The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-07-04

Nappis brass band preceded by great banner donated by the Hill Sign company appeared In front of The Age-Herald at few minutes after F o'clock, where everything was ready for the big auction. The canvas stretched across the street. through the courtesy of the Birmingham
 Awning and Tent company. and the Harris Transfer company, provided shade for the crowd which filled the street. A dozen or more automobiles were drawn up at each side, and The AgeHerald truck stood at the curb.
 Immediately the 'auctioneering party
 Editor E., w. Barrett. President Culpep- per Exum, Secretary H. S. Ryall, Harry Jones and W. P. G. Harding. took their seats in, the. truck and MT. Barrett ex-
 plained the purpose of the auction and 'in- troduced President Exum.
 Exum Greeted With Applause MT. Exum was greeted with applause, the band playing Dixie"
 This is going to be great sale" f" he said. For this pleasure we are
 
 overlooked the dollar mark for once in his life.
 Now. we expect you to bid, and we expect you to pay. It rennnds me of the story of the old fellow who sub scribed 31O' to the church fund. "'But.' said the minister. Brother Jones subscribed s100.'
 "'Yes, said the old man. but mines cash.'" '..."t''
 Mayor Exum then presented beau tiful lavender shirt.
 What am I bid?' Quickly the bids ran up to $15. The auctfoneer's remark. "Fm not going to sell this shirt for $15," started an up- l roar. Twenty-Five dollars was bid and then $35, whereupon telegraph boy arrived with a message which an- nounced that the man who will get married today in front of the grand . stand at the state fair would give $50 for the first shirt "I reckon he needs
 & shirt" said the mayor, and promptly
 knocked down the shirt to him for $50. Frank Nelson got the next shirt for S10 and they went thick and fast. | George Gorden Crawford bought a shirt for $lO and gave it back, where. upon the same shirt was sold to Lige Chandler for sl0. That's going some" | said MT. Exum; "$1O for second hand l.shirt!"i
 | MdVOF EAn0l DeGdHio 4uftc NItiSllC III | presenting the shirts. His "Going, go- | inng, first call, second call, third and | last call, sold to MT. ''-----." was as perfect as could have been done by a professional. I Harry Jones Takes Charge Mr. Exum left before the sale was concluded to go to the polls in the interest, of the bond issue and Harry
 Jones, succeeded him on the box. MT. Jones had the crowd laughing from
 the first, He faded" B. M. Allen for a S10 almond colored effect and he knocked down.. beautiful Roe
 buck Springs style" to c. B. Mccormack for $25. Solon Jacobs, Murray Brown and Lige Chandler occupied seats on the bIeachers and kept things going merrily, bidding against each other MT. Chandler couldn't get shirt to fit his neck. so kept on bidding.
 An especially fine coup was that played. when Mudd Martin rolled up in his automobile. All the big bidders were exhausted and shirts were going for $1 but MT. Jones sold him shirt for $5 in a "jiffy.'' George Ward was an "easy mark" for $5 and Jones Moore took one for $10. The man who cham pions the peoples cause" said Mr. Jones.
 Frank Johnson, an old negro, was one of the first to bid $1 and made away with two at that price Finally MT Jones sold the last one to himself. and the great auction was formally closed.
 About IS prominent ladies who at tended in automobiles punctuated the proceedings with applause and little shriek of excitement. .e
 Just about dusk a gentleman who gave his name as Cash" appeared at Tho Age Herald and when told that all the shirts had been sold, paid s10 for "the one I ought to have gotten" Thus ended the day.
 There were many people present who did not bid. but all enjoyed the free lemonade furnished in utensils from John. ONeill's store, and the general opinion was that shirt sales should be held every day at noon during the hot wsather. f.fg.1