Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-11-21
A CHINESE AUCTION.
Buying Things at Your own Price.
San Francisco Gail


Inc Chlnaman who recently obtained
a license to do business as an auctioneer,
/ the frst OF his race in this city to engage
IN that business, is now selling goods IN
! DER the hammer in store in Washington
street, near Dupont The place is fitted
! up on one side with a counter, behind
/ which sits Monaghan wearing a skull
! cap with red button. Before him he
mas an abacus to cast up accounts, and
besides has sundry books in which
| ne keeps records of sales, making
the entries with a cats hair brush
dipped in India ink. Behind him are a
number of shelves stocked with gaudy
colored shoes, such as are worn by Chi
| nese females and children, rare colOred
SILK handkerchiefs, small looking glasses
IN teak wood frames, chinaware deco
rated with pictures of animals known
| only to the Chinese, and which it would
be impossible for the most expert white
naturalist to classify, and fancy articles
which please the Chinese senses.
The auctiOneeT, in light, blue suit,
was at his post, and was earnestly urging
those in front of him to purchase. "He
says, said the interpreter, now you We
got chance to buy everything at your
own price, and If yOu miss this oppOrtu-
nifty you II wish you had never been born,
Tor you II never get such a chance again. 3"
One Chinaman in the centre of the crowd
drew the attention Of the auctiOneer.t to
him, and with long bony finger pointed
to a blouse on one of the cords. He
wants him to sell that, said the interpre-
ter
The auCtiOneer produced the desired
garment, and unfOlded it after the man
ner of a Cheap John auctiOneer when
Offering FOR sale red shirt, swearing
that it will never fade, never shrink,
and never lose a stitch; he dilated upon
its quality and value, declaring that no
Chinese merchant could afford to sell
1t tor less than $50 Through the inter,
prefer, the reporter then ascertained
what followed the offer of the article
81 Will give 80 cents, said the man who
had ordered the garment down.
The auctioneer dropped the garment
as if be had been struck bv PARALYSIS. A
moment after he arose to his full height,
and shading his eyes with his right hand
cast a glance at the man who had made
the offer, and sand, Fifty five cents!
What is the matter; are you crazv?"
"You said we could have the goods at
our own price, said the bidder.
eyes, that's what you said, cried out
a number of ChiLamen from various
darts of the room.
But L did not say that you could
have them for nothing" remarked the
auctloneer "Will anybody give any
more for it?'
Not a word was spoken for several
seconds.
NOW, here" said the auctioneer.
holding up the garment with his left
hand and striking the counter with his
right, docs anybody else offer any more
for this $50 blOuseY
One timid-lOoking individual in the
rear of the place Yentured to bid sixty
cents, when he was assailed by the voices
of at least twenty Cinnamon, who ex.
claimed: You have no business to bid
more than this man did The auctiOneer
said any one could have goods at his
own price-this man fixed his price, and
you have no business to interfere"
The auCtiOneer entered into long
explanation as to the rights of bidders at
an auction, but the crowd held him to
his announcement that purchasers could
have goods at their own price, and forced
the second bidder to withdraw his bid.
GIVE me the garment, said the frsts
bidder, rendering two quarters and
nickel.
You cannot have it for that, said
the auctiOneer.
This assertion was followed by a lab
bering by every one composing the
crowd, which could only be compared
to the chattering of a cage full Of mon
keys. The purpOrt of the remarks was
that the auctiOneer had been taken at his
word, and that he would have to let that
bidder have the garment. He finally
yielded and passed over the blouse and
took the purchasers money, which he
passed to one of his assistants, who pass
ed 1t over to the boOkkeeper. The pur-
chaser then attempted to fit on the blouse,
but found il about four sizes too small for
him, and he then wanted the auctioneer
to take it back and return him his money,
but this he refused to do, saying he
bought 1t at his own price, with his ewes
open, and now he must be satisfied.
The purchaser became wrathy, de-
nOunced the auctiOneer and the manner
in which he did business, but found that
the crowd which, but few minutes be-
fore, had taken sides with him, had
turned in favor of the auctIOneer, saving:
"a bargain is a bargain, and anybody
who gets one must be satisfied"
After mutteTing a few "cuss words"
the purchaser of the garment sold it to a
smaller man for 35 cents and went away.