The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1897-05-22
DIPLOMATIC AUCTIONS.
Eric-a- Brao Bargains in Washing
ton Eagerly Sought
The Belongings of Retiring Foreign
OmciaIs Are Put Up at Pub
lie Sale-ImpositionO Os~--
PKnctfced.

4 graceful custom among foreign
diplomats at Washington is the auction
sale which frequently befalls on the oc-
oasion of the recall of one of our alien
ambassadors or ministers
They don'talways come of, of course.
Sometimes, as was the case when Fava
he's back here MOVEMENT homE,
there was no auction of legation effects
to mark the great event, as there was
in that eminent Italians case no lega-
ton effects. Nor was it true when the
recent Turk set sail. But he, poor Mus.
sulman, was so threatened in his per-
turbed mind with immolation so soon
as he should arrive at COnstantinople,
so sure that it was a case of the bow
string and the Bosporus in his bust
ness, that he had no heart for COM
merce.
But, aside from these, the other three
diplomats" who have lately returned
from here hung out the red flag of trade,
hired some local chanter to cry the
wares and had "a sale" The Austrian
was the last to do this. This is the
system:
For two weeks before their excel
iencies decamp the local papers revel in
q long and lurid "ad.," recounting the
recall of the ambassador or minister,
and declaring how on a certain day all
people 50 minded are invited to appear
and contest at public vendue for a
dazzling List of plunder in said lad" set
forth.
Prime among the properties for sale
you will notice wines and many thing
besides that are as articles of CON-
merce highly tarifred. But in these
cases courtesy has held the tariff at
bay. All of a legations wines and
cigars and furniture-in fact, every
thing of personal sort of that lega-
tion causes to be brought to America
is passed scot free at our customs.
Gre will readily discern that a ripe
,.rofit might be made to roll pleasingly
up at one of these untariEed legation
sales. Our town tradespeople must,
:owever. pay the fiddler in each noble
Instance.
At these sales snobdom turns stoutly
| tut. The bidding is hot and fast and
! nigh. There Is nothing to be lusted for
| by certain sort of American, crlnging-
| " numerous hereabouts, as wine
which has been justified by an ambas-
| sadorial taste, or a piece of furniture or
br;c-a- -brac which has been soiled by
noble and titled contact And therefore
these legation auctions furnish the
most heated co1nbats. And many fool
| il fieeced.
| It is also to be remarked that these
| sales string out in endless fashion, day
| following day. as fools flock to be bun
coed. The stock, whether of wine or
furniture or cast-off noble garments.
never runs low. The widows store OF
oil showed no better staying powers.
As long as custom hangs about the
chanters shout, the red flag floats and
the stock of goods to be disposed OF
| COWS by with current unabated.
For, mark you, rather than disap-
rojnt or send any full-hearted alien
.haser away from this sale with aching
,eart and empty hands, the auctioneer
.ach night moves in a new stock to re-
,lace the disappearances of the day be-
ore. Each morning the legation rooms
re as unstripped, the cabinets as full
# hric-a -brac the bins as replete with
are old wines as at the beginning.
Thus it runs forward until no more
heep appear to be shorn and even the
oadies have enough. Then the flag
comes down and the legation sale is at
III end.-N. Y. Journal.