The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-06-19
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS

l which I attended on Monday, when a lot of fine-bred cattle were sold to the high est bidder.
 So, if any of you think you are going to get any newtips from me about que tion pitch Or use me as bridge you will be disappointed, for indoor games never made any special appeal to me, and I gave up cards without a pang
 I do not know if the Chinese have auc- tions or engaged in them before the Rom ans came on to the scene, but I am not going. back any further than the Greek and the Romans in this present story, for they are sufficiently ancient to give a proper background unless one just dotes or antiquity.
 I have found out generally that if the Chinese overlooked anything you are pretty liable to get a clue of 1t from l Herodotus, who when it comes to auc- tions describes custom which prevailed in Babylonian villages of disposing of the maidens in marriage by delivering them to the highest bidders in an as- l
 Now, while this opens all kinds of ave- nues of thoughts on the social and mar ent, I am not going to take time here to give out any strictures on the way mar riages of convenience are made in the twentieth century or how modern matrons are accused of taking their marriage able daughters to the best naarts by sea or mountain. I'll let any of you who wish fill in the data for yourselves.
 I am hurrying on to bring to your att tention Col. D. 0. Perry, a man who for 35 years has been an auctioneer, and who is known throughout the land as the King of the Jersey Criers," for he has sold more of the island cattle than any man in the business, and despite his being a grandfather has many more years of usefulness before him in boosting the breed which to him stands for all that there is of romance and worth in the kingdom of the COW.
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 There are artists in every profession. I know the shock we give to the Euro peans by applying the term so indiscrim- inately, but I am willing to bestow the title on bootblack, cabnaan, barber, ditch digger, pitcher or any one who in his line stands out and apart from his fel- lows and through skill and love of his work takes an humble calling and con- verts it into something which gets for it and for himself the attention and the applause of the world.
 I heard the greatest auctioneers in the land here at our famous Rod Cross bull sale, for they were men who had made while they had wonderful voices, marvel lous facial ability, and convincing ges- lures, yet not one of them in my opinion has the wit. the merry qups, the daring repartee, or the poetic imagination of Perry, the man who weaves around the Jersey a halo of romance
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 In spite of his Rabelasian hurnor which at times may bring a blush to the cheeks of the fair women in his audience, there is in his past, whether he will admt it or not, preacher strain which with cul- tivation and call would have carried him far as an evangelist for ever and anon he stops in the midst of his merry making or even in his effort to raise bid, to tell story with a moral and drive home to the boys that they ought to get into the game, or to shame the fathers for not giving their sons a better chance on the farm before they light out for the city.
 We talk of great secretaries as being masters of assemblies, of great preach CTS as being able to sway audiences, of great lawyers ability to convince juries, of great statesmen to hold crowds spell bound; but it takes combination of all of these gifts and graces for an auc- tioneer to arrest and magnetic the atten- ior of a passing throng on the goods which he is selling. If you want to know just how difficult is his task you who are used to speaking in church. in the courtroom, or from the lecture plat form, just try a bit of street corner preaching or talking. I know, for have tried it out
 
 } Monday afternoon under hot tent, fol the sun was streaming on it, crowd had gathered; some to buy, but many more just to be onlookers. It was the business of Colonel Perry to first gel the attention of the men and women be. fore him, and while getting and keeping them in good humor. to then get them in buying mood It's much the casio, task to get laugh than it is to get a bid. The artistry of the man came out in his ability to create an atmosphere of good will, and at the same time mob l ilize it into one ready to bid on the stock as it came into the ring
 i. I was sitting on the front seat to the left of the auction stand. On the seal just back of me sat Bob Jemison, and one seat just behind him was his father , A fine animal was causing spirited bid. ding, and so close was the contest and , so interested the bidders, that uncon. consciously young Bob was bidding against old Bob. q beg pardon, for the senior is not and never will be old.) Wher , they awolxe to the fact they had a pretty ) laugh over. it, as did those around them : It just shows the hypnotic power ol Perry as an auctioneer.
 It was easy for him to land Fred Jack. son. for he loves cows, and then he i.