The National tribune., 1902-01-09
THE DEAD LETTER SALE.
Curious Women and Shrewd Secondhand
Dealers Attend Uncle Sans Auction.
Scenes Humorous and Pathetic.

| Uncle Sans bargain counter has been
one of the recent attractions in Washing
ton. For nearly week, forenoon and
evening, n glib auctionccr was kept busy
diSpOSing of the G,2i9 packages contain
ing miscellaneous articles sent through the
mails. and which eventually found their
way to the Dead Letter Office. Some Of
these packages became officially dead
because they We're wrongly directed; on
others the addresses were illegible, while
on some there were TO addresses ut all.
| There were ether causes which operated
to prevent the postal authorities from de-
livering the PACKAGES, and they were not
| finally consigned to the auctionccr until
| the Dead Letter officials had exhausted
every means which tact, experience and
| ingenuity could suggest to find either the
| scndcrS or thoSc for whom they were IN
tended. Failing Ill this, there was but one
! course opcn--to place the packages on
Uncle Sans bargain counter and sell
them to the highest bidder, 'pIS-In-the-
bag fashion.
Included in the G,2t9 packages sold at
the Dead Letter Office auction sale We're
J,339 packages cl3ssCd under the head
ing Miscellaneous Go packages of
books, foreign and domestic. and 30 bun
blcs containing coed jcwc!ry. The for
ney, or imitation goods OF the latter class
was disposed of i'll the miscellaneous par
GELS and announced as cheap jewclfy.
The variety Of articles disposed of by
the auctionecr was great, covering Il wide
range and entering into competition with
many local business houses. These sales
take place annually on the eve of the gay
holiday season, and therefore many per-
sons purchase the packages with the cX-
pectatlOn of employing the contents as
thi ilStlnas presents IOr tlIcr relations and
friends The proceeds of the sales, after
deducting auction and other expenses, is
covered into the United States Treasury
and becomes part of the same fund to
which conscience" contributions are as
signed.
4 composite picture of the motley
gatherings at these sales would form an
excellent lesson for the student Of hui
man nature. The prcdominating class
are fidgety matrCnS, past middle life, of
the type who are regular frcqucntcrs OF
rummagc sales, and whom the small boy
denominates as "rUbber-necks,' and keen
eyed secondhand dealers of various
breeds and nationalities, who purchase
many of the dead parcels with the eX
pectation of selling the contents at
smart advance on the purchase price.
There is also sprinkling of young peO-
pie, many of theim being drawn to the
auction rooms by curiosity.
1t is clearly case of pig in the bag"
For instance, No. / on the catalogue was
given as three mans silk nufflers; cheap
jewelry; ash receiver" 1t was bid in by
a dyspeptic-lookingi individual for $2,25.
A dealer who examined the articles said
they could be purchased at any store for
$1.25, and the dyspeptic seemed to real
ize that the money he had parted with
could be charged to his curiosity.
Just what I'want" said matrOn
with Il piping voice. who was reading from
the catalogue. IAN album and a pack
of playing-cards. The album will give
TO Sister Flora as Il Christmas gift, and
the cards we will use at home to while
away the long, dreary Winter evenings"
Her bid was Si.20! and the parcel was
knocked down. 10 her by the glib auc-
tioDeer with the ramark: ~ bargain,
ma am
The anxious mairnn quickly opened the
package, while those staHG.g about her
craned their netks 10 see the contcutS
Her smile of expectancy qgictlg changed
TO Il deep frown rs the surrounding pc0Dle
joined in Il hearty chorus of laughter.
The album was an ancient, nearly worm