New Britain herald., 1926-09-09
CUSTOMS OFFICERS ARE DELUGED
 UNDER AVALANCHE OF SOUVENIRS
Returning Tourists Bring ing Back Mementoes of Trip Many Times Show They Are Easy Victims of Glib Salesmen.

New York, Sept. g P)-A deluge of European souvenirs on American this week makes the seasons earlier downpour of American tourists in Europe look like gentle rain from heaven" take it from the drowning customs officials.
 The uniformed inspectors of the follies of innocents abroad are con- ing up for air between trunks to pronounce this the biggest sou venir shipping week in history"
 10000 Returned Tourists
 Ten thousand returning tourists, led by the "Leviathan's 2,J00," landed their load on Labor Day. Several thousand more on the Paris" the Olympic" and other ships dumped their prizes Tuesday, and so on through the week, inspec- tors say that Saturday will find the home market flooded with fooled feathers, faces, bead bags, perfumes, mascot dolls, antiques, canes. novel, ties, hand bags, scarfs, lingerie, handkerchiefs, neckties, ornaments, and souvenirs.
 "Stuck" Many Times "Lots of times" remarked Sur veyor A. B. McKeon, chief of the baggage inspection corps, they know what they're getting is a bunch of junk. and they could get the same things here cheaper. and without half as much trouble, but they must bring something over to their friends.
 There are shops not far from New York piers, that specialize in European souvenirs" Business men too hurried to shop abroad, customs wise'' travellers, and forgetful tour. ists patronize their counters and pick up the typical gift of sunny Italy, the Riviera shops, or the Paris boulevards to bring to their "stay-at- home friends"
 | Open trunks and suitcases spilling tissue-wrapped presents, the bulgy packages thrust into inspectors hands in the hopes that the brand new clothing tucked unobstrusively under old shoe and hot water bottles will not be noticed, testify that many tourists do not patroni.e these eleventh hour shops.
 Fall For Antiques
 But how they do get stuck on antiques" said one appraiser. NO, | fr1 iS "A old " hp tells homecomcrs, or NO, sir, that painting is 3 copy Not a day passes, not a ship comes in," he explains, "that I don't have to tell some of them that their things aren't old"
 One young couple said they bought in Spain at great cost. a print of New York, made in 1850, showing the first steambcats, taking to the Hudson. How can you beat it?" murmured the appraiser, who acknowledged it's early date. But this 'old' Spanish glass was made possibly fifteen years ago. So was tho early Italian, China " l OOulQnt Use IueH' "tIc A thoroughly Anslicized sports man from Detroit brought home two English shot guns, worth three hun dred dollars each, q Scotch hunting cape, spats, rubber knee length boots and a game bag. T can't possibly use any Of them in this country" he pleaded to the inspec- tor.
 "Why all the women are bringing back dolls this year is a mystery, said another inspector. Never saw so many dolls in my life, and all belonging to grown women.'
 They are the mascot dolls' of fine gelt. with delicately painted, beautifully dressed in silk or satin reproduction of period styles. "R3 ouel." in rustling Spanish silks. is A popular leader among them.