Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 January 1875 — Some of Uncle Sam’s Smugglers. [ARTICLE]

Some of Uncle Sam’s Smugglers.

Perhaps the officers of the CustomHouse are more vigilant than formerly in guarding Uncle Sam’s treasure-box, or, it may be, smuggling has become a fashionable epidemic—like hysteric-, for instance—but it is certain that the beauties who migrate like birds at stated seasons to foreign climes, returning in bright, new plumage, are subjected to much annoyance by the revenue officials, who insist that ladies—whether operasingers or modistes—shall not evade the payment of duties; and if the residents of New York’s Faubourg St. Germain or Philadelphia’s Walnut street desire to shine resplendent in Maitre Worth’s robes de Paris or envelop their beautiful forms in point de Alencon they must first render tribute to Caesar in the shape of a high ad valorem tariff. Scarcely had the scandal of one of Philadelphia’s young millionaires died away, with the luxury of Aladdin’s palace contained in the trunks seized by the authorities, than Mlle. Leoni hove in sight, like one of Cleopatra’s barges with silken sails all set. The craft was freighted with the luxuries of the Indies. Almost every family on Murray Hill had some interest in the precious cargo, if the names upon the manifest were any guide; there were laces of Valenciennes; soft, filmy webs, with designs of flowers inwrought, that came from the deft looms of Bruxelles; there were bright cachemires des Indeaf and silks of Lyons, perfumes of the Orient, objets de luxe from Vienna, and all the dainty adjuncts to dangerous coquetry. This precious cargo is how in custody of the United States, and the fair captive-cap-tain will be tried for smuggling. No sooner had Mdlle. Leoni transferred her case to the United States Court than another pretty smuggler appeared. By her asseverations she was but an innocent St. Louis belle traveling in search of pleasure, yet she had two suspicious trunks—not hose —liable to CustomHouse duty,.J)ut the wharfingers insisted upon handling them. Her name was -—. A card (her own) was tacked in a suspicious way over other cards, and so clumsily that the lynx-eyed detectives discovered duplicity. Her affidavit set forth that the wearing apparel was all her own—for her proper use and disposition—and not intended for the use of any other person or persons whatsoever. When her articles were seized, however, it was discovered that there were divers spoils of the seas and sinful sophistications of fashion and folly which might be classed ~ under dutiable articles. The belle of St. Louis, upon being closely pressed, made a clean breast of it and stated that the articles were in reality brought to these free shores with the hope and expectation that no seizure would be made, and that the trousseaus of the brides would, in all gallantry, bf permitted to pass without examination and duty. Bride No. 1 hailed from Annapolis, of blessed schoolship’memory; bride No. 2 from Florida, that land of orange blossoms; but as the officers of the customs insisted on examination and exposure, the St. Louis belle washed her hands of the whole affair and relegated the responsibility where it belonged. Such was the first lesson. Piled up in the rooms of the seizure department in the granite building in Wall street are bales and boxes, strongly strapped cases, and dainty parcels which could a tale unfold that would harrow up the soul of many a belle and beau who, desiring to shine in the magic circle of the jeunesse doree, do not hesitate to defraud the revenue in compassing their ambition. — New York Herald.