Smuggling in Bustles.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, 3 December 1887, Page 2

Smuggling in Bustles.

An indignant lady once addressed a letter to Addison in reply to some strictures that had appeared in the "Spectator" on the enormous size of the hoop skirts then in vogue, in which she commenced with the pertinent question, " What have you got ta do with our petticoats ?" The great essay ist was unable go give a reply that wassatisfactory to the irate lady, but according to more mod era ideas some men have a great deal to do with petticoats that are designed with a view of eluding the customs laws. Scarcely a day passes that important seizures are not made at New York of ! laces, diamonds, silks and other valuables that are carefully concealed in the bustles worn by ladies as they leave the steamers on their return from their European trips. As may be supposed, this "dress improver " is much of a mystery to men, and to many it may be looked upon as adding; grace to the poetry of motion, but they would never dream of it as a huge means to contraband and poaching. Alas ! such is the truth, however, if we can believe the reports of a case recently tried before a Welsh magistrate. The Euthern police having reason to suspect the home-coming of a gin£ of well-known poachers, planted themselves on the highway near the town, and when the men came along searched them without result. As it was obvious from the state of their clothes that they had been poaching, the officers secreted themselves, and were presently astonished to see three women crossing the fields to a place whero they remained for some time. When they wore returning the officers revealed themselves and insisted on searching them. It was a stern and yet a delicate duty, and from beneath the "dress improvers " of the three Ruth era maids were extracted twenty-seven rabbits— jusb nine apiece ; too many for a cushion, bub enough Welsh rabbits of a novel character to justify a prosecution for the illegal possession of game. It is a sad story with a moral, but what that moral is " no fellow can make out," as his lordship of Dundreary lemarked.