Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-16

60 Astray in 1hs Nails and Turn Up
in ii . d Letter
aoe.

The disagreeafEessvfea seems not TO
affect the size of the crowd attending the
auction sale of articles In the dead letter
office. as the auction rooms today were
filled with eager buyers. larger number
of women were seen In the crowd today
than were noticed at the sale yesterday.
and the interest In the bidding continues
undated. The nearness to Christmas Is
probably one of the reasons for the large
attendance and for the interest manifested,
as great many useful and valuable arti-
cles suitable for gifts are found in the bum
dies whose owners the Post Office Depart
ment has been unable to find.
The possibility Of securing great bargains
in the sale also contributes to generous
patronage of the auction.
The auction continued last night after Z
o'clock AND large number of department
employees were hand with fat pocket
books to join In the competitive buying
yesterday was payday and the people nao
money to spend.
Over 5000 Bundles.
The usual crowd which always attends
the auction sale Of articles accumulated In
the dead letter office of the Post ONCE De-
partment' was noticed in Sloan's auction
rooms yesterday at the beginning OF the
sale. The catalogue embraced over 3,l0o
bundles containing articles of almost every
description and character small enough to
be transmitted through the mails. There
were articles OF wearing apparel Of both
men and women, books, patent medicines,
cutlery, cooking utensils. fancy articles,
toys, shoes, and cheap "jewelry galore.
and many other pieces and contrivances,
fearfully and wonderfully made, whose
names could probably not be found In the
dictionary. The throng of prospective pur-
chasers was composed for the most part OF
men and boys-many Of them second hand
dealers-yet there was goodiy NUMBER OF
women on hand looking out for bargains IN
the packages sold at auction by Uncle
Sam.
The sale was unusually lively, the bidders
being eager to obtain possession OF the
coveted bundles, which might contain I'M
usual values, and the auctioneer gl1biy pre-
scented the merits of each package in terms
of persuasion. About the room expressions
Of disappointment and pleasure were min
gled as the purchasers found their bundies
to contain articles of scarcely any value to
them, or, on the other hand, especially to
their liking. The bundles containing cheap
jewelry seemed to be in greater demand
than those made up Of other things, and
the sale of these articles was especially
lively.
Wanted Sewing Machine.
One good lady, who evidently was not
thoroughly aware Of the nature Of the sale,
anxiousy inquired 'if there were any sew
ing machines among the goods to be sold"
She was informed that on account OF the
limits Of the facilities in use by the Post
Office Department, they were not as yet
sending machines through the mails.
A man who had the appearance OF bach
elor bid in for 60 cents bundle containing
chld's WOODEN pEtticoat, calico skirt,
mans tie, cheap ,jeWelry and some rem
nant dress goods. woman bought pack
age containing a pair of cloth slippers.
mans damaged underwear, four SILK ties
and four pipes. She said she wanted the
slippers and was willing to pay the 60 cents
bid. A purchaser with Hebrew cast OF
countenance bought package containing
a number Of Catholic, emblens, and an ex-
pressman bid in a chorister's vestments,
three small doilies, a safety belt and
razor, all Of which came in one bundle,
for 10 cents. There was lively contest, In
which number of the women participated,
over the sale of a bundle containing a
woman's muff two gray hair switches, q
iabot-whatever that Island several small
articles 1t was finally bought by a second
hand dealer for $3.50.
Ladies Buy Razors.
Several ladies became the proud posses
sors of good razors along with their articles
of dress goods contained In the packages,
and many OF the men bought remnants.
shirt waists and articles Of female apparel
along with pipes, jewelry and shirts. Five
Mexican drawn-work doilies were very
much In demand, and the bidding ran up
to 1915 before the articles OF fancy work
were knocked down to a man. This was
sad blow to several Of the women, who
seemed very Cesrous Of obtaining the ar
ticles.
The sale will probably continue for several
DAYS vet as the list of bundles is quite
large.