Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-04-20
WASHINGTON AUCTIONEERs.
FAMILIAR FACES IN WASHINGTON.
ALL sHREWD BUSINESS MEN.
And Public Spirited Citizens Of the
National Capital.

There ia something very attractive about an
auction sale. Wherever the red flag is swung
10 the breeze or the sound of the auctioneer's
bell l. heard there Is nearly always sure to be a
crowd All do not buy. but they like to see
other people buy. and then, perhaps there may
be something going very cheap. which 1t would
be pity to miss. Whether it is household
goods. groceries. or flowers the nimb!e tongue
vi the auctiOncer. as a rule. finds customers
The great CONVEX ience of the auction sale IN
aiding the householder or the stOrekeeper to
clear out the old stock and make room for the
new l. appreciated by the public. But whether
from this cause or on account of misfortunes of
various kinds. there is generally an auction of
some sort IN progress each day III this city.
Such l. the extent of the business that auction
eers are obliged to provide large rooms where
goods can be properly exhibited. When there
Is sale OF fine paintings or rugs. then the
floors are covered with carpets and the walls
concealed with hangings. The scene is again
shifted to bare walls and floors when a rougher
class of goods Is to be disposed of. and so an
GuctOn-rOOm Is seldom the same in appearance.
One day it may be filed with the highest pro-
ducts of artistic work. and the next it may con-
tain only reminders of hard times. Still there
Is the same bell. the same red flag. and. 1t may
Dc added, the same persistent and
PERSUASIVE VOICE OF THE AUCTIoSEER.
But this latter is hardly true. The auction
eer suits himself to his audience and to the oc
easion. He has his joke which puts everybody
III good humOr; he has his serious words of ex-
postulatlon when he reasons and warns his
audience Of the splendid opportunities for Sc
curing bargains that are being missed by their
lack of appreciation. He has his moments of
for compelling him to make such shameful sac
rliices, and then again he rattles along cheerily
without pause, feeling confident that he has
d lot OF appTeCIatlye bidders before him. The
mood of the aUctlOneer Is as varied as the APP
pearJnce of the auction room and the articles
offered for sale. Nearly everyone has at some
time or another made the acquaintance of an
auction room.
REAL ESTATE UNDER THE HAMMER.
In this city. however. the vocation of the auc-
tioneer is not confined to his auction-room or
some deserted residence where goods are TO be
sold. He takes the place of a real estate ex-
change. In addition to the usual court sales of
real estate II is quite common for owners to put
up property for sale. Such sales are well at
tended and the results carefully noted, as they
are regarded as assisting materially in fixing
the market price of real estate. In some cases
II l. found that more money can be obtained
Tor property at an auction sale than at a private
rdLt. Inc aucuOneer. therefore. Is very I'M
pOrtant figure in the real estate market. and in
"a certain sense he may be said to determine
the prices. Some of the best property in the
city has passed under the auctiOneer's hammer.
not by reason OF "a forced sale. but because it
was regarded rs the best method of getting the
property on the market. The auctiOneer comes
to be regarded as public character. His face
Is a familiar one in the community. While his
personal acquaintance is apt to be large. vet
the number of those who know him by sight is
much larger
Thomas Bowling.
familiar face is that of Mr.. Thomas Dow
ling. He Is the veteran of the auction business
III this city. His beard and hair are now be-
coming sprinkled with gray. but he is not an
old man. although he has been for more than