The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1899-09-08
Bob Taylor as Auctioneer.

"While it would likely be conced-
Ell on all sides that ex-Gov. Taylor
would not be a failure as an auc-
tioneer, it is not generally known
outside his home community that he
ever had any experience in that
line" writes friend of Our BOb's'
from Johnson City.
cit was about 1888 or 1884, after
the Governor had served a term in
Congress from this district, that he
settled down in Johnson City to
practice law and edit the Johnson
Comet, still in existence. As might
be imagined, business was not very
brisk at Johnson City at that time,
it being a small town of 500 or 600
inhabitants, and not the fiourishing
city of 5000 it now is. But no
town is too small for the failure of
one of its merchants, and this hav-
ing occurred in Johnson City, and
the case having gotten into the
Chancery Court, Bob Taylor, at
torney, editor and ex-Congressman,
was appointed receiver of the stock
of goods, an office he cheerfully ac-
cepted.
cit was determined best to sell
the stock at auction, and there be-
ing no auctioneer at hand, Our
Bob, in order to save expense, or
more properly speaking, to increase
his fees, decided to auction the
goods himself. And he did. They
say there never was such an auction
held in Johnson City or elsewhere
within the memory of the oldest in
habitant. The Governor threw his
whole soul and all his eloquence,
oratory, Iove, laughter and song
into his auction, just as he does in
to political campaign or anything
else he undertakes.
ole had crowd from the be-
ginning, but it increased from day
to day, till twas enormous. The fame
of the auctioneer was noised abroad
and people came flocking for miles
around. Some brought their families
and had dinner on the grounds.
Others brought tents and camped,
for it was summer and the crops |
were laid by and the weather was
fine. The auction lasted for about |
Ten days and proved to be one Of
The finest and longest drawn-out
entertainments ever known to have |
aiken place in these parts. Much good
lumor prevailed and good natur-
I'd pushing and crowding for front
place; plenty of tobacco chewing
md snuff dipping were INDUCED in,
md some mountain dew evaporated,
While the eloquent auctiOueer prais-
ID the excellent qualities of his
wares and illustrated their virtues
With anecdote and song.
"a stranger dropping into town
must have thought it was circus day.
And so it was. Bob Taylor was
he ring master, the world renown-
ID bare back rider, the female in flesh
Olored tights, the menagerie and
be whole thing, including the
Town. His envious friends, have
ince sometimes called him clown
Veil, it's a poor circus without a
lown.
'But the famous auctioneer did
OF lose sight of the business on {
and in the midst of all his hilarity,
IN and good nature. Under the
of the crowd and the
Irroundings The bidding was lively
nd articles in many instances sold
'r fabulously high prices, their /
Ilue considered, and the auction f
as financial success.
"People hereabouts speak of the :
'casiOn and enjoy talking over it .
this day, ard many amusing in $
dents of the auction are recalled. "
he Ex-Governor would no doubt s.
I'VE received some fattering offers ;
ON persons desiring to dispose s
stale old stocks of goods, but il
ortly after this his party made him n
elector for the State at n
rye, and everybody knows the E,
st. .,