The times., 1898-06-03
RELICS OF A CENTURY SOLD
Revolutionary RecoiIections Reviv-
ed In an Auction Sale.

ed In an Auction Sale.
Baltimore, June 2-The effects of the
late Mrs. Catherine Chase Oldfeld were
sold at public auction yesterday. Mrs.
Oldfield was descended from a long line
of illustrious ancestors. Her maternal
grandfather was Chief Justice Samuel
Chase, of the United States Supreme
Court, 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 native of Baiti-
more, and a prominent naval figure in
Revolutionary times Other men and wom-
en-, prominent a century ago, Of the Did
English family of oldaeld handed down
| their effects until the collection OF dank
and musty books, battered paintings of
stern-faced patriots, cumbersome. un-
wieldly ornaments and a 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 an eyentful past
could be read in many of the articles sold
to spectators. There ives something pa
thetic and at times almost shocking in
| seeing the personal possessions of these
| famous old men and high-bOrn women fin
gered and bargained over by a curious
and unfeeling public.
| The first articles to be put up by the
| auctioneer We're 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
| chairs were heralded as the possessions
| of Chief Justice Chase. The collectors
| rose at once. and a spirited contest for
| their ownership began. They were start
ed at 81 apiece. and finally sold for s2l
| 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 a splendid painting of the
! Chief Justice, showing his fine face in all
| It's strength.
Miniatures of every size, ovals and
| squares. tinted and colorless, all like
nesses of Miss Oldields ancestors, OF
| Chase's, of Barney's, Ridgely's and Old
fields and Rogers's. were purchased ca
| gerly by persons who had no idea whom
| the portraits represented
On 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 10 the highest bidder
| Fine silk gowns brought only dollar. A
| white satin cloak that looked as If Il
| might have been worn by princess was
! sold for 81. Large lots of bed clothing
and linen were offered and bought Gag
erly
One of the most curious of the relics
| was brass English bed warmer. with 9
long wrought handle. This was handed
down from the Oldfeid family One en-.
thusiastic authority on antiquities who
bid high for the article. said II could not
| be duplicated and that IT 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 specially rare old book
| would be taken separately and never fail,
| ed 70 command a good price.
The tewefry was the last lot 10 come
| under the hammer of the auctioneer. and
here ii was that the greatest interest
! conferred. Unique and puzzIing- orna-
| - sN1' 9AANSt' anu DIOnEe 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 ii was soon
| purchased. One very small solid silver
plate which bore the crest was sold for
s2o, and was considered a 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
toricaI letters and documents, autographs
| and credentials