The Lamar register., 1898-02-26

popular In GArrdN2y cOHee house IN
Exchange alley. ut the Marine coffee
house in Birchin lane, and at une Young
British coffee house. adjoining TO
Ludgate. where punch is sold at the
lowest prices''-as the notice OF sale
would invariably state. All these es-
Establishments have now been swept
away to make room for less historic
premises. but the advertisements relat-
Ing to the quaintest of old auctions
may still be seen. or the methods OF
bidding Mr.. Price could tell some In
teresting stories. In his early days
there were other modes than a nod of
the head to signify intention TO pur-
chase. A wink is accepted by some
auctioneers as equivalent to the cry of
Yes" though some buyers prefer to
pinch the leg of the painstaking gentle
man who is knocking down" the lots
Mr.. James F. Field, who has evidently
made a study OF the idiosyncrasies of
buyers. says there is one class who sig
nifty bid by an open mouth and signs
of apoplexy most alarming to behold:
others motion, smile. frown, or trem-
BILE, and. indeed the methods OF some
are perplexing" The Romans signi-
Ned their bidding by lifting their I'm
gers. but this did not conduce TO the
economy of time. for auctions at the
capital, We are told. frequently lasted
two months.
In support of the great antiquity OF
auctions 1t is alleged that the purchase
of the cave OF Machpelah by Abraham
for 400 shekels of silver was probably
effected through some agent or inter
mediary corresponding to the modern
auctioneer, though the evidence on this
point is doubtful We are more con-
cerned to know that the Auctioneers'
Institute OF the United Kingdom was
founded in 1886. and that Il has a mem
bership OF 800. There are several gem
tlemen on Its books with an experience
almost equal to that possessed by the
late Mr.. Price. and all these agree that
within recent years no profession has
made greater progress as regards pub
lie recognition and improved attain
ments than the gentlemen OF the ham
mer Mr. Charles Harris. the secre-
tary. will inform you candidly that in
Mr.. Prices early days the average auc-
ioneer was man of only small i'm
portance There was no Incorporated
society and no examination; moreover.
the sales took place in establishments
which would III compare with Token
house Yard Almost every auction was
held in a public house. and liquor was
amply provided. There Is a tale OF
lady auctioneer OF the old days whose
custom at sale was to hand q glass
Of brandy TO every bidder the receiv-
er OF the last glass being the buyer.
The drink habit" according TO some
authorities. Is still lnseparable from
the auction room. but nowadays one
cry which wns by no means unusual
some sixty years ago. The profession
OF the auctioneer has marched with the
times. Several years OF training and
an examination which would have ex-
cited the disgust OF Mr.. Prices carly
colleagues are now the doors to success
In this. as in other occupations The
young gentleman who Is deemed
worthy to become member OF the
Auctioneers' Institute OF the United
Kingdom must pass tests qualifying
him for studentship and associateship
and II he is ambitious he will pass
the Anal. or fellowship. With the Wow
OF still further increasing the eficieacy
OF the institute. l may add that
course of lectures will take place short
ly at 81 and 5s Chancery lane, when