Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-08-15

so the dealer informed the scribe, con-
tanned wearing apparel. On top of the
shelves were clocks, guns, comets, musical
instruments of all kinds, and several old
beavers, one of which was the property of
an ex-Congressman. Through another
little door at the end of the bundle room
the reporter fonnd himself in what the
dealer termed his cloak-room. Here at
least 100 seal skin cloaks, from the short
visite to the long dolman, were arranged in
regular order, covered with a long black
cloth. A strong odor of camphor per
meated the atmosphere and not even fly,
much less moth, could be seen about the
room.
"You see we have to be very careful
about the goods" explained the dealer,
"and every day we have man dust them"
There were other cloaks in the room, but
for the most part it was taken up by the
sealskins.
Emerging once more into the store
proper the reporter found himself before
large safe, in which the iewelry was kept.
Swinging back the heavy doors and OPEN
ing a number Of drawers marked consecu-
lively, the reporter thought for moment
he was dreaming and was in King Solo
mons mines, for before him, squeezing each
other out of place, he beheld hundreds of
watches, gold and silver, open aud hunt
ing-ease, some with initials on them and
Others beautifully engraved, and all bear
ing telltale ticket. commencing with the
number found on the drawer, which desig-
mated their location. 1t was left for the
small safe adjoining this one, however, to
astound the reporter and make him enter
tain burglarious thoughts, for before him,
peering cut of iron drawers, were innumer-
pendants, rings, chains and charms. In
fact, it seemed as though every design
known was to be found in one ofthese little
drawers. There they lay, these precious
gems, glistening with wild, fiendish light,
as though inviting the observer to snatch
them from their rude resting place. Near
by was drawer given up exclusively to
other precious stones, and there the unlucky
opal, glistenipg with all the colors Of the
rainbow, lay side by side with rubies,
garnets, emeralds and other precious
stones. 1t was beautiful sight, and the
effect was heightened by ray of sunlight
which came through the window and fell
upon the gems. Below the drawer which
contained the precious stones was the
chain drawer, and here all manner and
shapes of gold chains could be found, some
bearing lockets in which were traces Of
hair, no doubt remembrance of departed
ones.
In another compartment of the safe was
| another drawer given up exclusively to
old gold and silver, but it had no interest
for the reporter, so he moved on behind
| the counter. Here he found veritable
old curiosity shop, with music boxes,
| Bibles, silyer-mounted coffin handles and
even an inscription plate from coffin
| bearing the obliterated name of some poor
unfortunate. In plush case was noticed
medal handsomely gotten up and pre-
sented to one of the privates who guarded
General Logan's tomb for fidelity. The
| medal at the lowest estimate cost about
| $50, and was labeled ''for SALE" 1t had
| been sold outright for about 81. Refer
| ring to the medal the dealer said: "People
make great mistake in giving medals to
poor people. How much better it would
be to give them money in the first place,
for they will sell them just as soon as they
| get pushed for money. Now, | can show
you in my safe at least fifty medals and
can also give you a record of at least three
| times that number that have been melted
up which came from people who had re-
ceiyed them at school. But there, you
have seen the most important things
have here" So the reporter bowed him
self out, thinking that if each article II
that establishment could tell its own tale
of sorrow what sad, sad novel it woulC
make.