The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1871-12-23
AuctiOneer to Discarded Rulers.
From the New York Times

FROM the New York Times.
Nj. Navln, of Paris, is the third of his
name, and his singular hereditary right
1T is to sell out the furniture and Other
personality of the successive rulers OF
France when they fall under "the an
ger of the people" In other countries
this queer monopoly might not be OF
much value: but in France is is clearly
substantial affair
For example, the sale of the house
hold effects, stables, &C., of Napoleon
Ill, began Sept. l, and, at last post,
was still going on. III. Vavin's grand
father, in the same way, sold out Louis
XVI /; the son sold out Louis Philippe;
and the third of the line is now doing
the like for Napoleon III. The COM
missions in these sales must come to a
handsome penny, and the privilege of
making them Is far better worth having
than any tomfoolery of keeping ones
own, or cleaning the feet of some stupid
scion of an effete race.
When the Emperor Napoleon III.
went away he naturally left behind
some household debts In fact, these
amounted to q sum of about four hum
dred thousand dollars. 1t is said that
the personal property left behind by
him will balance these debts, so that
there Will be no charge to come on the
State.
The many stories told of the display
of the imperial linen, and the like, and
of the sale of such articles amid the
Jeers of the crowd, are positively denied
by wellinformed correspondent. He
affirms that, while there is not a word
of truth in these tales, that they may
have had rise in the unchivalrous
course of the Government on the 4th of
September in publishing private letters
that had no relation to politics Gear
riages, arms, horses, wine, and linen
are sold, but nothing which bears the
character of personal memorial or of
private use." This certainly is more
civilized than the other practice, and
it is manifestly wise for any French
Government to be civilized in such
matters for none can tell when its own
turn may come, or when NJ Vavin's
red flag may go up over the household
gods of NJ. Theirs, as it has done over
those of Napoleon and Eugene.
In the present auction the first things
sold were, it appears, the Imperial
horses. These were in bad condition :;
for although not eaten during the siege
they were ''requisitioned," and put
through much the same kind of e1per-
fence that Details the luckless steeds of
a horse railway. Still, they sold for
more than their worth, although for
only third of their cost. The car
rlages went next, and about one thou
sand dollars, gold, was the highest
price got, being for an open vehicle
made by Ehrler A huge English
break, by Groall, was knocked down
for s135, and of the whole lao carriages
sold, by far the greater part brought
very low prices. There was much less
expensive linen and plate than has been
reported. Quantities of the former
went to the ambulances, and Of the
latter "not service of either china or
gold but what was broken" The wines
which, strange to say, have not been
drunk, are worth some one hundred
thousand dollars, and many of the lots
are of superb quality. Allthese things
together with what rags of hangings
and carpets, and sticks of furniture,
escaped the fury of the Commune, y.
Nayin has knocked down to the highest
bidder After fe more provocations
to their love of change-perhaps after
few more such recommendations OF
the present Government as the execu-
ton of Rossel-the French people may
pay for fresh outfit for fresh ruler,
and N. Vayin, or his successor may
afterwards sell it out IN the very same
style.