The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1905-01-28
Pennsylvania Sales.

V. L H..
has an interesting article on "Pennsylvauia
Farm Auctions in recent issue OF the
Country Gentlemen. from which We take the
following EXTRACTS:
The causes of the sales are many-;he uc-
casional change Of property owners or Of len
ants the retiring from farm life. the sale and
exchange of farm property by different own
ers. change OF occupaiion. accumulation Of
too much farm stock which has TO be disposed
of before April Isl. when the moving tiHe
comes and only Such live stock as is absolutely
necessary to be kept.
Public sales are advertised in the local news
papers. which are literally covered with What
Jones. Brown and Henry will have 10 sell
Posters are distribu-e, to aiI The country stores,
mills sLne,n,tar bl.clsmiIb wbt.slwr;ohi
and s,5ji,,r l,.,,,. - l,,aI, ,b,ra tba an
mArs coniiuu.liy Gather. and those farm, RS
who don't keen a diary for the entire wear are
sure to keep one through March ANA April. so
they can keen tab on their ueighbor>' Siles.
6fier all these urelimiusries have beer, AT
tended IN pothir,s INT an urDIeasau day can
mar the snccess Of lba farmer. sale. and if he
os,ba lncl ~ a, H. ,,I.as,.,,, weather he ca,
exnecf 10 have = ,roT,i ON hand resembling 81
smsII oInTIy fair. fo, ayar, ~ i 81 social
avart for tba eniira n4igbborbao3 far miles
aropod Her, The ltes, s,ari..s .,re. ma. ii, cir
cniatiou The onssi, of fhs ruf.l cnD,ulut,irv l.,
EXCHANGED At its highest premium. ali the
nroblems ol farm life are discussed, The prices
Of ,,rod,,rts are considered pav arataiuiail.,.,
I'D and b;red III, ,,ro,,,,red f,r he coming
ontjoo,.' s,.sor MI the women of course.
discuss The fashions. of when The new hats
they expect to wear next spring are among
The chief features
The free dirppr !, thu. leading attraction If
the sale. and The bidders must not be sighted
in This respecr. free dinner has always paid
the farmer who held the sale because aiI who
aniov tho f,rnar,s bnsnitaltv think II their
dntv IN huy SOM. wares or helm TO do some of
the bidding when the goods are going at
price TOO low to be sold by the auctioneer.
These dinners are the social functions Of the
dav, and the wife and daughters, assisted by
the wives and daughters of half a dozen neigh
bors husv thamselv Ives for TWO or three DAYS
previous to the sale and prepare chickens. p0-
iatoes, salad, cabbage doughuuts and dozen
other noted dishes
At one of last years sales the Till OF fare
consisted of chickens. waflas. doushuuts. 20.
tatoes, ham, roast beet, peas, corn. beaus,
pies and cakes without number The eating
began al 9. 80 o. clock in The morning and !.
179 persons filed their stamachs in such
manner that the farmer was well pleased when
the sale was over, SIS the 800 person IN at
tendance kept the auctioneer busy till .. a.,
and the total amount of the sale was s., 96I,
leaving a net profit large enough 10 feed such
a crowd more than ouce. happen 70 know
how much food was prepared. There We're 40
chickens. 500 waffies, 600 doughnuts, bush.
els Of potatoes, hams, 20 pounds Of roast
beef, % quarts Of peas, 5 gallon pots of corn,
800 pies, eco cakes, $50 custards, 40 gallons
Of coffee, while tive barrels Of cider we're Kept
on tap. aud by sunset there was not enough
l,D a.
A brass band was in attendance 10 keep the
crowd in Jolly mood and 10 complete the
occasion the politicians Of the rniiug party 10
that county were there 10 great numbers, With
the local workers al their side 10 30 the intro
ducinq. In this respect great rivalry exists a.
il often happens thai four or five candidates
for the same Office are on hand aud Of course
each one endeavors 10 make The most friends.
Then there is the country huckster. who has
his table spread IN front OF the farm buildings,
protected from the fierce winds, on which he
has displayed his wares, consisting of caudy,
pretzels and cas- IS for The iI,ue bows and elria,
peanuts for the nrEer boys aud girls, and oys.
ter soup 20 keep the crowd warm; aud these
statesmen do an immense business. At some
auctions as many as eight hucks'er are IN a.
tendance, and their Total receipts amount "a
hundreds Of dollars.
Here Is the place where the country laSsie
catches her beau If sue is treated wi:h pea
nuts and oysters av the Young man Of her
choice, wh7 ne Is the proper fellow to escort
her home il his buggy. which hs has in read
mess, hitched to a farm horse THAI IS Tied 20 3
fence near by. II. however, this favor IS not
shown, he can expe.+rothing but Ii cold shou.
der and frowu. aere too the farmer 5oy
enjoys also u days outing, which f,r him
means a game OF ball, and not only do the
younger bows indulge ia these games, but the
sight Of the boys at play brings the older r-o-
pie back 10 the DAYS Of their youth and they
chip in and help piav the games
The most prominent parsonage at such a
sale is naturally the auctioaeer. who must keep
the crowd before him ID lollifcaiion. and u he 4
doesn't know the arr Of cracking Jokes lu she +
yeruaeular, why il is proved that be Is no sue
cess at selling farm stock He must be WHY
all the time. polite and accurate; be must
know the inner feelings Of his bidders, and Of
course mast make the bidders bid even II
they think they we're not bidding; aud il mat
tiers little what The auciioneer offers for sale. 7
whether crowbar or COW. he is always success Z
full in getting a good price for the article /
which. Of course. IS direct gain 10 him, a. his .
salary is based on tue total net proceeds OF the .
sale. and his wages for a DAYS singing af 'Oyrzr
and Going, Going. Gone, often amounts to 4
$50, aud is sometimes as high IS $40
Most sales are conducted on S credit system
and all goods amounting TO over - are sold F.
on credit, on a period Of lime ranging from
three to twelve months credit, the purchaser