The Holbrook news., 1912-02-02

1 the necessary blanks and charged me five cents for one of them-the entry blank. This blank had form of oath on the back, which I had to i'll out and sign. With all my papers in hand, I went back to the deputy who had steered me thus far.'
 "Go back and fill them out" he said.
 This deputy was patience personi- fed. He showed me three or four times how to fill out each blank and I went back into MT Bakers room and filled them out It took an hour even with the assistance of my deputy collector guide, philosopher and friend. I brought them back to him. but I had forgotten to sign the oath on the entry slip. So I went back and filled out the oaths on both entry slips and signed both.
 q only told you to give one oath. but you have signed both," he said.
 q suppose the whole thing has to be done over again?" I began.
 "Oh, no." he answered drawing his pen through one of the oaths. i've can fix 1t up here"
 He went through the papers for the last time and pronounced them cor rect.
 In the Merry-Go-Round.
 It was now ten minutes to three, and if the papers were not passed before 8, 1t would be too late for that day. Perhaps in the morning a new system would be inaugurated by the government, and 1 might have to get a broker, after all. The officer at the bond window sent me further down the line with my bunch of pa- pers," and I found the right clerk. I had been to him before, but he had sent me away in error. He took my papers, looked at them, threw my green bill of ladiLg into one box and the yellow consular invoice into an- other; distributed the declaration of free entry into one pigeon hole and the memorandum of entry into anoth- CT. I asked if he intended to keep all the others. l had become somewhat attached to them. All authors have fondness for the original manu- script of their literary products, and l ndQ WOEAeu udIu OfST lnSSo por pers.
 We keep these-you take your per nit to deputy collector and get him to sign it."
 I went back to ny old friend, the deputy in the rotunda, and he signed the permit.
 Thank goodness, that's all over" I sighed as I put the green document in my pocket
 Not so fast" said the deputy. '1t has to be passed by the naval officer back there in the hall where you had your papers lodged for entry"
 Back I went. The naval officer was sitting on a high chair at little win dow. He was a big man and filled all the space.
 "Do you sign this?" I asked. It was now a few minutes to 3. He looked at the slip.
 You better go down there to that last window and ask for MT. C. he said. eff he stamps the paper. bring it back to me. Tell him to stamp it free on oath"
 Once More to the Deputy.
 went QOWn ana inquired Ut 60V- eraI windows for 'Mr. C." One ofa- cer took the paper. stamped it Free on Oath" and signed 1t over to the space left for the deputy naval ofa- cer.
 Do I have to take this back to the naval officer now?" l asked.
 "No; not at all-he shouldn't have sent you down-its all right as 1t iS now"
 went back to the deputy.
 "Take your green permit over to the docks," he said Hand 1t to a customs inspector. and ask him what to do"
 The examiner at the stores-after the boxes were at last in his depart ment-spent about fifteen minutes in prying up the lids of the boxes. He turned over a few packets of old books; asked if they were not old books-to which I assented-and with one or two perfunctory queries. passed" the consignment
 It took nine days to bring the goods from London; but nearly five days to get them through tn, customs. And I was told that I had established Q record" for speed.