1896.] MICROSCOPICAL JOURNAL. 181 



I was much surprised that no charg-e was made for the 

 time of four clerks an hour each. It certainly was over- 

 time and excess of zeal. 



My impressions are that this was a deliberate attempt 

 to impose a swindle upon me and that the law clerk knew 

 from the beg-inninir, of the decision he finally produced. A 

 less careful person mig-ht hive been blackmailed into pay- 

 ing- the $4.30. Had I shown any temper or impoliteness, 

 especially to "his Honor," they could have pestered me 

 for weeks over the matter and until I had g-ot the attention 

 of the Secretary of the Treasury and his order to over rule 

 their absurd decisions. It is perhaps impolitic for me to 

 publish these facts. In case these people g-et another lot 

 of g-oods for me they will have it in their power to annoy 

 me very much. 



This is, however, my second experience with them. A 

 year or more ag-o, Watson & Sons of London sent an elec- 

 trotype which had cost them 87 cents. It was stopped in 

 the mails and held by the Custom House. A g-reat ado was 

 made over it. Not one of the officials then present knew 

 what to call it and one of them with it in his fing-ers asked 

 me if it was not a lithog-raph ! Its value was in any event too 

 small to be dutiable but I was put to quite a 'loss of time and 

 patience. The ig-norance of these people seems stupendous 

 and they appear to rely on customers to g^ive themselves 

 away and to furnish implements with which to persecute 

 them. This is the worst g-overned country among- the lead- 

 ing- nations of the earth say Andrew D. White and others. 

 My own observations at home and abroad confirm the view. 



Finally, if you import slides be very cautious or the Cus- 

 toms people will worry the life out of you. Be sure to have 

 the decision quoted above ; plant yourself ag-ainst all delays, 

 concessions, and foolishness. Go and vote for the party 

 that is out of power so that there may be a new set of fool- 

 officials as soon as possible. When w^e decide to do as 

 Great Britain does, — collect all our revenue off of tobacco, 

 wine, perfumery and a few of the simplest objects of lux- 

 ury we may be free from supporting- in public office ig-nor- 

 ant hoards of superfluous politicians and probably not till 

 then.— C. W. S, 



