A second man. in civilians
attire tho worse for wear. and otherwise
lifting an old yellow bit OF cloth which
covered the contents OF the trunk. A third
man. likewise In ordinary dress. stood
behind him. Neither OF these individuals
bore any badge Of authority save q cap
with some dipgy gold upon 1t. A pleasant
facad porter lifted and uns.rspped trun rs
After the untidy. hetless woman had con-
fsssed to the possession OF sevon trunks.
the one which had been 80 perfunctorily
was allowed % return to her smmbsrs with
e. 4. tunnel. I could hsrdiSS, hear myself
little did suspect the amount Of torture
the es 1 sSS
French with great intrepidity. At. Italian
I make vicious dabs, sometimes with proud
hs n the ::
out my hat box coavsnientiy rsposins on
sSS sasa S' sH.s sas .%. & pe!,. was ss
new acauisitlon. and looked a. Il with ex-
SSoS q Des &. ,T., r S:qse ss Of
sSoa are I rniiiiner. nodists, shouted the
SS.isd % % ass soldier and collector. ole p The Issi
: iun9el. .. they themssiyes coniess. mol
as II Americans could not possibly be mil
50. Il. 81; you are a nIIlIner.- they told
picicus hat box failed 20 revesl any evidences
OF that prosperous trade save decidedly
it had been parehsssd for possible. not
the tray a past tebosrd boz was sliding about.
secured Il, snd out fell an avalanche Of hair
pins: nail brushes and 9thsr veil used nsoss-
s't,ss ia OF the sone.i ns 'ookea oSpseaseo:
annoyed. Your other trucks nowr cried
the Erimy gray man: The car. III lighted.
DECIDEDLY sntsssnistio Inspection .of those
Dss rs@smS.r % So. dif,euIs they had been s.a to
Iook that q % one a hsd = small mirror snpsly y
days before. protested fssbly that they
might be passed, that they contained only
Slothine. had fairly forgotten what they
No italian underIinx can clap his hand on
his empty pocke and say ever failed be-
this time INV lack OF courage 70 brlbe wa. my
nndcins ! vas exoesslyely tired. confused.
%ln.r sat sa. Hs.,n e. nss " ,Sfss: SHas:S
to rsSssi sS family sssrs.s or or poss.ssed the
proper command Of language with which to
tell 10, that not only was my clothing not
new but 10 had not been strictly new when
Il psssed TO my ownership.
A few cheap stockings and couple OF
underyest-. bought at the last moment, had
been thoughtlessly stuffed into q corner Of
the trunk first opened, Alasi they we're
newI had forgotten them. With a howl
Of triumph the man tore them forth: BE-
holdi Behold They are newt Newt And
she SAYS. she is not . millincr!" Away TO
right and left went my modest possessions:
my biouses and skirts hung on the dirty
trunks, my boxes OF knickknscks slid
around the foor. What was left In my
carefully packed space beneath the tray
became pi. NY head Spun. All foreign
xasped In weak kest English. Stuffed like
q. tightly, packed rssbas, that trunk was
Now. the third" ordered the rixhtsous
inspector. IL was the trunk with the mirror
I forgot the word for mirror; although Il
adorne the very nrsi.lesson In Otto's Italian
Enelish Method. Ny hand stretched out to
They all took q hand at turning this last
in The tray. the soldier div yed into the bottom.
tube OF American tooth paste. a small pot
% SorsI. With ~ a whirl Of Italian sssticaIstion
he declared my gullt and ed my deceit
Co his ollea9ues. They were properly
shocked and horriied.
am not q woman given 70 tesrs, but I was
then very near Mysteries. aud showed the
symptoms. To get all the contents back into
fha lifffa trtinka tunnonaihlR gor,a -