The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1883-01-04
A Chinese Auction.

O license to do business as an auctloneer
the first of his race in this city to en-
gage in that business, is now selling
goods under the hammer in a store on
Washington street, near Dupont The
place is fitted up on one side with
counter, behind which sits Mongolian
wearing a skull-cap with red button.
Before him he has an abacus to cast up
accounts, and besides has sundry books
in which he keeps records of sales,
making the entries with o cat t's-hair
brush dipped in India ink. Behind him
are a number of shelves stocked with
gaudy-colored shoes, such as are worn
by Chinese females and children, rare
colored silk handkerchiefs, small look
ing-glasses in teak-wood frames, china
ware decorated with pictures of ami
mails 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 Chi
nese senses.
The auctioneer, in ight-blue suit,
was at his post, and was earnestly urg-
ing those in front of him to purchase.
''He says" said the interpreter, ''new
you have got chance to buy every
thing at your own price, and if you
miss this opportunity you'll wish you
never had been born, for you'll never
get such chance again. One China
man in the center of the crowd drew
the attention of the auctioneer to him,
and with long, bony fingers, pointed to
blouse on one of the cords:''He wants
him to sell that" said the interpreter.
The auctioneer produced the desired
garment, and unfolded it after the man
ner of a cheap John auctioneer when
offering for sale a red shirt, swearing
that it will never fade, never shrink,
and never lose stitch. He dilated
upon its quality and value, declaring
that no Chinese merchant could afford
to sell it for less than twenty dollars.
Through the interpreter the reporter
then ascertained what followed the offer
of the article. II will give So cents"
said the man who had ordered the gar
ment down.
The auctioneer dropped the garment
as if he had been struck by 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 made the offer, and said: Fifty
five cents! What is the matter? Are
you crazy?"
"You said we could have the goods
at our own price, said the bidder.
''Yes, that's what you said," cried
out number of Cinnamon from vari-
Gus parts of the room.
"But | did not say that you could
have them for nothing" remarked the
auetioneer. "Will anybody give any
more for it?''
Now here" said the auctioneer,
holding up the garment with his left
hand and striking the counter with his
right, ''does anybody else offer any
more for this $40 blouse?''
One timid-looking individual in the
rear of the place ventured to bid sixty
cents, when he was assailed by the
voices of at least twenty Cinnamon,
who exclaimed, ''You have no business
to bid more than this man did. The
auctioneer said anyone 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 with
draw his bid.
Give me the garment" said the
first bidder, rendering him two quarters
and a nickel.
"You cannot have it for that" said
the auctioneer.
This assertion was followed by jab-
crowd, which could only be compared
to the chattering of 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
the bidder have the garment. He final
ly yielded and passed over the blouse
and took the purchasers money, which
he handed to one OF his assistants, who
passed it over to the bookkeeper The
purchaser then attempted to fit on the
blouse, but found it 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 it at his own
price, with his eyes open, and now he
must be satisfied.
The purchaser became wrothy, de-
nounced the auctioneer and the manner
in which he did business, but found
that the crowd which, but few min
utes before, had taken sides with him,
had turned against him, SAYING: "a
bargain is bargain, and anybody who
gets one must be satisfied"
After uttering few ''cuss words"
the purchaser of the garment sold it to
smaller man for So cents and went
away,-jSan Francisco Cal.