The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-06-12
TAKING TOBACCO TO FRANCE
TRAVELLER RECALLS 4 STRUG-
GLE OVER 4 30 CENT nag.

an ENriting Argument by the CulEsm
inspector The TerPFying FFsund
so the French customs officials are
getSing more strict about tobacco. are
theyi- sail the man who likes 10 gfnoks
one brand all the time. We'll. a re-
member II they didn't need 10 get any
stricter than they we're two years ago
when was across. had hne time that
summer with a little bag Of my poor
American tobacco
.On the train from Berlin 10 Paris I
opened up a conversation with another
American he continued. This chap
was one Of the pests that you meet over
there. He could send the cold shlvera
up and down your back with his chatter
about surviving MEDIEVAL methods Of
punishment and how easy u vas foF an
American 10 fail into al kinds Of trouble
without knowing u. A We neared the
Preach frontier he specialized on the sub
jet Of customs infringement. Nothing,
il appeared made a Frsnohman hall 20
mad a. trying 10 fool him by smuggling
in things on which tho Government wns
running a pretty careful corner.
But I'm all right about tobaooO.' I
told him. Why. I've only got a small bAg
with me and guess won't have any
trouble about that.
HE lsanei across and touched my knee.
Where have you put itl' he asked N
whisper that implied sylnpathy. dread.
horror and lots Of forsbOdinGs
NIt's In my ulster pocket. I answered,
and my ulster IA rolled up IN strapa and
tucked away on one Of the racks up thero.'
and pointed above our heads.
The very worst place In tbs world
said he; IL they catch you with that
when you have hid Il away like that.
There want any use protssting hat
had no idea Of Oonoaaling Il. ~ inae
nodded and winksd and then looked away
out the window
just then W. Geoppgd and ! hard
doors being slammed open al aaoA0 The
train some one was going ahnnW t84lde
the compartments calling out q slnN a1nR
refrain In something that soundad b nv
ears like French.
Whats the troublsP I sstsd my
friend.
Its the oustoms' ne Whispered, a.
Il iunned 10 Ire TTottnA ard ttakad
about the stStion. When I saw them
eInptying the baggage van and huElAng
ell the trunks into Customs Houses ~
membered that was euppoeed % - and
unlock my trunks Three or four com
partments away from mine I noticed
a man pushing a long pole into every com
partment "A he came 70 Il. ! Walked 10
meet him 70 So what be MAS about.
Il saw thai be shovetl TINT poa under
all the seats o. every compartment and
bags or bundles that had been tucked
away.
-Hm' They're pretty careful. aren't
theyY' thought 10 myself. .perhapa I'd
better get out that paokage Of tohacoo
just 70 be on the safe side But then |
remembered my trunks and | thought
] could he hack In the compartment econ
enough 70 meet the officials who were
going through the train looking for hand
Inside the Custom House there wasn't
any trouble az all When they shot al
me their line Of questions about liquors.
playing cards and tobacco in my truRks
put on that vacuOua smile that ] find IL
the sesame 70 all frontiers. They lust
put me down for another stupid ass and
banged the ofiicisl stamp on my belong-
inRs
4 hustled hack 20 the compartment and
found my friend bowling and jumping
around opening up things for two uni
formed men with stern faceA Zach Wna
jotting down notes on a slip 81 paper and
one OF them was directing the opening
process The other just rimpled up the
contents 81 each bag and then left Il half
spilled over the ssat, They finished with
-.
stuff Nv two hand bags were run
through In lily and thought they were
ready 70 bounce out Of the compartment
when they spotted the rolled up overcoaf.
| laughed eeaily and spread out my banda.
but the biR chap was insistent With
more reluctance than ! cared 70 show I
yanked down the bundle and unfaatened
the strap The little fellow ran his fingers
over the coat and felt my bundle Of to-
hacco In another moment both Of them
were examining the package with con-
tracted browH. II was one % those bags
that cost about thirty cents in this cOun-
try They pressed the bag between their
fingers, held Il 10 their nostrils. poured
a little out and tasted L.
The verdict of the officials seemed %
he that here was something very expensive
in the way % tobacco. They argued for
a moment and then the big fellow handed
me a alp on which was written 5 franca
5 centimea
why. howled the thing isn't worth
a third ~ that" They shrugged and stood
waiting for me n give M Finally ! GOT
an idea
I'm Throw the blamed bag out the
window. ! said, but my friend grippad
my arm a. reached for the bag and said
excitedly:
oh. please don't do that I Won't
be responsible for what happens II you
do So ] lot my arm drop and Il fell
naturally in my pocket and brought up
the requisite coin They gave me .
receipt
Ne pointed 10 a small frame on tho wall.
Yes. ] had Il covered with glass 70
remind me that ] must change brands the
next time 50 into France