The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1876-10-04
FROM the Grases ct Perae.

From the New York sun, September 20.l
Antiquity resumed its reiga yes
terday, rearing its throne in the CliH-
ton Hall auction rooms Yellow
skinned mummies, hideoUs stone and
wooden idols, and grinning human
skulls were its visible forms. A
pamphlet catalogue made it known
that the antiquities are Peruvian. and
that they are the property Of a man
who exbumed an ancient graveyard
on the sight Of one OF the temples Of
incas near Lima, and that the public
is expected to buy them. About a
hundred persons assembled to see the
queerest Of actions. Several women
examined the age-grimed mummies
with deep interest. The gem of the
collection is a mummie still wrapped
in its cerements, and looking like a
bundle of bedclothes. Speculation
ran high as 10 what might be found
after this bundle was unroiled, be-
cause the old Peruvians had Gus
tom Of wrapping up with the pre-
serFed boddies of men aud women
not only rich garme5ts. ugly weap-
ons, kitchen utensils and farming
implements, but costly jewels Of gold
and silver.
Now then" the auctioneer said,
as be confidently mounted the auc-
tion block, "will anybody bid on this
mummy? Remember, nobody knows
what its got inside There may be
very valuable there"
Every body stared at his neighbor
and at the CHASTITY goods that the
auctioneer was Offering, but nobody
bid. At length man in
a iar-off corner, man who clearly
had speculation in his.eye, muttered
10 a hesitatiDg way, Five dollars" "
fhe aGctiOneer raised bis eyebrows,
and the owner Of the mummies
seowled. The spectators looked at
each other suggestiveIy, but said
I'VE don. want to throw away
the auctioneer said;
start it at twenty dollars and let it
run up" But nobody wanted
mummy in bis house, and nobody
would start it, and so the grinning
skulls were taken up. Here are
.hirty-fve skulls-skGlls Of men, skulls
of women and skulls ofctildren, with I
hair beautifully preserved. How |
much for the lot ~
Fifty dollars" shouted a gentle I
man, whom every body at once took 1
or a pbrenolOgist. "F'ifty-fve' chin
ID in another. Lively bidding fol- |
owed, and the skulls were knocked .
iown at $50 30.
Then somebody called for another
,hance at the mummies, and after
Iome chafng, the owner consented
o let the bystanders begin the bid
ling on the wrapped-up mummie at
%, and it was sold for Sill Then
~ unwrapped and peculiarly hoIri-
Die mummy was knocked down for
'3, and three babie mummies, one
With crimson scull, were knocked
Iowa at Sl.50 apiece.
4 "dissected dog,p which looked
IS though an elephant had stepped
n it, was sold for $3.50. Ancient
nortars, grinding-stones, fishing nets
md ropes were rallied off for a few
billings, and then attention was at
racted 10 wooden idol eight feet high,
5Eieh at the beck Of the auctioneer,
nd the agency of boy behind it,
walked out from the wall and grimly
odded to the bidders. A stout. /
ood-natured woman bought it for {
$50 An idol, only six feet high. {
7as sold to a man for half that sum. I
Ancient standards, flags of inde- i
cloth, clubs and other weap- !
us, and artificial heads OF stuffed d q
'oollen cloth sold at good prices q
ben the stout woman beaming with /
miles, bought two little idols to
eep the big ones company. She q
Iso did some spirited bidding on q
me funeral ornaments" in the
hape of sticks wound with colored
ords and hung with woollen tags,
ut solemn-visaged man got them
IT about 81
Some beautiful seals and hero
lyphics cat in wood with marvellous Q
Kill sold for only SL75. A beauti-
Il string OF ornamental beads Welded 5
l3, and four chalices, ingeniously
roGght, were sold for SS 80. Beau Il
ful terre Gotta jars and vaces orna-
ented with the figures of quadru- Q
eds and mems faces, exLumed from :
Ie ancient graves eighty feet beolw a
Ie surface, were sold at from 81 to o
10 each. A lot Of little grinning q
OILS went oil at lively rate. The U
out woman got an armful, and as !.
e number diminished the excite D
ent increased, until the table was II
rrounded by men pushing one v
lother, and each holding a dingy
tie idol in bis hand, and shouting: $
III take him for City cents" EN- II
We II dollar for two A priests P
ga, which looked in color and p
,uring like country bed quilt was u
Id for Sl2, and gown of exquis- u
,ly beautiful birds feathers was a
ockee nown at So. A
After all the antiquities" had G.
en sold, men who looked like Sun ic
y school teachers slipped out the u
ii Gown the back stairs with little ol
ols peeping from their pockets. ~