Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1883-02-17
Tie Misses couts' Auction Parry"

highly enjoyable "Auction Party"
given by Misses Florence and Jessie
Couts, on Tuesday evening in honor
of their charming guest, Miss Rosa
Sparks, of Louisville, Ky. The
novelty of the affair was in itself
enough to create an unusual inter
est among the bellies and beaux and
for several days previous the invited
guests were on the tip-toe of pleas
ing expectancy in anticipation of
the coming happy event. Most of
them had heard or read of an "auc-
ton party" but few had attended
one and therefore the anxious pleas
ure experienced ia discussing and
anticipating what it really was
to be, was only surpassed by the
enjoyment and mirth-provoking
pleasure of the actual participation
in the novel entertainment itself.
There were twenty couples invi-
ted, and the arrangements oil serve
were, to have the young ladies as
semble, without escorts, early in
the evening, and disguise them
selves in sheets and white dominoes
so that they could not be recognized
by the young gentlemen who were
to bid for them. AS soon as the
young gentlemen arrived, they
were designated by blue ribbon
badge, numbered from l to 90. The
young ladies, disguised as stated,
were stationed In one end of the
capacious double parlors, the gen.
tlemen in the other and the auction
began, the young lady being sold
to the highest bidder, and designa-
ted as his property by pink rib
bon numbered the same as that OF
the purchaser.
Capt. T. H. Hyman, the gentle
manly and clever auctioneer, kind
ly consented to act as crier and dis
pose of the precious articles. The
Captain has so long been popular
auctioneer on our Tobacco Board,
that he could not feel entirely at
home unless he could Imagine, at
least, that he was disposing Of the
precious leaf. He accordingly hit
upon the happy idea Of naming
these priceless plants after his favor
lite brands of the delicious weed.
AS each fair sample was brought
forward and placed upon the mar
ket, the bidding was active and
strong, even "eXtra fine Tugs" Qhere
were no common lttgs, of course)
ranging from $40 to $I5. Indeed
the "breaks" had been made in the
higher grades and almost every
sample offered showed up "good
leaf" ''fine leaf' or selections"
and were taken by the eager gentle
men around the Board without re-
gard to price.
The first hid. offered was a fine
"Swiss Wrapper" and after spir-
tied bidding was knocked off to a
foreign-looking buyer, who, from
his rotundity, WAS supposed to be
Mr.. Fatman.
No. Am A No. l "German
Filler" was eagerly captured by
German buyer with an American
name. Price paid, $17 so.
The market here took a decided
upward tendency and the prices
paid were really marvellous.
A stray hid. of White Burnley by
some accident, was placed under
the gavel and came near ''going by
the Board" had not, just at this
time a poor deluded buyer who
used to read the Tobacco Leaf, come
in and bid it off. The other buyers
called him a Sucker"
Among other notable sales, the
newspaper man noted fine sample
of "German Spinner" or "Spinster,"
he failed to catch which. A "Mot.
tied Wrapper" mot Dolly Varden)
sold well. A hogshead of "Fat
Lug" was little heavy, but sold
well. A "Frosted Lear a little
"sere and yellow" sold remarkably
well. A "Free Stemmer" went like
a flash.
The highest purchase of the sale
was a splendid brazilian Leaf"
marked mysteriousIy, "Miss R
s., No H." 1t was a beautiful
sample, bright and shapely, and
the buyers all seemed determined
to secure the prize. The reporter
himself turned bidder for the
nonce and put in a bid, but his
purse could not hold out and his
hopes all "ended in smoke"
1t must be remembered that the
samples were not permitted to be
closely inspected during the sale,
but after the auction closed, the
coverings were removed and each
buyer rushed quickly forward to
claim his purchase. No rebates or
resales allowed.
The auction over, the remainder
of the evening was spent in laugh
ter and conversation with the love-
ly, precious weeds" which had
been quickly metamorphosed into
the persons and forms of a bevy of
most beautiful and fascinating
young ladies.
A choice and bounteOus repast
was enjoyed during the evening.
The "Auction Party" was rare
and radiant success. The pleasant
and agreeable hostesses were heart
lily thanked and congratulated by
all present.
T.