The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-07-28
AN HOUR WITH AN AUCTION MAN.
4 Motley Collection RivnlinK the "OIt
Curiosity Shop"

Last evening rs reporter was sailing down
Market street, and momentarily growing
more desperate at the prospect of no news tc
fill up the space daily allotted to local mat
tiers, his gaze was arrested by two signs dis.
played in the same store room, so decidedly
in contrast with each other, that he STONED
to see If he had really read Alright. There
could DO no doubt about il; there they were
staring the pedestrian in the face: Steam
engine for sale," and "Tobacco-5cts. per
plug" Looking around his eye caught lie
familiar form OF Councilman Halter in
whose auction room these diverse articles
were displayed. Impelled by curiosity.
the perambulating pencil shower entered and
asked: What do you keep" He was told
that they did not keep anything; they nut
everything at sucl, low prices they could moi
keep them II they wanted TO. Looking
around the store, motley collection met his
eye, and he was led to speculate on the ne.
culiar business in which three large establish.
ments are employed within one souare
AL Of the dealers drive thrifty trade
especially on market days, when the
peculiar proclivity OF the country people for
bargains" ILLS the auction rooms, It Is only
these country people and certain small class.
es OF town folks who patronize an auction
store. Yet il would we'll repay any person
Of curious turn OF mind 10 visit one nj
these three places merely for the purpose of
looking over the varied collection Of arti.
Giles, which could not be rivaled for diversity
or abundance by the famous collection Of
Little NelPs' grandfather, described by
Dickens in his "Old Curiosity Shop
The lady or gentleman-if gentlemen ara
ever affected with such craze-who il de.
sirous of making collection of ANTIQUE
specimens OF furniture or china would find
much just to his fancy here. Furniture of
which, II one were told by person Of YER
acity thnt was relic OF Noah's ark, he would
haYe no reason 10 question the story, stands
beside elegant pieces fresh from the factory
its quaint shape strangely contrasted viii
the massive elegance Of the present STYLE, and
perhaps over both hangs an oil painting
which would pass for the work Of one Of the
old masters Or, lust as probably, chrome
which would DO dear at fifteen cents.
Where DO you get all those things?" re.
well, sir, some OF these articles have a
story OF their own. There is costly set Of
furniture without u scratch. 1t was the
property OF young married couple only for
n few weeks. The wife died, and her bns.
band went West, disposing OF this for loo,
than one.third its cost before he went, Here ia
SET OF chairs, old butsubstantial yet, which
was part OF the furniture with which a former
prominent minister started housekeepinp
years ago. When he recently left the CITY
these were too Anticipated to be worth liz
trouble Of packing and moving, and bought
them for n song. There Is cradle in which
one Of the most prominent lawyers In this
city was rocked TO sleep when he was u babe.
II was given by bis mother to q younger lady
now, vast also rocked in It. Baby burpie,
are turned in here when they are sljr6tlv
worn,or the children outgrow. them. Much
OF our stock Is from people who break mn
housekeeping. Here Is a set OF musical in.
stTuments, pawned by minstrel band with
boarding house keeper, and left with mo 10
sell. There Is no end to the avenues OF sun.
ply, sir; no end" N. .sH'is
~ notice. said tile reporter, pointing to a
1