A PRACTICAL JOKER
Several,; American and Parisian papers give accounts of the extraordinary pro* ceedings of a French gentleman of independent means, whose one object in life appears to be' to worry custom-house officers. He has returned to his native Paris, and everywhere railway officials have been warned about his pranks. "It is his wont," says the "American Register," " to pack huge trunk full of trouserstraps, such as are worn with gaiters,using hydraulic pressure as if it were necessary to cram five bushels into a three-bushels space, then to lure the inspector to open it as a suspicious package, when naturally the contents were overset, and the whole force of the Custom-house was occupied for hours in putting them back. A . powerful jack-in-the-box was another de- - vice of his that was very successful." But more than this is currently reported of this gentleman. It is his practise . sometimes to leave a hamper of very high game at a parcel Office, and not take it out, simply sending messages to inquire privately how the strength of the odour was progressing. When the officers at the parcel office could not endure- the influx tion any longer, and throw the haMpe away, M. Vivier would appear and peftftely request the return; of his goods'. Of course agreat commotion would follow, which in every way, often by the aid of lawyers, would be prolonged by M. Vivier to his intense secret delight.. Appeal* to Parisian courts would be threatened to humble village .officials, who were'warned of the nature of court costs. On one occasion it is said tbat M. Vivier blandly asked an old gentleman bathing at Boulogne if he had seen the shark. The awful, hint spread as a fact far and wide. Next day it appeared that everyone had seen the monster. JSo one bathed. M. Vivier smiled, sipped his Bordeaux,'and took his' departure; thoroughly gratified. . He had his powerful jack-in-the-box with him ,to meet all emergencies at the railway", stations on the way. -.'■■.. „
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Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2602, 10 May 1877, Page 2
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332A PRACTICAL JOKER Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2602, 10 May 1877, Page 2
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