The sea coast echo., 1903-03-21
HOW TO PLAY AUCTION.

.
HOW TO PLAY AUCTION.
Never heard of an auction party?
Well. I'll tell you about 1t, and IL you
don't get worked up when you play It.
then you certainly need good. brac-
ing tonic
Some little preparation is necessary
before you can hold an auction party,
but there Is nothing tiresomc about the
preparation. The coming event casts
its pleasures before, and the half-hour
spent in arranging for Its Is delight
full part of the frolic.
To begin with, you need twenty-five
blank cards. One large sheet of paste
board, costing cents, will make this
number, IL you want them small Of
size, and two sheets will be sufficient
II the cards are to be quite large.
Number the cards from one to
twenty-five. inclusive, and upon each
paste picture of some salable article
clipped from newspapers or advertise
ment cards. These articles should be
as diverse in character. as possible.
A list distributed somewhat like the
following would be about the proper
thing:
A mule. A sewing machine. A hat.
A piano. A pair OF gloves. An um-
brella. An invalid's chair. A rocking
horse. A seashore cottage. A set Of
Dickens works. A jardinere OF ferns.
A chiffonier. A dog cart. An overcoat.
A parlor lamp. A gas stove. A yacht.
A mastiff. A weighing machine. A
football. A silver set. A fur neck
ornament. A COW. A palm in a pot.
A side saddle.
The numbers are written on the side
of the card which shows the picture.
Now, on the reverse side write ficti-
tous article. The prices should be
chosen with regard to probability.
Thus, the price for fur ornament for
the neck could range from $S to s100,
but should not be marked Z cents.
The piano might be $500 to 5000.
When the evening for the entertain
ment arrives, and brings with it your
guests. endeavor to find clever auc-
tioneer. II none Of the family Is
good talker ask some lively young man
or girl to fill the position. Some one
is needed who can talk, laugh or joke
without feeling embarrassed in the
least. If one Of the guests Is to be
auctioneer explain to him that spe-
cial prize Is In keeping for the auction
eer IL he proves success, so that he
will gain courage rather than lose 1t
by becoming master of ceremonies.
Now, distribute among those present
a box of paper money. II box of
this money is not at hand and cannot
be conveniently purchased, 1t can be
made in advance from an extra sheet
OF cardboard. In making 1t at home
cut number Of large circular pieces
about the size Of silver dollars and
mark them accordingly. Also halves,
quarters, dimes and nickels. About
the same size as dollars are the 20
dollar gold pieces, and of those a gen.
erous supply should be coined. Be
careful to proportion the supply of
money to the prices of the articles, as
$1,000 stock would be OF no use IL
the entire company could not boast OF
$1,000 between them. To begin with,
give each player an equal amount of
money.
The auctioneer takes his position on
a chair or other elevation and auctions
off the articles upon the cards one by
one, treating them as II they were
bona-fide belongings and not merely
representations.
Each player bids what he chooses
or rather what he thinks the article
Is worth. Each thing auctioned goes
TO the highest bidder. The profit or
loss is the difference between the
money received and the prices marked
on the backs Of the cards. When
player has purchased an article Ii Is
handed over to him without further
delay
II any player bids more for an ar
ticle than he has in hand and his bid
wins the article, which, as a conse-
quence, he is unable to pay. for, he
must deliver up cents to every mem
ber of the party. The article is again
placed on sale. Such bid & called
"bluff." II any player is suspected Of
bluffing, but fails to win the article.
no attention is paid to him. 1t is only
when he succeeds that the fine is ex-
acted.
The auctioneer or an Accountant
appointed for the purpose, takes down
the sum for which each article Is auc.
toned and keeps the statistics for fu-
ture reference.
When all articles have been auc.
toned profit and loss are computed.
The winner OF the game is the person
who has made the best bargains. get.
ting the most for his money, and who.
consequently, has the greatest amount
OF money and goods In hand. The
values of the goods purchased are
counted up and to them is added the
sum of the money that remains to the
purchaser
For an auction where many varieties
OF goods are handled almost any use
ful and attractive article happened
upon in the shops will serve appropri-
ately as q prize. There might be a
principal prize, with one or two
boobies The auctioneer should re-
ceive = token of esteem Id apprecia-
tion Of his services"
An amusing auction trick can be
carried out with little trouble in CON
nection with the supper menu. Secure
as many dainty white boxes as you ex.
pect guests, and In each one pack away
a dainty supper, using lettuce leaves,
paraaue paper and ribbon ~ make