The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-10-17
DOANE GETS THE BEST, BOX
Pays $1,O25 For First Choice For
Chicago's Jubilee Ball.

Chicago, Oct. 17.-Not all of the wealth
and fashion of Chicago was assembled in
the Auditorium to attend the auction of
the boxes for the jubilee ball, but there
were enough persons there with check
books to add 1900 to the fund, and several
boxes remain to be sold.
The upset price was $50. which sum.
added to each of the bids, made quite a
handsome total for the twenty-five boxes
sold at auction. The price realized for
the first choice of boxes, $S75, was declar-
ed to be the highest figure ever paid in
Chicago for such privilege, $500 being the
top-notch for the first choice of boxes at
the charity balls of the past. J. W. Doane
bid 1878 premium, which, with the original
cost of $3.50 made his choice Of box Is
cost him $1,025, quite a figure for one even
ing's entertainment. Besides paying for
the box, by the way. Mr.. DOane must buy,
tickets for all his party, which will add
trifie to the cost of the box.
Joseph r. wilkins, secretary OF the
Stock Exchange officiated as auctioneer,
but he failed to stir up the society folks
to any enthusiasm. He did not talk any
thing but numbers. When 500 was bid
he repeated 800, $780, until somebody
made it SIPS. Mr.. Kitchen sat at a table
near the auctioneer and acted as clerk,
but not even the debonair Kitchen could
awake any stir in the phlegmatic crowd
lounging in the plush seats. He smiled
encouragingly at the bidders when some
body raised $150 bid to $175, and tried by
uluQ power 10 coax 94UO out OF some OlLtL
ambitious man, but the sale dragged. The
check books were not eagerly produced y
the auctioneer, and most of those presenG
seemed to be looking for a bargain.
the most spirited of any in the whole
even. J. W. Doane evidently. came with
for he made the tf4n opeaing BID Of the day
AS soon as the auctioneer declared thelsale
begun ana asked for bids Mr.. Doane' bid
500 This was met by Joseph Medill with
a bid of $3.50, and then in $25 jumps the
got nervous and dropped out of the con-
test, and Mrs. Potter Palmer took It up
and rushed things along to $3.50. II hung
there quite awhile, Auctioneer wilkins, re-
Peating the prices oyer and over q until, IN
again, and when the price was raised to
knocked down to Mr.. Doane.
But Mrs. Palmer was determined to be
among the first, and she started in to get
bidding went with quite a rush, Medill
and others joining in until the higher fig
ures were reached, and at last Mrs. Pal
mer got the box-No. 5-for $3.50. There
was decided slump in prices after that
ders did not seem inclined to climb into
Marshall Field and Arthur Cation and
Norman B. Ream and other society men
wanted an early choice OF boxes, but they
did not consider the privilege worth the
fancy prices paid by Doane and Mrs. Pal-
mer, and therefore Field got ms oox Tor
$575 and Mr. Cation dropped $500 off this
price when he secured his prize: ]. r;
Lyon also refused to go above $3.50, and
Mr.; Medin was made happy with box for
$500.
That ended the fancy bidding, If 1t may
be so termed. AGctiOneer Wilkins shout
ed the prices in vain and told just where
President Mckinley was going to sit, but
he could not get the bidders to go over
the $500 mark, and in a short time the
slump was to 500. The retreat from that
to $50 was rapid, and when the aucticneer
was unable to coax any more $50 bids out
of the crowd he let several boxes go for
$25. Mrs. Palmer gave it out however,
that no boxes would be sold under that
price. Nos. 3 and are held for President
Mckinley and his. party, and tive, more
across the house. Nos. % and "a, will be in
readiness for the diplomatic corps. All of
them are upper boxes.
Mrs. Matz announced that thirteen boxes
vet remained unsOld, but that for each
and every one of them she would insist
upon $500. Also, there are to be sixteen
extra boxes to be built 81 the rear of the
stage. They will be fitted up with rugs
and decorated with flags, and the distin-
guished guests who come to enjoy the ju-
billie will occupy them.
There is a slight change about the sell
ing of Seats the committee now an
nonces that none will be sold. The sale
of tickets, however, is unprecedented and
if responses are not hurried in the sale
must be stopped. It was further given
out that one SO ticket would admit two
women. The new scene being painted for
the stage setting is exclusively for the ball
and will not adorn the banquet hail.