Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1879-04-21
9aaies' Column.
BUYING AT AUCTION.

10 get bargain is one OF the sweetest
delights of the female soul. Mr.. Smith
may attend foreclosure sale and buy
property for ten thousand dollars which
originally cost twenty thousand. He
will be serenely complacent. But his
calm content is dullness in COMPARE
son with the ecstatic delight of Mrs.
Smith when she secures ten yards of lace
for FIVE dollars, the real value of which
is ten. Said an old dry goods dealer,
not long since, "The best way to sell out
old goods is to have slight fire on the
premises occasionally. Damaged goods,
you know. Slightly spoiled by smoke
and water. Bargains, don't you see?
Go off like hot cakes |" A certain firm
discovered that they had in stock an
over supply of towels. They offered
them at low figures. Still they remained
on hand. At last one of the clerks sug-
gested an experiment. ''Let us dampen
them over night and advertise a rare
bargain of goods slightly damaged by
water" The bait took. The ladies came
to inspect. They were wary at first.
having been oft deceived by pretended
bargains. But the dampness was incon-
testible proof of the genuineness of this
one, and the firm sold its stock and sent
for more.
1t is this eagerDess to get for money
more than the moneys worth which has
helped to build up the business of the
auctioneer. Changes of fashion, of cir
cumstances, of residence are frequent,
and it is often great convenience to be
able, at short notice, to turn household
goods into cash. When Mr. Shoddy
grows suddenly rich he can thus dispose
of the old furniture and make way for
the new. When, by another turn in the
wheel of fortune he is again poor. be
can again take advantage of the auction
room, to his own loss indeed, but to the
gain of many who thereby secure genuine
bargains. At certain seasons of the year
the papers are crowded with advertise
ments of these auction sales. Thrifty
housewives, anxious to renew at as little
cost as possible, and young married PEG.
pie about to begin housekeeping, scan
them with interest. But let the mex.
perienced beware how they venture tt
attend them. The probabilities are thai
they will return rich in experience, in
deed, but poor in pocket and in temper
as we'll. The great temptation at suct
sales is to buy what is not needed, which
is often dear at any price.
The power which skillful auctioneel
exerts over his auditors is something
wonderful. He knows at a glance tn,
new customers. 1t is to them that h.
addresses himself as he dwells on 9Th
tremendous sacrifice" ''the last chance,
etc. Old birds are not usually caugh
with such chaff. To such we offer few
suggestions:
) 1st. Don't attend an auction sale a1a
less you really need something s0hich 4
to be sold. Goods bought because the,
may come handy sometime are foolisl
purchases. The money is sure to b
useful. Therefore keep it until you nee'
> its equivalent
End. Avoid sales achich are flaming
ty advertised. Mock auctions in whic
the buyers are "Sold' as we'll as tn
goods have generally the most attractiv
advertisements.
Sd. Enamine an article before pm
: chasing and knoa0 the price of a Simila
article IN the store. Decide upon maa
t imum bid and don't go above It, Onl
thus are you likely to leave the sale a
truly we'll off as you went in.