The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1909-06-03
GOVERNMENT SELLS GOWNS
WESTERN BUYERS FIGURE AT
HENKEL'S AUCTION.

1hreug Of New York women Disgustec
Bscaase They Are 0utbtd and BE
cause Some Things Arc SeId In Lots
Omaha Pays the Hikhest Price. $3.50
At the conclusion Of yesterdays sale
at The Custom House Of frilly frooks and
frou-frou p~sttiooats and chiffon matlntea
and sealed bundles Of buttons and buckles
and hand embroidered lingerie and un-
made robes In all the newest shades
some ons remarked to As.shs! Henkel
that Il seemed 4 pity that goods captured
for. the United States Government BY
New York officials shouldn't remain
here to set Oh the beauty Of New York
women. It was an outrage for New York
men to allow them to bs carried OF to
Chicago and Omaha by Mr.. Notcher and
Mr., Brandeis.
The marshal sighed and said that II
was only too true. Then he smiled and
admitted that he had had the time OF his
life at the sale. How could he have
helped It'll
Didn't every one OF the 2.o0o women
who thronged the corridors Of the fifth
floor as early as half past 8 In order to
be in time for the opening OF the sale,
which was scheduled for 10 O'Clock. push
and pull and shove each other with all
their might and main In q simultaneous
effort TO get within sight and hearing OF
the man who had Jurisdiction over the
collection OF things for which they
yesrnedf
The marshal certainly Yves a debt OF
grstitude TO those who braved the rain.
Not only did their presence lend q cheer
full and artistic atmosphere to what
would otherwise have been but q dull and
ooloriess function. but their rapid fire
bids made the Chicago and Omaha men
pay for what they got. 1t certainly did.
For instance. II two beautifully tailored
creatures had not each been 50 eager for
q white null princess dress all COW
cred with lace and embroidery that they
ran 1t up TO Sis In about two minutes and
a half tho man who got 1t might have
secured Il for $50. As 1t was be had to
pay 500.
AZ for the royal purple pongee that
went TO Omaha and which brought
$50, tho highest price Of the sale. he
successful bidder didn't say q word until
half a dozen OF the marshsl's s~elf-oon-
stituted aides had pushed the bid from
40 up to $ll7.5o.
There were, TO be sur some disadected
persons who ented their disapproval OF
the creed Of tho representatives Of the
Middle West in q series OF Kisses. The
episode which seemed to occasion the
most heartburning was the sale to the
citizen Of Chicago OF eighteen lots OF hand
embroidered lingerie for SIS. Some Of
the lingerie was marked large and
some Small" while other lots were
labelled medium" and IT was therefore
obvious that no one woman would van
to bid on them all.
Seven unmade robes in Alioe blue, tur-
quoiss blue, old ose mode and other
sllunng tones were also sold In bulk at
them was not by any means popular with
The competition In waists was specially
Keen. One woman climbed on q chair
which was already supporting a OF her
fellow enthusiasts. and thrustang her
head in front Of the others Charlotte
Corday shrieked .s7ol' just as the
lace and embroidery for 31e. .
1T goes to the cuckoo birdl' shouted
sMiss Goldie,' corrected the voice at
the window. And there was q burst OF
laughter and applause from the assembled
bidders.
Collector Loeb looked in while the waists
were being sold and smiled approvingly
upon the marshal and the ~auctioneer,
Charles Shongood. and upon the wearers
OF the befiowered headgear. He was 30
impressed by the general air Of festivity
which prevailed that he went right back
to his ONCE and dictated q statement to
the effect that the sale a been most
satisfactory from every point Of view. -.
There are, however. two disgruntled
purchasers who wish they had their
money back. One IL Capt. Yensen. who
paid BIS for ten and a quarter yards OF
white lace, which vas afterward ap-
praised by an expert a. being worth at
the outside not moro than -. o the
other was a woman who tried TO exchange
q waist which was marked size 70 when
she found in reality 1t was only g 80.
There was, however, no redress Tor either
OF these. .
A dressmaker who said she had had
enough experience to tell the value OF any
OF the lots displayed almost at a glance
that the sale was the most sentimental
she had ever attended.
sThe women and the dealers too are
placing u fictitious value upon most OF
these things just because they are Snug
aled,' she explained. Il am coming to-
morrow. though, to look at the exhibition
OF the next trimkful. which have been
told contains some frocks that are really
worth WhilA.s