The citizen., 1913-11-07
PLUMAGE IS TAKEN
Woman With Aigrettes in Hats
Have Interesting Time.
New Tariff Bill Forces Very Disagree
able Duty Upon Customs Officials
feminine Headgear Is Bad
ly Mutilated.

New York. With the passage
of the new tariff bill the customs
official has had thrust upon him new
and disagreeable office. He must tear
out, the aigrettes and plumage Of for
eign birds that women passengers
are wearing in their hats when they
arrive in American ports.
When the Underwood bill went into
effect, score of women on the
French liner Lorraine were subjected
to this treatment. Their indignation
was so great they could not contain
themselves.
determinations were heaped on the
inspectors, who were acting in the
only way that insured the execution
of the clause forbidding the importa-
tion of aigrettes or the plumage of
any wild bird.
Try as they could, the customs men
were unable to make the women un-
derstand they were carrying out or
ders. Disorder and confusion pre-
vailed This probably will be the
rule, steamship men say, every time
an inspector steps aboard vessel.
Nine. Ada Bevilaqua was one of the
first to suffer. She was dressed in
ultra-Parisian style and an aigrette
set off her small velvet hat.
Nine. Bevilaqua said she was being
scrutinized and grew embarrassed.
She learned the worst second later
when an inspector. a veteran, who
woman passenger nor the angry
swearing of man bearing dutiable
tobacco or liquor, stepped forward
and started the program.
Your hat, madam" the inspector
said. I'VE must have that aigrette."
Nine. Bevilaqua looked astonished,
then became indignant. 1t was not
until the inspector reached out and
took the feather that she realized
what was wanted Then the customs
man explained the provision of the
law under which he was acting, and
the woman was loud in her denuncia-
ton.
MY milliner never told me a word
about that" she said angrily, and the
inspector, Struggling his shoulders, re-
marked by way Of consolation that
good many American women who are
homeward bound with Paris bonnets
are going to suffer a keen disappoint-
ment when they arrive at this port.
Before the passengers of the Lor-
raine had been cleared, great pile of
aigrettes, feathers and stuffed birds
had been collected. And for each of
the exhibits, which might be called
No. in Uncle Sans new tariff trial,
in which thousands of American wom-
en- travellers are to be the defend
ants, the inspectors received sarcas-
tic remarks and acrid adiectives.
The "chivalry" of the gentlemen"
who drew up the tariff was touched
upon time and again.
Taking courage from the example
the inspector who attacked Nine. Be
vilaqua, the rest of the force went to
work with zest. Milliners' decora-
tions worth several hundred dollars
were conficated on the Lorraine
The customs men got busy also on
the Campania of the Cunard line,
which arrived later. A collection of
bird of paradise was found in short
order by the inspectors. The trunks
of the women passengers were ran
sacked for them
Plumage seized was turned over to
the appraisers, who will set a price
on each piece and send word to the
owners, who will be permitted to re-
turn them to the dealer from whom
they were purchased If anything