Ten minutes ago M. Blackandblueski, the Minister of the Department of Witch Hazel, rushed into my bulkhead compartment.

“Oxcooski, Your Majesty,” said the Minister, “but this morning the cookski was burning a few links of sausage for breakfast.  Well, Your Majesty, about two minutes afterwards the cookski and the stove and one side of the palace left in a hurry and went away in a northwesterly direction.  We don’t expect them back, because the sausage was stuffed with rapid transit material, Your Majesty!”

Thus it goes all day.  Don’t you think it is pretty hard lines when I have to make them wash the water on both sides before putting it in the teapot?

Now I must stop because I hear the humming of the harpoons on the outside.  My officers are talking about me again.  Farewellski!

* * * * *

CUSTOMS INSPECTOR.  An individual who gets a salary for believing that everybody on the steamboat is a smuggler.

* * * * *

In order to study briefly the Custom House system as applied to returning travellers let us witness the arrival from abroad of the Secretary of the Treasury.

Some years before the Secretary went into politics deep enough to stay there and make expenses he took a slight trip to Europe.

Two weeks later he was on his way home to his beloved land on the good ship “Kaiser Wilhelm, the Grocer.”

The Stars and Stripes seemed to wave a welcome to him as he approached the hospitable shores of Fire Island.

“It is good, so good to breathe once more the air of Liberty!” said the Secretary, and ten minutes later the “Kaiser Wilhelm, the Grocer” was at her dock.

“Ah! how happy I am to be once more where Freedom reigns!” said the Secretary as he walked proudly down the gangway plank.

“Wait!”

The speaker was a short-set man with a thick face and a wide voice.

The Secretary paled his cheeks.

“Who are you?”

“I am an American citizen; leave me pass!” exclaimed the Secretary.

“So am I,” said the man with a thick face; “and nothing passes me.  You have been to Europe, have you not?”

“Do you think I used the ‘Kaiser Wilhelm the Grocer’ to come from Staten Island?” asked the Secretary.

The man laughed, loosely.

“Swear!” he said.

“At you?” inquired the Secretary.

“Swear you are not a smuggler,” said the roan.

“I ought to kick you for such an insult,” said the Secretary.

“Business before pleasure,” said the man; “swear that you are not a robber.”

“I swear,” said the Secretary; “inwardly, outwardly, earnestly and pictorially, I swear!”

“By the memory of George Washington you swear that you are not a smugglesome man?”

“I do,” said the Secretary.

“Hold up both hands and swear!”