The evening times., 1898-06-02
RELICS OF A CENTURY SOLr.
Recollections Reviv-
ed in an Auction Sale.

Baltimore. June 2-The effects of the
late Mrs. Catherine Chase Oldfeld were
sold at public auction yesterday. Mrs.
Oldfeld was descended from long line
of illus:rious ancestors. Her internal
grandfather was Chief Justice Samuel
Chase, of the United States Supreme
Court, a signer of the Declaration of In
dependence, and at that time one of the
most active. fearless and learned men of
Congress. On her fathers side Mrs. Old
field was the granddaughter of Commo-
dore Joshua Barney. a native Of Balti-
more and a prominent naval figure in
Revolutionary times. Other men and wom-
en-. prominent a century ago. Of the Did
English family of Oldfieid handed down
their effects until the collection OF dank
and mus;y books. battered paintings of
stern-faced patriots. cumbersome, I'M
wieldly ornaments and thousand and
one things. whose uses had to be guessed,
was old and extensive enough to satisfy
the most ardent relic-hunter.
Stirring stories of eventful past
could be read in many of the articles sold
to spectators. There ives something pa
fhetic and at times almos, shocking In
seeing the personal possessions of these
famous old men and high-born women fin
gered and bargained over by curious
and unfeeling public. r 2
The first articles to be put up by the
auctioneer were two rickety horsehair
chairs, with inlaid ivory backs, that had
stood for years In the old Chase Castle
on West Lexington Street, and had borne
the weight of many famous men. These
pha trc vx-er hnr ls1A1 h
of Chief Justice Chase. The collectors
rose at once and a spirited contest for
their ownership began. They were start
ed at s2 apiece, and finally sold for s21
each.
Portraits of Gov. John p. Paca, by the
elder Peale. painted upon the broken half
of what looked like a barn door with its
rusty. hinges and broken lock. pieced
boards and torn canvas, was put up, to-
gether with splendid painting of the
Chief Justice, showing his fine face In all
its strength.
Miniatures of every size, ovais and
squares, tinted and colorless, all like
nesses OF Miss Oldfield's ancestors. of
Chase's, of Barney's, Ridgelys and Old
fields and Rogers's, were purchased ca
gerly by persons who had no idea whom
the portraits represented.
On a rough wooden table in the back Of
the room were heaped immense piles of
clothing. Heavy silks and satins, that
had rustled through colonial halls time
worn mantels and shawls, that some GAL
ant in silk stockings. knee breeches and
velvet coat had perhaps thrown around
the shoulders of a fair lady a century
ago, were hauled up for inspection and
sold piece by piece to the highest bidder
Fine silk gowns brought only a dollar. A
white satin cloak that looked as if It
might have been worn by princess was
sold for 81 Large lots of bed clothing
and linen were offered and bought eag-
erly.
One of the most curious Of the relics
was brass English bed warmer. with a
long wrought handle. This was handed
down from the Oldfield family. One en-
thusiastic authority on ANTIQUITIES. who
bid high for the article, said 1t could not
be duplicated and that 1t was the cream
of the collection. Piles Of tattered and
torn volumes. musty with age and falling
to pieces from much using. were disposed
OF quickly, mostly by the tablefui, but
here and there a specially rare old book
would be taken separately and never fall
ed to command good price,
The Jewelry was the last lot to come
under the hammer of the auctioneer. and
here it was that the greatest interest
centered. Unique and puzzling orna-
ments Of gold, silver, and bronze were
shown and wondered at by the buyers.
In the collection were long strings of
gray Roman pearls. fashioned into neck
laces. An article that had the Chase
family crest stamped upon it was soon
purchased. One very small solid silver
plate which bore the crest was sold for
SIS. and was considered bargain. Pearl
cardcases, topaz earrings, old gold
brooches and breastpins were among the
lot sold. -
As the last article was disposed of the
collectors gathered their trophies and dis
persed. with lingering looks. at the one
case left unopened, which cotains his
torical letters and documents, autographs
and credentials.