Evening star., 1898-12-19
UNCLE shM,s AUCTION.
Contents of Packages Lost in the
Mails Being Disposed OF.

Once each year Uncle Sam auctions off
the contents of packages that have been
lost in the mail and have gravitated to the
dead letter office. The sale this year COM
prises 1851 articles under three schedules,
A, B and C. The first is of miscellaneous
articles; schedule b, the books, and c. the
jewelry The wonders of Pandoras box
cannot be compared to the wonders of
dead letter sale, and some of the packages
which were opened at the auction rooms of
Thomas bowling this morning suggested all
kinds of memories.
The sale opened promptly at 10 o'clock,
when Mr. Bowling took his position on the
long platform and offered package number
one, which consisted of six ounces of Cro-
chet yarn, curling iron, note book, three
tooth brushes, pair side combs, &c. The
bidding was quite lively. Lightning calcu-
lators in the audience figured out what the
goods mentioned We're worth and then bid
at random on the land so forth There
was a large crowd present, and though the
men were greatly in the majority, there
We're enough ladies present to demand at
tention aid keep the bidding lively when
anything in the feminine line was offered
for sale. But the crowd was principally
made DIP of the old-timers; the men and
women who regularly frequent these sales
and who have evolved system of pur-
chases that remunerates them in a short
time.
There was everything offered for sale,
a family Bible. The Chinese slippers were
evidently too small for any one present,
and the bidding on that was not very live
ly, although the package also contained a
pair of Woman's gloves, a pair of mems
shoes and a pocket book.
Each package Is carefully done up in
brown paper and the contents stated in a
catalogue. The description, however is
quite brlef. although the government does
not msirepresent anything and goods are
sold upon Uncle Sans honor that they are
as represented There was quite a good
deal of bidding among the men for article
No. IA, Which was fifty cigars. The lucky
purchaser, who essayed to try one, was
promptly squelched by one of the ladies'
who appealed to the .auctioneer to find out
what was burning
The list of goods comprised in the miscel-
laneous schedule is SO varied that it would
take several columns to describe.
The sale furnishes any amount of excite
ment, fun and speculation. The depart
ment furnishes no clue to the contents of
the packages, and things which are some
times described as being of an ordinary
character are fine merchandise.
Such an instance happened today when
package was knocked down to a lady,
Whlcn the scheduls stated contained "a
shaWl, two neckties and pair of gloves"
1t sold for $1.35 snfA when opened was
FOUND TO contain fine black lace shawl,
pair OF long white hFt opera gloves and two
very handsome silk ties for a gentleman
mere are always somefspeculators on hand
and when package iSopened and contains
something of interest the crowd usually
gamers around the1purchaser and he con-
Duets sale on his own, account.
a m. to pm. until ,ey4lty thing is disposed
Of The money realized from this sale will
be turned over to the treasury. If any one
should prove to the satisfaction of the de-
be1onrea to ,nI5 hts somAthg a. was sold which
fund the money obtained at the sale