The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-27
PRIZES IN JUNK SHOPS,
OLD PIECES OF MAHOGANY TO m
PICKED UP CHEAP.

BuSe who Knows uow to Hunt for M.
observation-disclosures or n solid Nahor,,,
Table ana n sideboard or tho sn me ,r,L.
Hero and there. in the slums or in %littIc.fr.
quented by.streets, are the old metal and fprni.
ture shops whore rcal bargains are to bc hba
That more real bargains do not come ONT q,
them is duo to the fact OF their being knownt IA
few persons who appreciate their Treasures
Such as do, guard tho location of these plnce,
like a holy secret, for, once known, they bccom.
tho Mecca OF n horde OF eager purchasers. ana
what chance is loft for the discrimination ana
economical collector
What one finds in those shops Is no better than
the stock in the antique stores OF reputation
which are becoming common uptown and llns
one avenue in particular. But 1t sells for frnc.
tional prices. The uptown dcale~e know n.
value of their mahogany ana brasscs and thcy
affix q prico almost invariably we'll in advanc,
of that value. Their supply ia pretty rcgulprlv
drawn from the same kind OF source. Soma
man whose house is handsomely furnished die,
or fails or moves away. His household good.
are sold at auction. Under the rcd flag gatbcr
representatives OF tho various ANTIQUE store,
to buy whatever ia good in massive furniture
and odd ornaments at prices averaging abous
onc.third OF tho price which will be asked when
the article is transferred to the shop. With
the small. unknown store the case Is quite dit.
aSaSAh e"c NNhsN pugh hIlUSV
nothing, and so can afford to soil for compare.
lively small prices. Sometimes he is himssIf
ignorant Of the values Of his merchandise, and
then his customer gathers In the dividend OF
superior knowledge. Again. his wares, particu.
larry in the case of small goods, may have com.
to him through devious ways. Honesty always
gets Its heavy percentage In dealing with di,.
honesty.
On the edge OF the negro quarter on the lower
1891 III -
hybrid business in old metals, wood and mis-.
ccllaneous junk. Without ever getting into thu
police records 1t is still q place of occasional
police surveillance. Ono of its customers.
whose dealings with It are of the kind which do
not interest the police, bought two years ago
very beautiful and massive mahogany table
from the proprietor of the place. Recently no
found out where the table came from.
IF you see anything good in mahogany dining
room tables. "sshe had said to the half breed
italian proprietor. hold 1t for me-"
At that time there stood in one of the old
alley courts on the west side n number Of very
old houses. tenanted by tho lowest class OF
Italians, the ragpickers. OF tho original mag.
nifcence Of the mansions one outward and Wis.
ible sign remained, tho enormous mahogany
doors, with small, fancifully shaped window
pillars at tho side. Giovanni, the junk shop
keeper, had noticed those doors. He made ar.
rangementS which comprised two acquaintance
of his, tenants of tho house with the finest doors,
an axe and a strong pushcart. He himself was
not concerned in the arrangements. The doors
disappeared one night, also the window pillars.
and two days later there were two Italian
prisoners in the police court charged with
malicious mischief.
what did you do with the doors," asked tn.
Police Justice.
Burn 'em up. Firewood," said the men.
o" oa W u S,n aSH o inc prisoners 'hey
got on WIN Sio nnes. Inc DOORS being cum
ningly planed down and Joined, made a superb
table. The window pillars fitted with casters.
H'aae d SCI Oh eHecti'e legs. one AT each corner
curious enough to excite the admiration of any
collector. and Gioyn.ni's customer was as GLAD
to pay 1915 for the result as Giovanni himsel:
who sell old metal. too often acouired from nm.
used houses bring manv . rars aud rna a,
brass knocker or drawer handle.
Over on the east side. on the ground floor ofa
tenement that rears story after story Of squalid
poverty above 1t. is a little shop presided over
by an ancient man who picks up all sorts of odd
his stock includes gold and precinns stonos ~" aS
well, but II so his trade in these is Very private.
Any one is welcome to inspect the wares dis.
iigitful surprises for the connoisscur. It be.
However - for his III old man u is rff ppfl of e eHjRer anS
few of the uninitiated Who have have learned t y
way to the place have been hood winked bv his
tales into purcha.inp most trocionsIfmitaU;iiom s
at prices that would make a connoisseur Weep for
his race. There is on record one case where
young artist. The Young man had discovered in
the shop a very viilainous marine painting sct
yer inlaid in osowoo
How much for the nicture," be osked vii.
ling 70 take The neint ne for tbe saEe q, ~
frame il it could be had at a reasonable price.
Fifty dollars for that beautiful work" said
the dealer. ~ ~
Fifty" said the al fist. an give Won ten"
Look at a small Mace Of ivory thai had nr1b.
ably found its way there via a river front Junk
shop IRON sons trading snip between here Hnd
Turning hack IN The pictnre the artist romarLnj
carelessly that thr frame was rather nretty
81 can't AFFORD the nicture he said "but
might give YOU something for the frame"
HGive ma NJ rnr Iha III w -, nc ,hn oro n
Rether" said The old mar MAN. ,nntoIveiy and
looked n little SURPRISED when the offer was al
once accepted.
IT. anti,t ID -. H. $500 .L,.L