"What!" roared the inspectors, "Open them! We are not carpenters! Open
them yourselves!"

There and then these well-dressed, well-mannered young men had to set
to work to pry open their own packing-cases.

By this time their suavity had so exasperated the officials, who are not
accustomed to politeness and pleasant words from incoming passengers,
that they decided that the young Frenchmen must have a reason for their
good manners, and be in fact dangerous smugglers.

As one of the young men bent over a packing-case it was noticed that his
coat-pockets bulged suspiciously. Before he could offer a protest he and
his mother and brother were hurried away to the offices and searched.

In spite of their best endeavors the inspectors were unable to find
anything dutiable in the belongings of this charming family, and finally
the young Frenchmen were permitted to go on their way with their mother
and their belongings. It would have been a little interesting to have
obtained from them their first impressions of America.

The officials were, however, so angry that these good people had not
turned out to be smugglers, that they gave the next few passengers who
fell into their hands a very unhappy time.

One man who had bought a two-dollar doll for his little girl was obliged
to pay $1.50 as duty on it. Another who had spent $200 on new gowns for
his wife had to pay another $126 before he was able to take them to her.

One father was loud in his protests because he was taxed for the dresses