The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1897-05-11
A BIDDING RIVALRY.
AN INCIDENT OF AN AUCTION OF OLD
CHINA AND BRIC-A-BRAC.

What Happened When Two Women Each
Determined to Have a IS Cup and sau-
GERHARD to Tell Which Felt Worse
When 1t Was All Over.
1t was the third day of an auction
sale of the china, bric-a-brac and furni-
ture of the last representative of an old
New York family, and the auction room
was crowded to the doors with dealers
in antiques, connoisseurs, Spectators
and people who had just dropped in to
fish up bargain in glass or china if an
opportunity offered. There were large
number of women present, and they
were principally bargain seekers.
The auctioneer seemed used to such
crowds and continued to call out the
bids monotonously despite the amusing
situation that arose every time he
reached an article which one of the
women had marked to buy for herself
Things had been quiet for time when
the auctioneer reached No. FOG on the
catalogue, which was cup and sau-
Ger of Sevres china. 1t was a very pref
ty bit of Sevres, cleverly decorated and
frail enough to suit the most artistic
fancy. 1t was such a piece as might be
purchased at any fine china or glass
store for So, and it certainly would not
have been reasonable to expect more
than 81 for it at auction SALE The auc-
tioneer didn't expect more, and under
ordinary circumstances he wouldn't
have got so much, but these were not
ordinary circumstances. 1t happened
that two bargain seeking women had
marked that cup and saucer for them
selves. They were only separated by
dozen seats and an aisle through the
maze of camp stools, and, of course,
neither had any notion that she would
have very much competition for such
trif1e. They were well dressed women,
and one was quite young. They sat in
their seats without a word, while a
cloisonne jardiniere worth 800 was
knocked down to dealer for $40, and
they never ventured bid on bits of
Worcester, Dresden, Coalport and other
kinds of china, which were sold for ri
dicuiously low prices. But when the auc-
tioneer YEARLY remarked in his profess
sional tone: "What IN offered for this
cup and saucer? Guarantee goes with
every piece. Gimme bid, please" he
was amazed at two shrill voices which
called out simultaneously:
One dollar.
The two women peered across at one
another.
Then the younger said in emphatic
tone:
"A dollar and half -
The auctioneer took in the situation.
What more could an auctioneer wantP
Two women pitted against each other.
Sleepy moment before, he was all life
now.
"A half morei" he exclaimed scorn-
fully. REALLY this is ridiculous can
not take less than dollar bids. -
Two dollars. said the older wom-
an.
Three" said the other woman.
The women sized each other up again
while the auctioneer exhorted.
"I'll fix her now" said the older
woman to friend. Give dollars. %
six" said the younger one.
"Why, the spiteful thingl I don't
believe she wants that cup at all. Well,
she just sha' mt have it. Seven dollars %
This time the younger woman hest
tated. Every eye was on her, for the
whole crowd was interested. She pressed
her lips together, and, assuming an in
different expression, made the bid So,
while the auctioneer nearly fell off his
chair. Every head in the room turned
with the bid to the older woman.
Don't you bid another cent, said
her friend.
doesn't want that cup. It's just spite,
but I'll do her up now. Ten dollars, . she
exclaimed, and with triumphant smile
she glanced across the room.
That smile was too much for the other
woman. 1t made her more determined.
"Oh, she needn't think I'm afraid of
couple of dollars she remarked in
husky whisper to the pale faced man
who had come with her to the auction
and had been trying to get low enough
in his seat to be out of sight of the eyes
focused on his companion at every 9th
er bid.
''Let her have it." said the man. "It
isn't worth the money"
LET her have it? Well, guess not.
Do you think I'll let her beat me like
that? Eleven dollars, in shaky voice,
but with a sweet smile.
''Fine piece. Very fine Sevres. Worth
big money, chanted the auctioneer.
Well, neverp' exclaimed the older
woman. "Of all the impudence 1 ever
heard of Oh, I'll fix her nowp'
''Let her have it, urged her friend.
Cora Stone, do you mean to tell me
you mean that? Would you have me
give in to that doll faced child? I'll
show you how I'll give up to her. Fiji
teen dollars. -
This was staggerer. The young
woman looked troubled. She raised the
bid half, and the auctioneer took 1t,
because he saw the end was near. A
point had been reached when bids were
cheered, and the side remarks caused
roars of laughter. The price reached SIT,
and the bid was the older woman's.
The pale man urged his companion not
to bid, but those cheers rang in her
ears, and every eye was upon her.
''And half" she said
"Then take it, you spiteful thing"
suddenly yelled the older woman, right
at her competitor. Then she rose to her
feet. Come, Coral I shan't stay In
such place another moment And she
flounced out, followed by Cora
The younger woman looked badly
ratified. She handed out SIT. 90 to the
clerk and took the cup and saucer.
Then she went out, looking very much
embarrassed over the affair and wonder
ing, probably, what had ever made her
pay such price for such a thing. New
York Sun.
The English Municipal Service.