The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-07-26
4 JUNK SHOP ROMANCE.
A Strange Tale From a Local Dealer
in Odds and Ends.
PROVIDENCE AND THE LEvANT.
DsautifuI Blades Made ny Local Tool
Company for 'Mosismitss' Use Fall
Into the Hands Of the curio Hunters
Amer Strange Adventures.

A man walked up Dyer street on Mon-
dav Of this week: he was smart chap,
and very versatile, because he could do
lots of things at the same time. He was
walking. swearing at the baked heat,
mopping his brow, and thinking. When
he reached Perry's junk shop he stepped
20 the door to let the darkness embrace
him In its soft folds aud refresh him with
the moist cool air. He saw among heap
OF old Junk something which attracted
his attention.
"What are those ~ he enquired.
"What are you going to do with them -
"The Lord only knows
Wont be tell :"
"He amt yet"
Further inquiry brought out the history
iwav back in 1906 the PROVIDENCE
Tool Company rejoiced over an important
contract. whereby they agreed to furnish
several thousand sabre bayonets for the
Rou manian government. For two. or
three years the works were devoted 10
fulfilling this order, with the hnai result
Of having several hundred bayonets left
which the Roumanians would not accept.
The hayonets without the sabres. which
were detachab were slightly remoddled
and disposed of, but there were the hun
drods OF sabres, which were made TO sell
q $500 each left, practically useless.
finest damascus steel, 25 inches In length,
while she hilt is of finely wrought brass,
solid. and exQuisitely carved. A sheath
Of polished steel holds this fine piece OF
mechanism. Just how these sabres
passed in downward stages from pros
cesses OF a junk shop no one can clearly
explain, but the fact remains that Mr..
Perry bought GOO at the price of old iron,
4 csnts a pound, and so each sabre cost
him probably ABOUT cents. When the
man who had stepped into the junk deal
ers to cool himself. went away he took
one Of the sabres with him, and later
hour exhibited IL In the office OF one OF
the principal manufacturing concerns OF
the city. Here two progressive young
men saw. and at the same time conceived
3 plan to make a good thing out OF their
aale. They bought on venture 2oo OF
inal. and then exhibited. them Tor sale at
their own figures
What could have been the fascination
about the things it Ia hard to solve, but
in one afternoon they sold nearly all the
800 and mad orders for an equal number
But someone had seen place to profit
By the alertpess- OF others, and when the
first purchasers went back to Perry's
every sabre had been scooped up by some
one unknown. Those sold have been re-
sold in some instances over and over
again, bringing S5 readily. They make
beautiful and original article OF decora-
tion and their use has become reigning
TAD. A pair crossed above fireplace or
above picture; slung gracefully on the
side wall two, run points inward through
the rings OF a portiere. dispensing with
the wood pole crossed above an easel on
Which rests . battle scene; a pair stand
ing upright with q sheath as an upright,
thus forming an easel these are the uses
70 which some CT them have been put.
But perhaps the most attractive way in
which any have been utilized is at AN old
house out In Phenix. In a big entrance
hall, papered with q covering now ffty
years in use, there hangs picture par
ticulariy striking.
II is the head And bust of Turkish sol
der; the fex covers head miraculously
ifelike, and u face startlipgly sad seems
70 hold the gaze Of the one who views It,
The head droops; bayonet top just
shows, and underneath the picture Is the
legend: "Mixpah." Crossed under this
picture are two of the sabres, held Ia po-
sition by the faded silken sash which
once was part OF a uniform OF soldier
In the civil war. On the sash is dark
spot that does not fade. Neither does
tue memory Of the fearless man whose
life blood stained 1t. and who lay in
peace as the tumult of battle ragged
around him, while his soul was marching
IN