England's Prime Minister In A Fix

Eugene Field is responsible for the statement that there has been lots of sport recently at the expense of the Marquis of Salisbury. It seems that when the prime minister and his wife returned from their summer trip to the continent they brought back with them two and a half gallons of fine brandy and a large stock of choice cigars. It oulil perhaps be unfair to say that his lordehip sought or hoped to evade the vigilance of the customs oflicera. What lid happen, however, was that upon arriving at Newhaven Lord Salisbury contrived ioget bis precious liquorand tobáceo as Earas the privi te coacta that was in wait;ug for ],im. Wliat betrayed him will perhaps never be known. All at ouce two argus eyed and Briarean handed oiïïcers swoopod down upon that vehielo and resuirected the brandy and cigars from the wealth of lap robes and raga inch enveloped them. Lord Salisbury did not atempt to protest; he cheerfully paid the STO reqnired for the passage of the goods. Sotthiswas not suffleient; the coadunan was taken into custody and detained several hours for haring been a partner to what upon its face ooked like a clear attempt at stnuggling. Of course the prime minister had no difïiculty iu proring up be honesty of his coachmun and securing his release, but as there is a superabundance of red tape in Kurope even the prime ninistei found the process of exculpatioo exceedingly tedious.