The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1871-09-26
THE LITTLE MAN IN DRAB.

u ! Il
w ing, going, only one dollar and
half, only one dollar and half,' when
there is not a person except himself in
the store ?' asked friend, as We were
walking along Clark street
He's advertising his goods to passers-
by; when you hear him shout for the
twentieth time that it is only one dollar
and half, the inquiry naturally arises :
What is it that is only one dollar and a
half?"
One point is already gained for the
auctioneer. If your curiosity is excited
to the extent of your stepping into the
store, there is a chance that you will not
come out before you purchase that very
article, be it bogus jewelry, second
hand revolver, or summer coat"
Does he keep up that auctioneering
whether he has any customers or not ?"
Nearly the whole day. The best
time, however, is near six o'clock, when
thousands of people are freed from their
work and on their way home, with per-
haps money in their pockets. Then you
may see a crowd in the rooms; in the
evenings also they do an immense busi-
ness, and hardly ever fail in selling a
large amount of goods. On days, too,
when there are great many people from
the country, they gather rich harvest,
There is nothing going on here at pres
ent, but if we come here in the afternoon
we shall find them in full blast"
Nboo ,ro ,o+,,,,ol ,o,a,J;,c, .,
pointment, there was crowd before the
door, and the auction-room was full. Our
ears were greeted with something like the
following
Eighteen dollars and half, n half,
n half Do hear any more? Why,
gentlemen, that watch is worth one hun
dred dollars. Once-twice-" turning
TO benevolent-looking gentleman in
spectacles, and putting on an inquiring
air, "Make it nineteen ?" Spectacles
shakes his head. Once-twice-an
-" Mr.. Green from the country bids
nineteen
Nineteen dollars do hcar-once--
we cannot dwell-and gone"
"No more watches at that price"
says the auctioneer, with well-feigned
disgust. ..
Mr.. Green walks up to the cashiers
desk and pays over nineteen dollars, and
takes his watch. A weeks wear will tell
him that all is not gold that glitters."
This is the simplest phase of the mock
auction business. But there are compar-
itively few such unsuspecting catches as
Mr.. Green. The gamesters have card,
however, for all grades Of astuteness.-
There is the countryman who takes the
papers and reads accounts every week Of
how somebody was swindled out of his
money in mock auction room. One of
these self sufficient men goes to Chicago;
it is possible that he is thriving mer-
chant, or grocery keeper, or lawyer,
or minister. He can step into one of
these places with perfect impunity; no
fear of his being swindled by bidding on
brass watches and bogus jewelry. With
what interest he makes note of the poor
fools who are the victims of these ac-
complished rogues He is man of deep
sympathies. He watches that little man
who elbows his way through the crowd
hurriedly, and asks the auctioneer in
timid voice if they sell watches for other
people He is dressed in shabby gen
teel suit of light drab that does not ft
him any too well. 1t is "ready made"
and is evidently the result of long
struggle with poverty. A new hat could
not be bought, so the poor fellow has first
drenched the old one with water, and
then applied his coat sleeve The hat
has a shiney appearance, and with his 9TH
er clothes mark him to the practiced eye
as frst-class dead beat. nn,a
The auctioneer has just sold without
reserve the bogus jewelry he had in
hand when the man in drab first spoke:
Let's sec your watch!' he says roughly.
He examines it by opening it and turn
ing it over and over, and winding it up.
My friend" says he, "you cannot
get the worth of that watch in this
crowd. 1t is too good watch to put
up here"
The poor man mutters something about
must have the money" 81 cannot
watt" etc r.t.. .
Then you must take your own risk.
We will do all we can to sell it at good
figure but remember, it must be sold
without reserve"
" must have the money" says the un-
fortunate man.
"Well, then remember, ten per cent.
for the sale of the watch, and to be sold
without reserve"
IIor, L., q. l. 80 ...... I ojJ