The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-11-11
MEN, WOMEN
An D T HIN C S

, Auctions have fascination which many peo-
pie are unable to resist. 1t seems to be gener-
ally understood that if any one has anything
which cannot be sold in any other way it can
be at least auctioned off,
1t may be valuable real estate personal prop
erty of every description, but it makes no diff
ference whether it be dirt trash there is al
ways some one who is ready to make bid and
in most cases another person willing to raise it.
If it takes two to make quarrel it is
equally true that it takes two to make a sale at
auction The custom is that nothing can be
sold on one bid but when there is more than one
made on any article it must be knocked down
to the highest bidder. There is an element of
justice in this rule.
Birmingham got its biggest sensation in the
matter of auctions during the when the
Red Cross bull sale attracted nationwide notice
on account of its many novelties. The city of
Birmingham as well as the whole of Alabama
was interested in it and this is why taken to-
gether with its purpose that such large sum
was realized.
Because of my connection with Frank l. Der
by promoter of it, and with the late Fred Jones,
at that time president of the Southern Cattle
mems association, it fell to me to be in it from
been staged here numerous calls came for me to
come to other counties to resell one of the bulls
purchased here.
Being my first experience in auctioneering
it avs at first bit hard, but the more calls
which came the easier the task until the time
arrived when it was real fun. This being
known was the reason of my being called to
Centerville on last Saturday to conduct a pub
lie sale in the interest of building new Bap-
fist church. A beautiful lot the public
square having been bought, the members wished
to start fund to build it.
The pastor, Rev. fernando De Soto Wilson
wrote me of the plans and urged me to come
to the assistance of the church. He stated that
not only the members but many friends of other
denominations would give cows, heifers, bulls,
calves, horses, mules, hogs, goats, poultry and
various kinds of farm products, as well as
quilts, blankets, fancy work, fruits, preserves,
cakes and other edibles or things of household
utility.
It appealed to me and early Saturday morn
ing found me the courthouse grounds look
ing over the varied assortment which was to be
sold. The sale was advertised for 10 o'clock
but owing to the running of the trains it was
postponed until 100 p M to give all the bidders
a chance to arrive and to let the home people
take time for dinner. A good afternoons
work was cut out for me as there were scores
of articles to be auctioned off.
J. NJ. Brown, chairman of the sale opened it
by stating its purpose. Jerome Fuller then
made short talk introducing Frank Heard who
in turn presented me. Then came the inevitable
speech which is cotton off to try and create a
buying atmosphere, and the sale began, and be-
lieve me- it is some job to be an auctioneer on
an occasion where the gifts of a town and a
county are to be sold. But it was lot of fun,
and usder the circumstances the articles
brought their value My services were free
but jar of fig preserves and an angel cake
was my reward. 1t will be pleasure in the
days to come when handsome church stands
on the lot to know that had little part in
its building.