The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1897-08-06
A BIDDING RIVALRY.
AN INCIDENT OF AN AUCTION OF OLD
CHINA AND BRlC-A-BRAC.

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
III antiques, connoisseurs spectators I
and people who had just dropped in to
fish up bargain in glass or china if an
opportunity offered. There were a 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. zoe on the
catalogue, which was a 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 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 a
trife. They were well dressed women,
and one was quite young. They sat in
their seats without word while a
cloisonne jardiniere worth 500 was
knocked down to a dealer for $40, and
they never ventured a bid on bits of
Worcester, Dresden, Coalport and other
kinds of china which were sold for ri
diculOusly low prices. But when the auc-
tioneer YEARLY remarked in his profess
sional tone: what IN l 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:
lone dollar"
The two women peered across at one
another.
Then the younger said in emphatic
tone:
; "a dollar and a half "
The auCtiOneer took in the situation.
, What more could an auctioneer wanti
Two women pitted against each other.
I Sleepy a moment before, he was all life
now.
: "A half morep' he exclaimed scorn.
fully. Really this is ridiculous. can
r not take less than dollar bids.
1.-TWO dollars" said the older won
2 an.
: "Three," said the other woman.
e The women sized each other up agar
a while the auctioneer exhorted
''I'll fix her now," said the olde,
woman to a friend. Five dollars"
six" said the younger one.
"Why, the spiteful thing! I dom
I believe she wants that cup at all. Well
u u she Just sha mt have it. Seven dollars.
y This time the younger woman hest
# tated. Every eye was on her, for tn
n whole crowd was interested. She presses
her lips together, and, assuming an in
different expression, made the bid s.
while the auctioneer nearly fell off hi
chair. Every head in the room turne
with the bid to the older woman.
Il Don't you bid another cent" sal
= her friend.
10 cpl Just make this one bid. Sh
!. doesn't want that cup. It's just spite
t, but I'll do her pnow. Ten dollars, " sh
exclaimed, and with a triumphant smil
she glanced across the room.
That smile was too much for the othe
woman. 1t made her more determined
= "Oh, she needn't think I'm afraid {
D. a couple of dollars" she remarked in
"a "a husky whisper to the pale faced ma
"A VINO Ddu COlue Will uGI W lu6 duCllO
and had been trying to get low enoug
in his seat to be out of sight of the eye
focused on his companion at every oil
er bid.
.. "Let her have it,, said the man. :"
isn't worth the money"
LET her have it? Well, l guess no
~ Do you think I'll let her beat me lii
AZ that? Eleven dollars, " IN shaky voic
at but with sweet smile.
ne Zine piece. Very fine Sevres. Wort
ed big money" chanted the auctioneer.
n well, never!" exclaimed the old
IT. woman. "Of all the impudence l ev
Sc heard of! Oh, I'll fix her now"
ne LET her have it, J." urged her friend
"'tt Cora Stone, do you mean to tell L
n. you mean that? Would you have L
I'M give in to that doll faced child? 1
RI show you how I'll give up to her. F.
d. teen dollars"
b. This was staggerer The youl
nj woman looked troubled. She raised t
bid a half, and the auctioneer took
because he saw the end was near,
point had been reached when bids we
~, cheered, and the side remarks caus
~ roars of laughter The price reached 81
= and the bid was the older woman
The male man urged his companion 1