Omaha daily bee., 1874-06-11
SUMNER.
The Sale of the Late Senator's
Furniture.

Washington Dispatch TO the Boston Globe
JLneS.
The sale OF what remained of the
late Senator Sumner, which tool
place at the late residence of the
Senator to-day was largely attended
by persons from Boston, New York,
and Philadelphia, as well as citizens
of Washington. A very large pro-
portion of those present were wom-
en- who are i'm the habit of attending
auction sales. The interest in the
sale began when the auctioneer pro-
ceeded to dispose of the things i'm
the dining-room. 1t was noticed
that James Wormly, the WELL
known colored caterer and proprie-
tor af Wormley's Hotel, started all
bids for dining-room furniture.
During Mr.. Summers life, Mr..
Wormly was his intimate friend.
He looked after the Senator house.
hold affairs generally, and, when
Mr.. Sumner furnished his house,
MIR. Wormly was the agent
who purchased a large number
of articles for him. He
appeared determined to become the
possessor of nearly all the dining
room furniture, and invariably star
ted the bidding. The first article
sold was a splendid sidebOard, which
was much priced by the Senator,
and which originally cost nearly
$500. Mr.. Wormley bid 500 on
it at once, and it was knocked
down TO him at 500. He subse-
quently purchased the dining-table
at which 3 many famous men have
sat, chairs, and everything else in
the room of any account. For the
chairs, one of which Mr.. SumDer
usually occupied at the head of the
table, Mr.. Wormley paid $50. There
being sharp competition for it, if
necessary he would have bid 500,
for he wants to place the entire
set of furniture in one room in his
hotel, which he will call the
Summers dining room. Everything
in the dining room brought twice
its value, except the sideboard. In
this room a dilapidated iy-brush
went for 81 so; a walnut picture
rack for $50; two walnut easels at
Sll and 81 so, respectively. A small
scrap-basket was sold to George Il.
Downing for 81. In the library a
walnut office desk went to A. NJ.
Howe, of Boston, for SI79; walnut
book shelves to Fred. Douglass at
81 each; a walnut bookcase, with
glass doors, to &. c. Beaman, of
New York, formerly private score
tary to the senator, for Sl54; arOth-
er walnut bookcase to Miss Bout
well, a daughter of Senator Bout
well, for SCI; a Turkish lounge for
S35; walnut arm chair, upholstered
in green damask, to Fred. Douglass
for SIC; a Turkish rug, to a Boston
Lady, at S27; a set of trays to c. C..
Beaman for S2l. and six small wal
nut baskets at 81 each.
A lot of sideboard ornaments,
such as book-rack, rural picture
frames, brackets, eall-hells, ETC.,
sold at high prices. One chair in
the library, formerly occupied by
Samuel Randall, of Pennsylvania,
iu the House of Representatives,
run up to $500, and was purchased
by a Boston man underline suppO-
sition that it had been the chail
used by Mr.. Sumner in the Senate,
This was the best price obtained fol
any piece of furniture in the house.
Two easy chairs, much used by the
Senator during life, and which al
ways occupied conspicuous place:
i'm the library, yer missing, hav
ing been sold privately. Had they
been exposed to public sale, they
would have brought large sums, a.
quite a number of friends of tn,
Senator went to the sale for the spe
cial purpose of buying them. The
parlOr reception chair, beautifully
upholstered, was bought by a lady
from Boston for S37. A walnut card.
table commanded as high a price a:
$50. In this connection it may bt
stated that a Boston lady who made
a number Of purchases, gave NJ
other name i'm buying except "BOs
ton" Many persons came expect
ing to buy ordinary FASHIONABLE
household furniture at q mOderat,
price. On observing the figures a
which everything went, they left in
despair. A great majority of tn
bidders seemed to be either friend:
or admirers of the late Senator, VIII,
desired some memento, no matter a
what price. The bidding wa
spirited at all times, but there wa
no complaint of unfairness i'm dis
posing of the goods The wine
and liquors of the Senator will no
be sold until tomorrow morning, a
ii o'clock, it being impossible t
reach them to-day. The sale to-da,
was unusually slow, from the fac
that scarcely anything was sold in
lump, it being desirable for the &C
commodation of Mr.. Sumner
friends to sell articles separately
i'm order that everybody NIGH
secures souvenir. Among those VIII,
we're present at the sale were Sena
tor Boutwell, and Representative
Pierce, of Massachusetts, and MI
Harris, of Mississippi. besides
| number of Senators and Represents
tives from other States.
The tall musical clock I'm the hal
was not offered for sale, ii being sol
at private sale for the extraordinar
sum of s., 1000. The sum of 81 90
was first offered, several days age
but, since that, 1t is understood tina
two other parties put in bids, on!
! Tor g, 900, and the other for $1,000
1t is related Of this musical clocl
that just prior TO Mr.. Sumner
death it executed a dirge. 1t al
ways plays a short air a few minute
before striking, and although nc
especially remarkable in appear
ance, its mechanism Is very CON
plicated. With the paintings, Ell
cravings, statuary, and other art
cles of virtu, which formed tn
charm of Summers home, removed
the house presented a rather deserte
appearance, but people seemed de
termined TO obtain some memenl
of the great Senator, and many
them paid high prices for insight
cant articles. 1t is expected tn;
ct the sale of wines and liquors t,
morrow there will be some shar
competition.