The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-12-16
DEAD LETTER SALE
"GOIN,' GOIN,' GONE"
DRAWS BIG CROWD
All Do Not Get What
They Want When They
Want 1t.

''Wundulluh. wundulluh, wundulluh-
gimme ten; Goner'
So, with both hands raised in air
and an inspired expression upon his
face. the auctioneer at Marcus Notes
store. at 426 Ninth street northwest,
started the annual dead letter auction
today.
There were many there to listen to the
monotonous "wundulluh, wundulluh, %
and to raise II to $l-1O as the fancy
struck them.
Fully two-thirds OF the bidders were
women, and fully one-haif Of them were
well-dressed, prosperous looking women.
Tho other third was evenly divided into
men OF all sorts. The master was
there; 30 was the man. The lion and
the lamb both got warm in the face
and wilted about the collar and whooped
and bleated as a lot came up that
suited their respective tastes
Anxious Angelina Anxious.
But how do they bid2 queried anx-
ious Angelina, who was making her
first trip to the dead letter sale with
mother.
They wave their catalogues" replied
mother with an air OF Infinite wisdom
And. strange TO say, mother was right
The bidding was done by tens. Start
ing with 80 cents. the price of the artl-
Gle under discussion was raised TO 80.
20, and so tents, at the pleasure and
discretion o. the bidder.
An extremely audible individual with
a vermillion-tinted neckte and whis-
keTs to match. accompanied by three
friends and a black cigar, was among
the first to appreciate some OF the diff
culties attending the sale. When he
walked in the little shop at which so
many articles belonging to other people
are being sold, the obsequious Official
at the door offered him a catalogue.
Nav" he snorted Indignantly. as he
strutted to a seat
A bundle resembling an unexpurgated
edition of WebsteE's dictionary was
brought out by the auctioneer.
Sixty cents" said one lady. or rather
Indicated that amount by raising her
catalogue.
Seventy beloved the man with the
ruby whlskers.
Goes Him Ten Better.
Eighty rejoined an acid-looking
female, gIaring at the man savagely.
Ninety
CiAp AOAidLs SdSpcQ = Lulru laQy
staring at her catalogue and the man
alternately in amazement.
"One ten" responded-the man Of the
red tie and whiskers, and the ladies'
gave up.
oh wimmen can't get ahead OF me. %
chortled the noisy man as the package
was brought TO him.
Then he opened it.
Great heavens," he beloved. as he
opened his package, look what 1 go..
And he held up for the deIectation of
a convulsed audience three pairs OF
lady's hosiery, a handkerchief, and
other things-useful only to women.
This is the limit" he roared his face
taking on the color Of his whiskers and
tie. Soon afterward he left.
An elderly lady, who was evidently
going through her first dead letter sale.
also left at about that time The lady
had gone ahead in her catalogue and
picked out the number on which she
desired to bid. Having done this she
shut her catalogue and waited patient
~ until her number was called.
Should Women Smoker
When her number 90 was called she
opened up in manner that showed
plainly her intention TO brook no oppo-
sition. She won her coveted prize, and
upon opening IT discovered a pipe, some
tobacco, and a deck OF cards Tear
fully she glanced back at her cata-
logue. and then learned that the number
on which she was bidding designated
another lot Of goods.
There was one gentlem man, presuu-
ably OF German descent. who won fame
at the sale. He will be ALWAYS rprneu1-
Dered distinctly by the auctioneer. in
deed, by the whole audience His bids
were eagerly looked forward 10. and
when ne won an article he was riot
OuSly cheered.
A bundle would be offered for sale
Several small bids would be made. and
then the German gentleman would r1se
from his seat impressively and face the
euctiOneer.
Il wish to bldt some more" he would
announce simply, and tnen he would
continue to stand up until he got what
ne wanted. He never specified the
amount Of his bid. He announced that
he wanted to bid. and that was enough.
II they tried to argue with him chat is.
the other bidders). he would probably
have stood there a week before ne
would have lost his prospective pur-
chase.
There was some spirited biddinr
among the colored portion OF the crowd
when lot containing four colored NECK
ties and five razors was offered. Every
body dropped out except FIVE dusky
sons or Ham. Two Of the gentlemen
counted their Joint capital and entered
Into partnership on the spot with s57
on which 70 run the corporation.
"Ah'U bid ten cents mon ANYBODY
else" announced the junior partnel
threateningly, and then in a voice IN.
tended solely for the ear OF his frienC
well fix dem othah nigSahs when W,
The list Of happenings at the sale 1,
endless. II you really want TO see and
hear more. go visit the sale yourself.