Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-01-12
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MODERN SMUGGLING.
Difficulties of American inspectors
Viewed From Abroad.

Many years ago there was i'll Corn
wall a very interesting duck pond. II
appearance it was small circular bas
| in Of water on which the ducks swan
| in ordinary fashion while the owner
stood and watched them with prophet,
AIRY pride. He would invite the revenue
| officers TO dine with him and take them
out to admire this among other attract
| ions of his garden. But when the ex.
else men left a strange thing would
happen The duck pond would swing
around on IA pivot and reveal a spac-
| iCus cavity beneath in which wer,
stored many kegs of good spirit which
had never paid their duty. Smuggling
| is not conducted in this manner now
nor are cargoes run during dark nights
into the coves and cavcrns of our coast
The risk is too great, the coastgudrd
service too thorough. The Smuggler>
of those old romantic and INSCRIPTIONS
DAYS nave long lain in their graves; We
have become less romantic if not more
scrupulous. But the desire to battle the
customs is by no means extinct any
more than is the wish to make grea
and speedy profits. Smuggling was
always fire art with the more inteli
gent of its Votaries; it has becom,
even finer now. though prehaps few q
its devices are more ingenious than
this Cornish duck pond.
In small way many persons who
would he Indignant if their nonor wa
questioned enjoy the pleasure of rob-
hing the authorities. Not many visit
ors return from the Channel island
without trying to bring few cigars,
little tobacco. d bottle or two of scent.
and the adventure has a mild touch o
citemcnt-especially when the Gus
toms officers prove keen enough to de
tect it. Sailors also are still inveterat
| smugglers, and most seamen that ha!
| never been through bond. But the av-
| erage person perhaps does more of
PIRACY than of smuggling. being con.
tent to buy piratcd copies of books o.
music. of which the supply is general
| ~ equal 10 the demand. This, o.
| course. is different from smuggling. o.
perhaps it might be more successful,
dealt with; it is the song writer. tn,
author. who is robbed. not the govern.
| ment. But direct robbing of the gov
ernment still goes on merrily. aud with
the high duty on tobacco especially
thus is not wonderful. Such smuggling
is said to lave increased of late years
with the rise of the tax. Loaves q
bread. Bibles, collins and plum pud
dngS have all been used as recepta
cles for choice cigars or contraband to
baccU. Saccharin. also being very
heavily taxed. has caused the authori
ties great trouble; its value per bull
is very great, 50 that even in sma'
quantities It's smuggling is pavin.
affair. AS saccharin can be mixed
with other substances and afterwar
separated without detriment. the IL.
lection is rather difficult, and muci
has teen struggled in the form of dyes.
suiphates. chalk or even sugar
It is natural that countries with high
tariffs should suffer more from SNUG
Cling than those where few articles ar,
taxed, and america has been compelle@
| to enact very severe penalty. though
| even that is not sufficient deterrent. I,
| is believed that about $1,000 900 worth
| OF cut diamonds are struggled into the
| Calted states yearly. yet the customs
| officers of America are among the
| sharpest in the world. The stones
have been introduced within the hol-
| low walking sticks, iii revolver car
| tridges. in babies rattles or sugar
candy imageS.-London Globe