DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND.

Dunstan Times, Issue 674, 19 March 1875, Page 3

DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND.

o There is, says the Boston (tI.S ) Commercial Courier, a very important traffic carried on in diamonds ovei the various European lines to this country, and as tho duty is 10 per cent, ad valorem, the sharpest watch is kept upon those suspected to he engaged in it." By means of agents the collector’s office lias offered information by cable of the departure from the various ports of suspected diamond smugglers, and is prepared to intercept them. In nine eases out of ton the stones were concealed upon the persons of the passengers. When this becomes a certainty the passenger is arrested and taken to the Searcher’s Bureau in the Custom House. Here, if found necessary, the party is stripped to the skin and his clothes examined inch by inch, and seam by seam ; the heo's were taken from his hoots, his hair and heard arc combed, and every measure taken to discover (ho hiding-place of the secreted treasure. Once this mode of search used to ho tolerably successful, but now it rarely serves any purpose except in the case of raw recruits to the smuggling ranks. An old bird is caught by chaff hut oure. A New York Jew. who was reputed to he iu the business of smuggling diamonds, used to cross the avatcr on the Cunard lino fr m three to four times a season. Two years ago, in the early part of the season, he'was seized upon his arrival, and taken to the searehe-'s room. Nearly lOOOdols. worth of precious stones were found secreted in the lining of Ir's hoots. He returned to Liverpool by the same steamer, and four weeks after again landed upon the Company’s wharf on North Diver. He was again seized and subjected to the -same rigorous search, hut with no succcs-'. The •Tew took it smilingly and philosophically. When he took his leave he said, “Better luck next time, gentlemen. I shall go hack by the same steamer on business, and when 1 return yen can try it again.” The officers mentally determined, if he did, they would try it again. Upon inquiry, it was found that he really had engaged a return pas- j sage, having held his state-room for that i purpose. Two hours before the sailing of i the steamer he was driven down to the ; pier in his carriage-, his wife and daughter ■ with him to see him off. When they returned they carried with them over 10,000 dols. worth of diamonds, which had lain secreted in his state-room during the whole time the steamer had remained in port. Before his return to New York the collector was notified by one of the revenue agents abroad, that “* Max Eischer would return by the , which would leave Liverpool October 25fch, with several thousand i dollars worth of diamonds ” In duo time the Jew arrived, and for the third time was escorted before the searcher. Ho was evidently not prepared for such persistent attention. Ho seemed nervous and agitated, and finally afcicnip'ed to compromise. Ho was politely informed that that was out of toe question. Ho was then again put through the searching process. His pockcthook, which was first investigated, revealed a memorandum showing the purchase of IS diamonds of various s'zes and prices, amounting in all to about 12,000 dollars. When this came to light, the Jew hogged with tears to he allowed to compromise. A deaf car was turned to his entreaties. His coat was removed, and the lining examined. Nothing there. Then the waistcoat. As the searcher passed his practical fingers along the lining his heait gave a tremendous thump as ho recognised the feel’of something pehly, like little rows of buttons. The garment was hastily ripped, a strip of chamois skin withdrawn and unrolled, and there lay one, two, three —eighteen. All there. “ Yon can put on your coat and waistcoat again, Mr Fischer ” said the searcher blandly. “Good day.” Without a word the Jew departed, took a liorseoar home, kissed his family, ate a rousing dinner, repaired to the bath-room, and after soaking a rather capacious plaster across the small of his hack, for a few minutes in warm water, peeled it off, and "with it “eighteen diamonds of various cost and prices.'” What the searcher and collector may have said or thought when they found their seizure to ho nothin" hut clever glass imitations, worth from ten to thirteen cents each, nobody knows as although the seizure was loudly heralded, the finale was never made | uhlic.

Holloway's Ointment and Pills— Rheumatism and Gout- These purifying and soothing remedies deserves tire earnest attention of all persons liable to gout, sciatica, or other painful affections of the muscles, nerves, or .joints. The Ointment should ho applied after affected parts have been patiently fomented with warm water when the unguent should be diligently rubbed upon the adjacent shin unless (he friction causes pain. Holloway's Pills should bo simultaneously taken to diminish pain, reduce inflammation and puiify the blood. This treatment abates the violence and lessons tbo frequence of gout, rheumatism spasmodic disease which spring from hereditary prcd ! spositionor from any accidents! weakness of constitution The Ointment checks the local malady, while the pills icatoro vita! piwer.

(Joldsmti'iis 7 Work, —The process of fine-art manufacture in this branch of trade is strikingly exemplified in a little work published by Mr. J. W. Benson, of Ko. 2d, Old Band-street, and of the City Steam Factory, 58 and GO Ludgate-hill, London. It is enriched and embellished with designs, by Italian, French and English artistes, of broodies, bracelets, car-rings, and other articles, suitable for personal wear, or for wedding, birth-day, or other presents, with their prices. Mr Benson, who holds the appointment to H.E.H. the Princo of Wales, has also published a very interesting pamphlet on the Eise and Progress of Watchmaking. These pamphlets are sent, post free, for two stamps each, and they cannot le too strongly recommended to those contemplaing a purchase, especially to residents in the country or abroad, who are thus enabled to select any article they may require, and have forwarded in perfect safety.