The times., 1897-07-11
LONDON EXCHANGE COLUMN.
Queer Things Bartered in the Brit.
ish Metropolis.

History books for the young have taught
Us all how in ancient days, when money
wasn't Invented - the commerce OF tina
world was effected by exchanges in kind;
and how the iaconv enienCe Of handing
over the market price for a coat in oxen
was obviated toy the introduction or metal
bars as u niediura OF exchange; and how
these were later sliced up and made t(
take the shape Of our present COINAGE
With this It is sometimes supposed that the
barbarous custom Of exchange in kind van
ished, with the exception OF the mysterious
transactions in postage stamps, white mice
and rabbits inseparable from school days
But this is By no means So That obscure
body known as the general public Is very
much given to swapping operations
Rere, for instance, are some quotations,
selected at haphazard from various Sale
and exchange columns ''Set of black fur
1oT Jacket in exchange for painted OF carved
mil lkipg-stoOI'': Gentleman fox-skin
waistcoaU for electro fish slice, iewelry, or
anything useful to d lady; Fem stands
for window garden in exchange for good
violin; Young talking green parrot for
sewing machine; "OId china an q wine, for
good sound horse or pOny''; n air OF
canaries, for pair Of lady's boots; Fox
terrier pup, forcoIeCtion offOreisn stamp ps''55
s'JackaI, for canaries OF chickens; Horse
hair mattress, for pony or donkey; "One
and a half yards of bToadclOth, for Glad
stone bag; Few good pugs, for sewing
machine .; 'MeI0deOn, for garden roller;
Eight pairs ofowls, for breech-loader."
Another very popular and more exCit-
ing mode of barter is to advertise for
something without definitely stating what
exchange is offered Thus the notice.
"Peahen wanted, young; what exchange
IeQured?'' is calculated 70 raise hopes In
the pOSSeSSors of superfluOus peahens that
there is 8 chance OF obtaining some de-
sirable article on extremely easy terms;
but the advertisers generally fully aware
OF the birds value, and bargaining be-
comes difficult But if mutual ats faction
is not easily obtainable in a simple matter,
what must be the trouble in cases u more
extended requirements such as the follow
ing: Wanted, massive keeper, gipsy,
or half hoop rings, dark fur lining for large
cloak, skunk cape, silver teapot, eggstald,
muffineer, spoonS, salts, peppers, mustard
pots and jtweIry- Good exchange offered"
Imagine the state Of mind OF a lady who
happens TO have these articles to dispose
~ as she ponders what good exchange
means, and what she ought 20 get for
suCb q collection OF treasures SuppoSing
she writes FOR iHormaton and learns that
the exchange offered is a castle and q
park (which seem by swapping principles
TO be about fair equiv she maywen
argue with herself, Il shouldn't mind
letting the other things go for that, as
don't want them, but think ii she wants
my skunk cape she should throw in a vii
Iage or two
tits truly marvellous If such deals are ever
satisfactorily concluded. Sometimes this
proceSSis reversed, as in this announcements:
Duck punt, new; exchange for an ythins
useful" Now, many things arc useful, and
the advertiser clearly wants to get rid OF
the duck punt, but when 1t comes to striking
abargainit VIII probably appear that.'any-
thing uSeful''i is n phrase with only a limited
significance, and the person who tried to
setthatpunt in exchange for his very useful
old boots would probably be disappointed
That there are people who tender such
offers may be inferred from the warning
words, mo rubbish - which are frequently
added to advertisements of this desc ription.
london Daily Mail.