The sun., 1916-03-05
"COMEDIE HUMANE" AS
PLAYED AT POLICE SALE

lift 1t to the platform beside the suc.
tioneer. The bidding began at 81
cents and closed at s14. The final pur-
chaser had not even taken the trouble
to go around to tho back Of the stand
and look at IL.
"1'll take my chances" said he. "or
it's being some kind Of chemical. What
ever II is, IL is worth a lot of money in
these days even II II b spoiled. II
might be dyestuff. and then me for
two or three hundred dollars"
"Bundle OF rags and old shoes" an
nounces the auctioneer in professional
monotone. who II there who would
give more than two cents for this bum
die OF worthlessness? The buyers
crowd about and the bids begin to
soar.
Sold for 1880" announces the
master Of the bids.
Bolts OF cloth which either fell into
the streets from trucks or were a..
sisted to do 70 by persons who did not
ind II convenient owing to prompt
pursuit to take them away az they
expected were shown in prim rows
They brought good prices too, for
most Of them were In fine condition.
one or the bargains WAS enough, khaki
10 put ten men into un form.
This Is a town Of various strata.
Something like that the silver vanity
case remarked to the tall church
chalfce alongside. This Police Depart
inent sale makes strange neighbors.
The chalice taken from some altar
brought 81 and the vanity case.
dropped no doubt on the way ou. from
one OF the leading trotteries Of the
city went for 81 more.
box containing religious articles
manicure sets, surgical instruments
two blocks Of aluminium. n lot Of rome.
horse blanket a carton OF hominy
and an old fashioned velocipede follow
in quick succession. for the catalogue
makers OF the Police Department do
not stop TO classify. A suit case full
or padioc'is. four prayer shawls and
q iorgnette are all put up In sequence.
II makes no difference to them.
People are careless about watchinS(
their automobiles in this own and that
accounts for the array OF tires which
'oiice Headquarters always has to
show on II sales days. II Is easy TO
unstrap the extra tires from the wait.
ing machines and to trunde them
away.
Lifting fire nguishers out OF AN
tomobiles Is another favorite pastimc
of the collectors for the Police Depart.
ment sale. and horns are often cas- ly
detachable Some connoisseurs take
the whole machine. others leave the
chassis and merely take the extra
wheels. The easygoing habi, some
persons have of leaving their bicycles
outside while they go In TO collec.
cigar coupons is shown in tho long
rows Of wheels which are placed OH
racks reaching to the ceiling
The ways of the metropolis show
forth in the piles Of trunks and yalisos
sold unopened and unhefted to buyers
who are willing TO take al kinds of
chances on their containing somethin ing
worth while. The hotel sWindler is
largely represented in this assemhlage
Of luggage, filed with old clothes
waste paper and occasional bricks TO
give substance. Some of the trunks
are hesped with tawdry iinery and
Tump,ed lingerie.
Here the unwarv stranger at the
railroad station is represented. Mr.,
Lott came in from one OF our ieadNg
suburbs TO meet lmosene and take her
TO the theatre. He was TO have put
on his evening attire, for here Is the
whole snit. with the cleaning waist
coat and the still crisp shir, and the
white lawn tie and even the gloves
immaculate with the facinss OF black.
Too Rad that he left the suit case on
the t'oor OF the Grand Central station
just for a minute while he bought an
evening paper and looked about to see
Il no more.