The New York herald., 1878-10-24
THE OLD CURIOSITY SHOP.

DIsPosING OF sroCk OF Rare AND CURIOUS
ARTlcLEs-BAD WAITER FOR BRIC-A-BR,c.
Tho brio-abrac hunters OF this vicinity have long
known or Drake's old curiosity shop For many
years was situated Chambers street not far from
North River piers, aud people had an idea that
impecunous sailors returning homo after long
cruise found Mr. Draks's place capital one wherein
to dispose OF anything rare or curious they had
picked up in their travels. The shop was long and
dark, and . feeling OF uncertainty was often cx-
perienced by The buyer In purchasing from
the back shevsh But no liked IT. Your
rue bric-a-brac huEser prefers 70 search IN
out Of the way and 10 discover. ~ 1t were,
among heaps OF RUBBISH some rare bH A year or 90
ago Drake moved out OF the darkness OF Chambers
street into the light si Broadway and displayed his
lares and penates IN a more commodiQus shop, just
below Bieecker street Fe~ persons could pass the
'Old CURIOSITY Shop" as It was conspicuousy la
bened, without stopping 90 gaze through thc not
over cisan windows the singular collection INSIDE
A. the very door he Was met by Chinese bell .nS
Drake has been ILL., SO he dcterminsd ten days ago. TO
close out his business. Accordingly an auctSa was
announced, which was begun by Barker Co. yes
serday afternoon.
curious sight greeted porter hts entrance
from the gay and muddy Broadway into the queer old
snop. Artices were thrown together In The most
incongruous heaps An Indian scalp hung across the
shoulder oil = Chinese god; buffalo robe covered .
OFT OF old lace; Japanese pnrasol hung with pair
OF snowshoss; Chinese mask grinnsd from he head
up with Isather pouches tho murderous tonanAwk
reposed against the peaceful pruniag kniie and bits
Of rare old cuina stood side BY With the CON-
OF gay colored Chinese lanterns and ON tns walls
Turkish and Persian rugs were displayed In all
their rich rsdncsa Camp chairs were scattered 10
among pieces of antique furniture and ever chang
ing crowd OF mud-bespAttered people nlsd tho open
space. AT the lower end the auctoneer shouted from
his PLATFORM while row Of gas jets illuminated each
article as was placed upon green covered stand
surrounded by his stuffed snakes and birds,
marking the prices In HIS catalogue and re-
garding the sale with melancholy interest. "rh,s
bad beginning" said ne 10 Tho HERALD reporter,
..the storm has Kept the rcn collectors away. ana
things not bringing halt what they cost Look AZ
csnts, aDa .ney cos, me a." "A pair Of Japa.
vases" shoutei the auctionecr. ''bIue and
wnus; what am l offered Tor themf" 'sTen
10 another voice that bid hfteen cents each.
OFF cHEAP
French woodsn shoes, 81; Japanese china plague
with blue nguses, SO cents; French glass vase, Is
two white porcelain bouquet vases, cents two Jap
anese china cups, 10 cents; French fAience cup and
cover 10 e.n 40 soony e,spnann rno "a wnc
two Japanese CHINA vasss, rs cents; japanese china
teapot, 30 eents; TIVE curiously shaped toothbrush
crackie ware sucn usually sell Tor $25, brought
81 80 each; = tnird broush. 81: Two japanese
rss.a % IEss group. nssn:i and ss 81 a si... asa
in panel, 81 20; Italian brorzs holy water font,
s.: Italian marble vase, 10 cents; Chinese iniaid
box Is cents; Two Japanese tea oaddiss, WOOD inisd
wtn gold. 30 cents each; msjoica pitcher. antique
pat,ern, 50 so; swe lava Egyptian vases, 81 Isl
French China ssa and coffee pot 30 csuts each nest
Of Kioto boxss SO cents; two Chinese clay nguros,
20 cents each; one Japanese god (bronzeh 81
s.rne people don't give any more for the
COED thIngs than for tho bad" said Mr.
Drake "lrs twenty cents Tor common
clay figure and twenty cents Tor . piece o
cnins. hope that wei have better weather so-mor.
row and that more conncisseurs Will be out. Those
who been here to day have picked up bargains.
'I have bsen quite tempted 10 spend the nmbie slx
pence myself" !" sad the reporter, rising from old
Normaady chair. "whsn do you sell the mics, y
Mr. Drake" "rnsy come later on IN tho catalogue
with she antiqucs,' ssit ne, pickinG up South
Sea Island fan snat nad Iailen TO the hoor.