The Washington times., 1933-01-14

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the three spoke excellent Eng
lish. Instead of being arro-
CANT, they were highly courte-
Gus. They asked me If / had
money to declare, and I told
them I had. They gave me q
written Acknowledgement Of
my letter Of credit and actually
thanked me for producing it.
Then they wanted to know
about cigarettes. Guided by
the actions of the attendant
earlier in the evening, had
decided that inspection was
the better part of valor. I
pointed to the packages that
were lying openly on the bed
and they assured me that, so
long as I had BEEN honest
enough to declare them, it was
okay to keep them.
must have glowed with
pleasure. It proved conclusively
to me that honesty is the best
policy after all. What they
would have done if they had
found the 80 packages I had
hidden is something I will net
60 into at the moment. =
They asked me If I had big!
baggage in the baggage car,
and I said I had. Whereu1pon
the three gentlemen said they
were going to have a bite to
eat, and that they would ex-
anime my big luggage later.
With courteous bows, they
moved on. And I'm stating
right here and now that, no
matter what else happens on
this trip, I will never forget
the decency of those three mep.
They gave me a pleasant ind
preston of Germany that I
will never forget.
But all that is beside the
point. My large luggage was
yet to be examined. And since
the three officers were going
into the diner-that, too, was
the place for me. I marched
right in behind them.
Drinks on the House
It was going on 2 in the
morning and the diner was, Of
course, deserted. I called the
steward over and, in a combina-
ton of French, German and
English, told him that'I wanted
to buy drinks for everyone who
was employed in the car. If I
could get my baggage through
without any trouble it would be
the cheapest investment ever
made.
Well, in no time at all we
were all buddieS. One drink
followed another and before I
knew it the chief steward was
dancing with the waiter who
had served me the drinks. The
customs officials enjoyed two
bottles of Rhine wine, the cook
was drinking beer after beer
and the chief conductor was
getting cock-eyed on German
brandy.
What an experience it all
was! I'll swear to you that I
don't know when I've been so
happy. There I sat, joining in
German songs that I had never
heard before-but singing just
the same! They made me feel
as though I was part Of their
party.
Eventually my baggage was
examined. It proved to be
more or less Of a formality. No
trouble. No questions. No
worry. And I finally returned
to my compartment with a grin
from ear to ear and a joyous
song in my heart. My baggage
had been cleared. I had moth
ing more to worry about. And
I had staged a party ] would
not forget until my dying day.
The money had been well
spent.
We have about half an hour
still to go. and the attendant
who speaks English just raped
at my door. He asked me If
all my baggage was ready for
inspection at the Berlin station.
laughed.
You're too late" I told him,
jovially. "It was ali examined
last night. I'm finished"
"Oh, no, sir" was his reply.
THAT was only for the train.
The real inspection comes in
Berlin!"
Nuts.
JVO