New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-11-09
THE NIGHT Auctions.


Thee is matter fer serious reflection in an auction
rocm Tie mo, alist and benevolent philosopher viii
find in such place food for the sobercst speculation.
The private history of the various articles comprising
a sale would make as melancholy a series of chapters
a. were ever written by the novelist. Many domestic
10, aud soucw-mnny hope and many despair
many painful and many pleasing recollection-are
ataCbe1 to single Article In auction rom. which
the cold, calculating eye of the b.rgain-hunter gdes
hssily over-his hand cael,ssly takes up, and ~
csrtlessly LAYS down.
But there is little chance for sentiment in a night
auction. The goods then disposed Ct are invariably
o. recent manufacture aid these comprise only
books pictures engrayiDgs ard such articles of
tiorery az are in common demeud. There is one Of
these places in Broadway, situated shall not say
near what street. There are many wore places
round about, into which not "peeny wise" but
pound tlish' man GIT enter ana fare worse. Fog
lis ance, we stood in he doorway of hotel two or
three cards somehow strangely insinusted into
cur hand by two hree dark, dirty, dingy looking
foreigners, who politely piorued US tbs We might, if
go disposed, find ytables, and be mace Of FIR
tunes fools by the oeIter hands of several Of for
tunes knayes. 1t seems strange in fact that 10 this
great Ci,y-havng would think = sufficient qusu.
tty Of bed men native ard to the manner born
main body of the camp followers in the march of mod
EN- society, and be The sove plundercrs Of this mox
Chrlsiien people. 1t shows indeed a melancholy
pnene.s ia magistrates that they sleep theso
tbDgs. 1t is miserable spectacle to witness the
nual increase Of TIE sly sidedoor reputable looking.
shop Ike gan bling houses daily and nightly spring
ing up under tho very windows Of the chambers Of
justice Of people renowned for and encirc cd by hon
est industry. But 10 return to the auction room:
Among the most conspicuous Of these places is the
one in l. adway 10 which we have called attention.
A few evenings 0go we srOled into the room, after
the sale had commenced. There about twenty
penOBs present, comprising representatives from all
classes of society uhO, bitten with the bargain mrnia,
came here TO buy picture or book which is honestly
worth haf the money paid for itprovidei il does not
chance 10 be chcf dGurre Of some old master, in
which case il is as kOnertly woi th nothing.
The greatest number Of the books sold new
end cheap editions Of popular works evidently manu-
fgctuIed for auction sale aud these were purchased
OILY by young men, evidently in the pursuit Of
knowledge under difficulties. But there we're some
rare editions offered and for them there would be some
hsf-dozen customer apparently men OF cultivation
and limited O csDs who thus sought to increase their
Libraries, necessas lily lisied by circumstances. Thus
fair editions OF the Brit sh cls-sics, ancient historical
WORKS IN various language choice volumes " Italian
and German poetry, largely sought for, and me
with a Icaoy Hae. In this ction incident
tie evening appeared to US remarkable, and led us
10 ponder upon the contradictions there are between
human circumstances and human character. Thi.
was witnessing celebrated veteran politician bidding
csmes'ly a. though he desred 10 have it, for very
resIectsb'e copy of "Gray's Eegy in a County
L" Cburchyaid.' In his broad hard homey fsce weI
could read that Il in commercial spirit he was
bidding for IT; that it matter Of taste with him
-,ud if ofs4e Why not Of feeling aud yenerstion for
tie subject
Tie ssle vent on and Autographs, oil paintings,
an, ererayipgs were Introduced. There were some
copies Of claude, Rafael Guido Corrego, Canaetts.
Salvador Rosa, Pou.in, Tepiers and in fact OF nearly
al b. masters Of the ancieut and modern schools.
Ysicrs TorIats were iGtroduccd-"m mostly proofs
(of tie oxoe,.ve vanity Of the orginsls-and tness
were sold for sorg, people have 90. tired Of the
heads Of the Lobodies, and they are at disco,nt.
Then here vss large copy Of Dido, the f,rssten Of
Lross, in 0,ticuO morris, which the auctionecr sold
as portrAi. o: Rachel ia Of her great ctsrsc,s.
and which gentleman in green spectaeles, standing
By and who e course had no interest whatsoever IN No
ccrcern, prone urced % be cspit.litensss rness
" sou have ler'. gtnienen." sale the anciea' $40 ~
centric individual, tecoling edthusis'"s- 49,,
no.ri;Lt al jsg-":h e:s you have TO s's w