Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1873-05-10
A NOVEL AUCTION SALE.
Selling Desks and Chairs Of Former Dig
nitaries-ssnators and Representatives
IN Active Competition.

The New York Tribune correspondent
writing from Washington under dat Of
April 20, says THE auction at the Cap
itol to-day, which has been so extensively
advertised for the past two months, was
attended by crowd of several hundred
persons of abont the same character as
may be found at all auction sales in this
city. The managing woman was well
represented by the heads Of boarding
HOUSES, aud there were not few Con
gressmen and men IN high position pres
ent at the sale. The articles of the
catalogue consisted principally Of tables,
chairs, desks, and carpets. The most
interesting part of the sale was that
which occurred first, being the elegantly
carved desks and chairs which for ovrr Is
years have occupied the hall of Represep-
tatives. These were of oak, and of very
superior, elaborate and substantial wo' X
manship. They were furnished by Gen.
Meigs, the present Quartermaster-Gcn-
eral. when he had charge of the Capitol
extension, and were placed in position
when the House wing was first occupied
In the Winter OF 1857 8. The desks cost
500 aud the chairs $50 each. Old mem
bers of the House aud Senate to the
number Of about 90 had selected the desks
they Il, sired to purchase some time before
hand, agreeing with the Clerk of the
House 10 tax them at the average rate
of sale. There were present in person
Senators Boutwell, Sergeant and Window,
who had been members OF the House,
and Messrs. Halsey, Ward, Parsons,
Randall, Lynch, Williams, (lud.) Shanks,
Mccormick, Archer, Harris, French, and
Cragin, who are members, ex-inembers,
or members elect of the next Congress.
The single desks were considered the
most desirable. Strangely enough, the
first desk put up was that occupied BY
Mr., Boutwell, IN the XLth Congress. No.
l04 vas on the outer row, which Thud.
Stevens used TO call the African coast.
This was started at So, and was struck
oil 10 a customer for Sll. The next was
the desk occupied by MIR. Garfield of Ohio,
struck or for Sl3. The next was Mr.
Rainey's - colored scat, bringing Sl1.
Gen. Banks old desk was bought by
Major POore for SIG. Gen. Schenck's
brought sl9. The desks of Gen. Butler,
Mr.. bawes, Judge Kelley, and others
were reserved by these gentlemen or their
friends to be bought at the average rate.
There were tue most anxious inquiries
for the desk occupied for 50 many years
by Thaddeus Stevens, II being well under
stood by the bidders that the House had
conceded to the old commoner. many
years previous to Els death, the scat
which he had chosen and which remain"d
unchanged. The desk was a double one,
the numbers being ~ and A. This was
not offered for sale for some reason un-
known. Il would undoubtedly have
brought at least 800, as s75 had bees
already offered. Ono prominent gentle-
man present said he wanted Oakes Ames
desk In order to learn to put thihg- where
they would do the most good. The de-k,
double ono, brought only 80. SPEAKER
blaine's old desk, also double, and there
fore not considered as desirable, brought
Sl2. The most interesting article sold
was the old chair of the Speaker, made
in 1873, and occupied by Henry Clay.
John Tyler, Robert &, Winthrop, John
Bell, James X. Polk, Howell Cobb,
james l.. Orr, Gen. Banks, and several
other historical characters. In itself II
was a worthless affair, being ungraceiul,
numbering, and rude in construction
made of mahogany, and covered with
crimson silk plush, faded, moth eaten,
and dingy. This chair was sold several
years ago for S33, but the owner, getting
tired of his bargain, it was returned t.
the Capitol, where it has been stored fol
four or five years. II was started at as
high a figure as $40, and reached the sun
of 500, At which il was sold to Mr.
Wormley, a c1lored restaurant keeper
The rest Of the invoice consisted Of car
pts of all kinds, that which has covered
the floor' of the house for the past tw,
years, aud q magnificent, but badly
moth-eaten Turkish rag, costing 500
being the most conspicuous, chairs
tables, desks, bookcases, and genera
committee room furniture. The rite
which most Of the furniture brought werl
excessive, many articles bringing NOR
/ than their original cost several years ago
| The sale Of the desks aud chairs Of tn
hall, which were well preserved ard en-
tirely suitable except IN size, vas ren
dered necessary in consequence of the iu
creased membership under the las
apportionment The number of oil
desks was 252, while the new Consres
/ will require BOB. The desk selected 70
! the new arrangement will cost ahout So
is comT osed of oak gracefully fashioned
but perfectly plain and solid, lis capacit
will equal that Of the old Que, in cOnst
quence Of avoiding the heavy carving an
ornamental work.