Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1912-08-01

Custom House Officials Have
Some Queer Experiences.
PASSING A SEALSKlN COAT.
TIE Way the Matter Was Fixed Up
With an Appraiser and the Surprise
That Awaited TIE Owner-A Bride, a
Ring. a Husband end Bluff,


Rna, Husband end Bluff.
The general impression is that the
life of customs Inspector Is a very
dull routine of hardship. but such is
not always he cHse.
The average person believes there Is
Il little romance about the life and I'M
queStionahly the tang of the sea. but it
almcSt never occurs to him that 1t Is
tne Of the funniest businesses in the
world The element of humor never
enters into the z, neral appreciation of
the customs man. but it exists never
theless.
There Is d deputy collector now in
the custom house of New York whose
experiences in several years are really
humorous. He is a grave. solemn look
ing man. thus bearing out the ira
ditions. but that does not prevent him
from enjoying the odd incidents that
bob up In his line of duty. Speaking
of Them he said:
~ had an odd experience the other
day. A young man from an Office in
Wall street had gone to Europe to be
married. In London he bought his
wife Il ring. He had put it in his dec
iaration at value of $1,000. He
brought his bride to me. and she held
out her pretty little pink hand that l
might examine the ring. 1t dashed
and srarkled beautifully. but the fash
IS and sparkles didn't seem quite right.
50 l asked to be allowed to examine it
more carefulfg. The bride blushingly
pulled the ring on and handed 1t to me.
showed 1t to an expert appraiser,
who promptly declared that 1t was a
fake piece Of jewelry worth about $40.
II sympsthized with the young man,
ana when got chance told him the
truth. oh. yes he REPLIED. I know,
You see, l didn't have much money
with mo. so bought this for fl g..
but I had to ring In q bluff on my
wife Don't give me away The poor
fellow was willing to pay several times
4 the value Of the ring to make his blum
good, but we fixed 1t MP for him with
ont his bride knowing the truth
| Another laughable experience. but
more serious for the passenger. hap
pencil not long ago When l boarded
big steamship from Europe was ap
preached by man who introduced
himself as one who had formerly beer
collector Of one OF the most Important
western ports. | knew him very well
by reputation. He was returning from
abroad with his family He explained
that Ehe was very wealthy and did moi
want TO evade paying all the duty nee
essary. but he confided In me that he
had ii sealskin coat bought in Paris
for his wife. which ne had not includ
ed In bis declaration. knowing tina,
sealskins could not be imported. New
erthele~s. just because We were bOtl
members of the same fraternity. HI
wanted to know If there was not som1
+ way in which he could get the GOA
/ into the country.
! II wonid have been glad to help him
hut didn't see how II could be done
However. 4 told him l would put til,
question up to the appraiser mt tn,
pier and If the matter could he ar
ragged wauld fix it up The ap
praaser looked the coat over and TOLD
ME 10 put 1t on the declaration us al
imitation seaiskin valued at $75. Tn
western man WAS delighted
"'That's what call clever be said
"A few days later I got letter from
this man asking me to call upon hin
at one of the most fashionable uptown
hotels. | went to see him and Aat
lunc heon with him and his family
When luncheon was over he made 4
little golden cone on the table. II con
sisted of twenty dollar gold piece. q
ten. a FIVE. a three. a two and hall
and one. all in gold. He showed thu
stack over tc me-
Just a souvenir. reminder OF
your cleverness in getting that sea
coat through for me- he said
II refused to take 1t. but he tried tt
press It on me and told me to give II
to the appraiser. but | refused. Later
when his family left US. l asked hin
how much he had paid for the coat In
Paris. He said be had paid $1,000
He could hardly believe 1t when told
him that we had not falsiied the
declaration. that the coat was an imi
tation and that SIS was it's outside
value. He called a bellboy then ant
there and sent the coat to a furrier tt
have 1t appraised. The furrier sem
back word that he would sell him al
he wanted just like 1t for $65 each."-
New York Herald. t.-.