The sun., 1908-11-08
THEIR PRECIOUS ANTIQUES
A FURNITURE AUCTION THAT
NEVER TOOK PLACE.

Lets nave everything new, No 6atu,
when it came to moving out Of the old
home. 'I've always thought I'd like the
sensation Of living In an entirely new
house with entirely new belongings, s0f
course she answered. a1'd gladly give
them up II thought we could got
enough for them TO buy new
They were about to emigrate from the
old house In Chelsea TO the recently pur-
chased Flatbush home. and there was the
natural hankering after possessions that
should suit the new house. Yet there
were family traditions that placed high
value on their furniture. The black wal
nut dining room set with tho grapes and
the two quails carved on the sideboard
not to mention its thick marble elab. the
rickety chairs with the same bunch Of
grapes and tho two quails In miniature
but still large enough to rest on the back
Of the occupants neck-fanily tradition
placed its value very high.
The haring rosewood chairs with the
etasere and the oval centre table -also
adorned with q marble slab-wers ac-
counted even more valuable in the reckon
ing Of the family treasures y
.They ought to bring, high prices at
an auction, she observed. "You sec that
parlor sets antique. Aunt Mary used to
say she bought Il in the finest furniture
store in New York. It was down in Grand
street. She gave 1t to mother as wed-
ding present. Then that dining room
set ought to brinea lot. That must be
rare now"
Luckily It Is. but no such knowledge Of
.a.x tuaAa sltak,.,I,sAd ff,a <,<.rx,ir,-
tions Of the family.
If we could only sell it all, she said.
I'D buy mission for the dining room and
get everything brooaded. with no wood
showing. for the parlor Wouldn't that
be lovely in that house,' 4a
Under the inspiration Of the mission and
brocade idea thoughts Of the sale devel-
oped In all directions II the furniture
brought as much as Il ought to bring she
would have enough money to buy some
new pieces for the bedrooms.
She priced brocade for the parlor and
mission for tho dining room in half the
furniture stores In town. As the dis
cussion Of what their possessions might
bring grew more definite the amount
grew steadily larger.
Il don't know she finally said. but
what We might furnish tho whole house
with what We get from tho auction sale.
We might even got new china and carpets.
We must have new stair carpet
He carne uptown early one Saturday
afternoon that they Haeht 90 TO an auc-
tioneer 70 make arrangements for the
sale, but thew never got that far.
She took him first to zee the best mission
dining room set she had found anywhere
for the money, nditwas 90 far 10 the store
with the best brccade paflor aet to suit
her figures that it was O'Clock before he
had duly Inspected them.
sWeIl 20 next week. she reassuringly
observed -It isn't as IL we weren't
sure about the matter. The moneys
as good as IN our pockets and it's only Q
question of Just how much we can have 30
spend. I've picked out all the other
things too, 20 it won't take us any time.
once we've rot the money
She had been 70 cali on some Of the auc-
tioneerA and her somewhat Scattering
description Of the treasures she was about
to put ON the market drew the TD0st en-
oouraging assurances from the gentlemen
she talked with. w.
People are back from the country now
and ready 10 buy. Bring along your stun
as soon as possible and yoa won't regret
!" Then % tbe demand for fine antique furni-
ture was described by the other auction
eers as 20 great tnag Blle Deghn 10 hosi-
tate as TO which she would trust with
those precious articles that daily became
posed To hold the auctioneers at Q dis
lance, they sll ssezned 90 anxious TO dis
pese Of her consignments.
you come up next Saturday" she
urged &c q way out Of the dilemma, sand
wen see which Is the bet place 10 look
Av.tt
arset trSst 4Ss them % fipst 70 any oSdinary @ aac.
tioneer. They're too valuable 10 be
auctioned on anywhere. Perhaps We
ought 70 put 'em 10 an art gallery. whatf
Wei, wen go TO an auction Saturday
She already knew the auction rooms
we'll and selected the sale that seemed 10
her most like her own idea Of the atr1os-
phere she was seeking, for the diStribu-
ton to the public Of har effects. II was an
advertisement reading .Fufniture belong
ing to q gentleman about % eail Tor Eu-
rope and recently taken from his residence
near Fifth avenue and consisting Of ele-
CANT solid mahogany furniture for
parlor, library and bedrooms. superb
antique Adam bedroom set, rare old
Colonial pieces. fine china. silver and
articles ofyertu Nosuch Techerche oner-
This seemed about the sort Of thing she
wanted for her auction; 90 II was decided
that he was to come uptown 10 lunch
on Saturday. Then they we're % 60 70.
their sale should be handed over 10 this |
particular establishfuent was 70 depend
altogether on the way he acquitted him.
self in disposing Of the stock on hand, II
Remember now she whispered, as |
they picked their way through the crowd |
ing camp chairs until they, found place |
in the front Of the room; sTemeuAbef not |
TO say word until we have seen how he |
gets through With these things. We don't
want 10 commit ourselves too soon
Ii did not BseTn 70 her that the. ,auc-
iloneer remembered her particularly,
although she had talked with him several
times. He made bad impression on her
otherwise He seemed fiippant and lacking !
in the ssriousness necessary 20 deal with
such valuable things as hers
Il don't think much Of him. whispered
her husband after a few minutes. sHe's
too funny"
just then the two men whose business
II was to put the articles In view OF the
Spectators placed on the low platform
chair She clutched his arni.>
Just like our dining room seti The
very identical thing~ hhe cried.
Then she sat back proudly in her chair
10 see what wealth awaited her. Tho
aGCtioneer glanced at the catalogue and
hen at the exhibit.
Number o. he went on. -Bet Of eight
Walnut chairs, hand carved with game and
To-. 4