The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-11-21
An Auctioneer Selling Himself.

Times tells good one about an auction
eer in Tuscaloosa selling himself, the main
points of which we extract:
Many years ago, when steamboats, did
run in the Warrior river, Alabama, few
months in the year, and when, at the con-
clusion of the boating season, there was
some salt in the whilom capitol of the
State of Alabama, certain enterprising
auctioneer chanced to have q large lot of
it on hand, to be sold on commission.
Our auctioneer, we have said was en-
terprising; he was more, he was genius
born, not educated not self instructed,
original and self reliant, and therefore &C.
centric-he had elnphaticaIly his own way
of doing things, arising from his natural
gifts, a non conformist to usage and pre-
scription, thus harmonizing and verifying
n this life the oft quoted sentiment of
Dryden:
Time, place and actions may with pain. be
| wrought,
But genius must be born and never can be
taught.
!
Salt was selling at the time we write
of-happy days, will they ever return?--
in the city of Tuscaloosa at one dollar
and fifty cents sack. This was abso-
lutely the minimum price at which our
merchants could affore to sell it. Our
military friend; we call him military not
because of his Office, for that he has CIV
en- up long since to an ungrateful people,
but because he is General every inch of
him, poor, bearing gait and whisker-be-
sides, bear in mind, reader, you are in A
merica and perhaps not a thousand miles
from the Greeches, where once General
is always General: or our General, il
You please, had received orders from the
owners to get rid of the salt as soon as
possible and even to under sell the mar
ket, if necessary, in order to do so.
About this time an acquaintance of the
Generals, also of military predictions,
but more humble pretentions, in fact on
ly Colonel, called at his store-birds
of feather will flock together-and an
nounccd that he had just arrived from
Bibb county with his wagon-this, you
may be sure, WAS before the Selma and
Montevallo railroad was ever dreamed o.
Intending to carry home in it his years
supply of groceries, sugar, coffee, salt, &c
'Ah, my friend said the General, tax
ing pinch of snuff and disposing of it.
while he gracefully presented the box
with the other hand, you are in streak
of luck, decidedly a streak of luck-my
aunt in Georgy was once i'll just such q
streak of when--but never mind-you
havn't engaged it, you want it cheap; I'm
the very man you are looking for--I'll
sell for bit less than anybody else in
town. Don't take my word, go around
town, inquire, see what is the least you
can get it at; then come to me and Pm a
bit less--scoot around
We'll, General said the Bibb county
Colonel, his keen grey eyes twinkling
with light which clearly indicated that
the man who picked him up for a fool
would be sadly out of his reconing, want
salt-that's fact-and | want it as cheap
as can get it, but 1 would like to trade
with you; and if l can do better with you
than anybody else, why, you see, on ac-
count of being old friends, reckon l shall
have to give you chance. They tell me
at the far end of the street that they will
sell salt at dollar and half sack
'Egsackly,' promptly responded the
General, and / will let you have it for a
bit less than them you saw or anybody
else--take just as much as you want fol-
thirty seven and half cents sack; but
rare down town, if any man will let you
have it at that figure, I'm a bit less than
that and no mistake
I After about half an hours peregrination
the Colonel in passing the auction house
was brought to halt with
Hello, Colonel, come by; what luck?'
We'll, Gincral, I've been round some
and can jest tell you seen man who
7 told me ] could have just as much salt as
1 wanted for the sum of thirty-seven and
a half cents a sack--that'S talk.
Yes; did he, did he? Well, my friend
(pinch of snuIf) I'll jest tell you what II
do--Ill let you have it for bit less, ont
dollar and quarter, and no mistake; is i
a trade, say?'
Stop, General; just wait till I can per
ambulatc little, and then Well have
talk
Scarcely had another half hour elapsed
when our salt purchaser found it conve
nient to pass within hailing distance O
the now much excited and excessively
snuff taking military salt vender. Mill
tary men, snuff takers or not, are apt t,
get in passion, and luctuating sal
market is no protection against the NAL
ady.
, 4 say my friend, have you been clca1
; roundY
No, stree, not clean round yet; bu
as I'm passing, I'll tell you that / seen
man that told me that he would let m
have any quantity of salt for one dolla
and quarter sack, and
The HI you say exclaimed tn
General, more tidgety and excited thai
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