The Washington weekly post., 1900-11-20
Rags sEeaHE FINE RUGS.
Clever wsman Taught Dealer New Trick
in His Trade.

Prom the Chicago inter Oessn.
Baer was New York buyer for a down
town rug house Had he been foreign buy
er this story might never have been told.
because foreign buying teaches few
tricks Of the trade not generally learned
IN New York Mrs DemOreSt was tact
ful woman. and Baer. who was something
OF an old crotch IN the bachelor way, al
ways felt comfortable and at home In the
Demorest fiat He was friendly with Mrs
Dem0rest, and the relations established
by months Of interest IN rare. II ragged,
antique rugs from Turkey or Belooekistan
had been fostered carefully and substan-
TALLY on both sides.
Camel men IN Asia and wharfers in
America seem 10 have the same penchant
for throwing their bale hooks indiscrimi-
nately. Hence 1t happens that many a
fine but much-WOrn old specimen reaches
a cOnsignee full of jagged holes that were
never made by the softly sandaled s0les OF
an aromatic harem. Most firms that han
die Oriental goods al all push the dam
aged rugs into the lumber-room. where
they are marked "unsalable" And right
there is where Mrs. Demorest came with
Ia range Of Baer's generosity. He initi-
ated her into the mysteries OF the lum-
ber-room, and many the antique trophies
she carried away. Denorest now and
then wondered whether Baer thought he
was doing anything generous when he
gave away thOst rags"
Mrs. Demorest didn't know, she was
sure, but, being a woman OF resource, she
set 10 work. After that the rags" dis
appeared. Baer went away on 4 long va
cation. When he returned Demorest in
yited him to dinner.
ha . Aa a. Aa .-safl
at the sight Of a rare and exquisite eVi-
lection Of rugs. Then he felt angry when
/ he thought that his friends had not
| bought the rugs from him. He resolved
not 10 have anything To do with the un-
grateful DemOrests. He kept his word.
For nearly six months he stayed away.
Finally, one day Demorest met him down
town.
Now, I say. Baer, out with IT, What's
the matter with your inquired his for
mer friend.
Baer hedged: Demorest insisted.
well. If you must know, / think you
people might have bought your rugs of
me when you weret spending so much
money. Those pieces you've got didn
cost less than 1880, now did they?"
Demorest laughed and took him out to
the fat with the assurance that the little
woman would explain. Baer went along,
feeling foolish
Really, this is too good a joke TO
keep, MIS-. DtHOIest Sald NHeH Sie hdu
welcomed him. But the jokes on you.
Mr.. Baer. Why, don't you recognize your
old 'rags2 An Armenian weaver had
them all the time you were gone. / felt
quite hurt that you didn't compliment us
on them when you were here last" She
pOuted prettiy.
What! You don't mean you paid an
Armenian's price for repairing those
things?' replied Baer. He'd mortgage
your collins before he got through"
Indeed no; that wasn't my plan,' ex-
planned Mrs Demorest. you see, he re-
paired my rugs because / got him COM
missions from people who know less about
rugs that they do about check books,
and, at your valuation, i now have over
81 800 worth of antiques, which, seriously,
cost me just $3.50. I'm thinking Of going
into the business"