Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-29
CLOSING or FRONTIER
IS REPLETE WITH HuM0R
Methods Employed for Closing Boun-
dnrics in War Time Offer Strong
Contrast in characteristics.
LINE DIVIDES ENCE
bedrooms in Italy and Kitchen in
Switzerland Places Family in Luz
dicrous Plight - Chickens Held
After Crossing Border.
by J. c. SEGRUE.
Un,.,na,ional H,w. pu-..u

Niii-tSoo' iiRlIf, december II
The Italian frontier Is closed. Here ut
the International railway station OF
Chiasso. ltaly's northern gateway,
though it implies stranding of travel
ers. stagnation OF commerce. accumuIa-
ton of foodstuffs and a score of equally
disagrecable consequences. Italians and
Swiss draw comfort from the knowl-
edge that the longer the frontier Is
closed the more imposing is the num-
Der OF troops pouring into Italy to help
drive back the invader
The methods adopted to close the
various frontiers which abut on Swiss
territory offer contrast in national
characteristics. Beyond Basic. when
the edict to close tho Ger1nan-Swiss
frontier comes from Berlin, a barrier
across the road is formed by fierce
looking German soldiers. who point
bayonets menacingly even at the nurse
maids who unwisely push their peram-
bulators too close to the limo of de-
marcation: outside Geneva. when the
French Swiss frontier is closed. the
poilus nonchalantly drag 4 l>rry across
the rad and p!ie up whe clbarrcTs OH
the pavement: the Austrian-Swiss from
tier is closed. when the occasion arises,
by n frayed rope which schoolboys In
their fun creep under and leap over.
At Chiasso the Italians. having no need
FOR either wheclbarrows or bayonets.
employ a lever-croEsing type Of gate to
mark the end Of italy and the begin
ming OF Switzerland.
oNLY ONE PERSON
CROSSES FRONTIER
Only one person, tho italian minister
at Bern. hns crossed the frontier during
the past ten DAYS. The minister him
self had TO display large collection
OF scaled. signed and cockctcd docu
rnents. had to plead. argue. coax and
threaten before the quill-hatted
Guardian di Finance allowed him to
pass into Italy.
We'll. we will lei you in, marquis"
said the chief officer. finally. but am
not so sure that we will let you out"
at will bring back with me pass
port signed by the Prime Minister and
Cadorna themselves" replied the min
lister as the cato was raised and he
entered Italy.
Frontier absurdities. of course,
abound Tho pedestrian may stand in
switzerland. but may not protrude his
head over tho gate, because. according
70 the opinion of the best authorities
. on the subject, the air over country
constitutes the territory OF that coun-
try-and the head Of the pedestrian
would be in Italy.
AN EXPENSIVE SHAVE
STEADILY AUGMESTING
An Italian one afternoon bitterly
complained that the sudden closing OF
the frontier had incidentally produced
the most expensive shave on record.
He had crossed to pay his customary
visit to tho BARRIERS shop on Swiss
territory, when the sudden closing OF
the frontier was announced. With
soap still on his checks he hurried to
the gate, but he arrived twenty sec
onds too late. and tho guards proved
ineNorabie. He estimated that in loss
of wages and cost OF board and lodg-
ing on Swiss territory. the shave had
SO far cost him 1875 francs Cover $3.50,
and was automatically augmenting.
Tho plight OF the occupants Of
house situated partly in Italian and
partly in Swiss territory is equally
ludicrous. The bedrooms are in Italy.
and SO. for over week, the family
have slept in the kitchen and living
room. which are>in Switzerland Two
Swiss chickens-to mention n third of
these ngruities-which. startled by
| the noise of motor car, scuttled across
the frontier on another afternoon. have
been detained by the Italian authori
ties, who base thei. action upon re-u
lation - Of the code governing from
tier trah!c-namcly When tho from
tier is closed. no live stock, dogs or
other animals may be permitted to
! cross
The Inspiring character Of the news
which. in spite of all precautions, leaks
out from the strongroom OF Italy, helps
the 5000 Italians who live here to
endure patiently these minor crosses
All italy, particularly all Northern
italy. Is ahame with patriotism. The
knowledge that the enemy is on sacred
ltaiiah SOIL has galvanized this nation
I" giant efforts.