The Press., 1921-02-24
Charity
 
(Copyright.)
By E. L. JAY

SA4oA~~~~~~~SNN~~~ ~~~~N0e0~~~~~A~N~Ne2 | (Copyright) MT, Lawrence Terhune. is a student l of human nature. The frailties of the 1 people with whom he daily comes in contact grieve him exceedingly; his sole ambition in life is to correct by means of drastic lessons, the errors In | their moral makeup, thus inculcating honesty, faithfulness, and other vir. tues into various people who lack these desirable attributes. Incidentally he makes a very comfortable living by 1t. 1 One afternoon he strOlled into an auction room where art objects from the land of the MikadO were being sold. case of. carved worries attract ed his atlentinn. and he fingered near it, admiringiy. He asked an attendant if; these things were sold privately, as he would not think of bidding at pub 1 lie sale.
 A whispered consultation ensued, fin the course of which the auctiOneer tn- l formed him that they might do so, If the gentleman would pick out the things he desired and make an offer ] on them.
 Said MT. Terhune: Really, know nothing of the value of these things :: but if you will allow me, shall pick out several things fancy, and you will place label on each. Then, if you l will submit list, with the price of each article, shall send my agent, who is an expert; and if he considers the figures satisfactory, shall be pleased to send you a check."'
 The auctiOneer gave nasty glance at the faultlessly dressed gentleman, then winked long and elabOrately at a hideous bronze idol. He had had experience with purchasing agents be- fore. It would certainly be a good days business.
 The selection began. First, the in ridiculous pastures; grOtesQue beasts and birds climbing over each other; gods, arrayed in filigree that looked like lace, a ball of tiny mOn- keys. so intertwined and twisted that it was almost impossible to count their number. The daintiest and most elaborate pieces in stock were care fully selected and put aside. Would the gentleman care to look at some clolsonnes? The gentleman was not very anxious, but as he had a little time to spare, he would. The auctiOneer waxed eloquent over the wonders he displayed-gracefu vases of iridescent hues; cOrpulent bowls of a tdOve-gray color, over which prepOs- terOus reptiles dispOrted and stuck out their tongues; a gem of translucent green enamel, sprinkled with cherry blooms in softest pink and white.
 A few ceramics2 An exquisite dish -sO dainty, one could count his fingers through it's porcelain walls covered with tiny figures outlined in 18-carat gold
 Royal Satsuma pottery, signed by the artist, is pleasing, attractive, and rare.
 Some Moriarchi, studded with medal lions like little gems. An old tea-set, so fragile that 1t seemed as if a breath would destroy the fairy-dishes. A bronze or two; and a mammoth teak wood cabinet, whose carved heads brooded in solemn blackness over the treasures.
 J. Lawrence Terhune looked at his watch and said:
 Really, had no idea I had spent so much time. Here is my card. Kind ". favor me with a list as soon as possible. Quote your lowest prices, as will do no bargaining. My agent will call, examine, and report"
 The next morning the auctiOneer called at Mir. Terhune's office. He was disappointed that he found nothing to indicate the business of his prospec- tive purchaser. He was ushered into a room which has often been de- Scribed as the handsomest private of fee in New York, and his trained eye unconsciOusly estimated the value of the fixtures to be no less than five fig ures.
 'Ah, good morning! Have you your list? Good! I'll refer 1t to my agent. hope you have remembered my re- quest to make the prices reasonable. will not be bothered with haggling."
 "Mr. Terhune, them prices quoted Is dirt cheap. Why, I takes my oath and wouldn't mean it no more sacred Iy if was to drop dead this minute that every quotation is as low as you can. get them anywhere, even if you was to import 'em yOurself.'
 The auctiOneer took his leave.
 J. Lawrence Terhune chuckled, lit 1afC al %1N examine the list. One hundred and eighty-seven separate items-surely he had not examined so manyi A sum total of $7,839. J. Lawrence Terhune laughed softly carefully folded the doc ument, and put 1t in his pocket. / A few days later a stOOp-shOuldered. sIovenly individual shambled into the auctioneer's place, and handed over a grimy card bearing Mir. Terhune's name, asked to see the "chim-grackS" mentioned in "dis," tapping a much sOiled piece of paper, which the auc- tioneer recognized as the list sub- mitted.
 "I'm Meester Derhune's achent-my names Gerstensang," he volunteered, He went to work in very businesslike way, with a magnifying-glass and a long needle, looking for cracks in the ivory. ~>~<
 The auctioneer watched him anx- iously.
 "Fine stuff that?" he said at last.
 T'mmhmm !' murnured Mir. Ger. stensang, comparing the number on the ornament with the price on the list.
 The auctioneer watched him make a mysterious hferoglyph after the num- Der. Pretty cheap?"
 sUmmhmm s'pect so. You sharge only twice about vat dey vos vort'."
 "Whatcher taIkin' about?" clustered the auctioneer. "Mr. Terhune'll never get another chance to get these things as cheap as that !"
 "No9" The inflnnffon Rn fho aOonf'a