Evening star., 1943-04-06

neutral Free
Henry McLemore. State, where
stores are still stocked as they were
in London and New York before
the war.
He attempted to bring out a ware
house full Of assorted goods. Every
one gave him list of things he or
she needed. Here Is a partial list
OF what he bought and tried to get
out of Southern Ireland into North
ern Ireland:
Six dozen eggs, five pounds Of
butter, everything made by Eliza
beth Arden and Helena Ruhinstein.
including night cream, day cream.
eye cream, elbow cream, ear cream,
wrist cream. hand lotion, face lotion,
lipstick, rouge and powder; three
hams, 10 yards Of Donegal tweed,
| silk stockings, four dozen oranges
six quarts of cream and a setting
| hen.
Advice Proves Faulty.
All Of his friends in Belfast and
London assured him he wouldn't
have any trouble getting past the
Free State customs officers.
Just tell them you are an Ameri-
can" they said, "and everything
will be swell. They'll treat you like
a long lost brother"
That is the worst piece Of advice
ever given to any one. It would
have been much better If they had
told McLemore to tell the customs
men he was distinguished leper
and had been to Dublin for his
health. Once he told them he was
an American, they did everything
but knock him over the head with
shillalah
l. McLemore-I know him very we'll
and he told me of his trip-said
that while the Free Staters do not
come right out and say they don't
like Americans, they show it by
bouncing them around as If they
were rubber balls, generally giving
them the old one-two punch.
But to get on with the story Of
this great smuggler, McLemore. He
boarded train at in the after
noon. 1t didn't leave until 4 but
Irish trains are so constructed that
to be sure Of getting a seat a man
must be at least two hours ahead
Of time. Even then a first-class
ticket only gets you seat in
third class coach, usually between
a woman who has been digging peat
and man who has been digging for
the woman who has been digging for
peat.
Trapped BY Officials.
Half an hour after the train had
left Dublin the customs men came
through. McLemore was torn be-
tween two emotions. Some of his
friends had told him that honesty
was the best policy and that the
way to get goods through was to
tell the customs exactly what he had
to declare. Others said he must not
do this; that dishonesty was the
best policy and if he could hide any,
thing to please hide it.
When the officers entered his
coach, McLemore, who looked like a
Greyhound bus what with all the
goods and chattel he had stored on
his person, smiled at the officers and
said, I'm an American who went to
Dublin to see the lovely place. Mr..
de Valera is friend of my family
and they asked me to try to see
him."
What have you to declare?" the
officer with the moustache said.
Nothing" said McLemore, as
ham and three oranges fell out of
his pocket. AS he talked, he started
shedding things. Stockings fell on
the floor. One pat from the officer
and the floor was covered with
elastic stockings and cosmetics.
All Goods Taken. '~
"You are the only department.
store we have ever inspected" said
the officer with the biggest pair Of
hands in the world They started
adding up what McLemore owed in
duty. They talked in shillings at
first, then in pounds, then In tens Of
pounds. McLemore said he didn't
have that much money.
He sal dthese things didn't belong
to him but were placed on him by
the enemy. He told how his family.
was a poor one and, in an effort
to gain mercy, he said his maternal
grandfather had come from Dublin
and settled In Daytona Beach and
now eked out a living running a
small eating place called "Charley's
Grill"
No soap. He was frisked from
head to foot. He was frisked again
and again. He had to pay. Then
the customs men took all the contra
band goods. They didn't leave Nc
Lemore a thing. Now he has no
friends. He Is finished.
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