The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1910-03-03
Finsry, Fallen From Ugh Estate. at
Auction and The Varied and Anus.
ing Gathering Of Women
Intent on Securing
B0roojnS.
Eror, tha N.w v,rL II


From the New York Herald.
Lot 12l, chiffon and satin and m
~broidered evening gown. Ah-h! Here
is what we're waiting for. Bring her
in. jim"
All eyes We're turned e%xpectantly
toward he opening in the dirty red
curtains strung on a wire at one end
terry Lot 121" was preparing her toilet.
everyone showed forward In her chair.
the auctioneer squared around to the
entrance through which Lot III" was
to appear, and there was a little silence.
Apparently this was what We We're all
waiting for.
In a moment Jim came out bearing
Lot 121" in his arms. He set her up
IN the little platform under the light.
gave a few last witches of adjustment
and stepped back.
Lot 121" swung awkwardly on an
old wooden form which was too large.
One tinselled strap slipped from the
and the skirt was pulled awry. The
crowd gazed unwinkingly at "l21," and
she stood the inspection with a brave
attempt at jauntiness in her somewhat
dulled satin folds and her soited chiffon.
1t was h last stand Of a thoroughbred
dress against h rag bag.
Turn IT around Jim. Let me see
the back" said the a%uctioneer with
much JUNCTION.
Jim did %. Poor '121" was taken at
Ia disadvantage. The hooks on the
waist did not meet around the form by
several inches, n this gave the crea-
u a sloppy, careless appearance
which was entirely foreign to it's noble
birth In some we'll known Fifth avenue
shop.
Pull out the skirt, Jim, and let's
see what goes with it. Look ladies,
here's a fine underskirt, without a spot
on IT. The skirt would be worth the
price alone"
Jim pulled at arms length the
drapertes of the gown and ruthlessly
displayed the interior construction OF
Its makeup.
ANY one wanting to examine this ar
ttcle step up and do so,'' said the auc-
t1oneer IN a frank, confidence inviting
voice. w don't var you to buy
unless you're satisfied
Two or three women went forward
and inspected the offering. One caught
a n of the satin in her hand and
crumpled 1t several times In the time
honored manner of the would be Judge
of cloth. Another ran a long. sharp
finger a down the cams and held the
chiffon up to the light to look for holes.
One woman shifted and stalked to her
seat.
The scene was in one Of the auction
rooms in the downtown district. All
about We're pictures, curios and an
tiques of all kinds. Several old paint
ings were covered with trailing gar
ments hung over their frames. Swords,
muskets, and many strange articles OF
warfare We're ranged in dusty cases.
Queer pieces of furniture, much of it
old, stood about. Hanging from nails
were different articles Of feminine APP
parel. and behind the red curtains one
caught glimpses of stacks and piles
of 1t.
A couple of young women arranged
the garments on the forms with much
laughter n c~hattering. These were
borne out before the audience by the
assistants and retired ANONYMOUSLY
when sold. very much after the hook
method SO popular on amateur nights
at the cheap theaters.
Somebody start it," said the auc-
%tioneer briskly. Thirty? Twenty?
Ten? Eight? Come, come"
"a dollar" sal a voice from the
rear.
zone fifty" 1.-TWO. 1.-TWO twenty
sion, and the auctioneer barely muir
INJURED them. When the sum of four
dollars and a quarter had been reached
there was a lull in the bargaining.
-Four twen'-five, twen'-five, twent'-
five" the auctioneer kept repeating.
l!.fn Hef around again, Jim"
The bids jumped to five and a quar-
ter, then ceased. "Why, look at the
embroidery OF that satin. Where could
you get anybody to do it for you for
the miserable sum of five dollars?"
A raised her bid ten cents.
The auctioneer looked panied. How
CAREFUL" he commented. A thin faced
man bid Ave dollars n a half. No
coaxing from the auctioneer could
bulge the price higher.
-Four flft-ff', fift-going, going; sold.
Take her away, Jim. The next time
dresses I'll know It," The a~uctioneer's
face was melancholy. and there seemed
to be tears in his voice. But he bright
ened up visibly when he consulted his
list and announced that the next lot
was mo. 122, brown velvet dress.
Hurry up Jim; here is a really superior
article"
This was my first visit to a clothing