The Auctioneer.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 19 March 1910, Page 4

The Auctioneer.

Many curious incidents befall an auctioneer in the course of his career, some of which are amusing and some quite the reverse. A '•■•Titer in the Strand Magazine .'-ayhe has sold a .six-ronnied house for ! -''>, a horse for 30s; a town man -ion when there was only one mar: in (lie room besides the-'auctioneer mid his clerk; lie has knocked down a house to a bidder who eventually proved to lie drunk and would not si.L',n the contract; and has sold ;: London theatre to a man who wanted !o borrow from him the whole of the. purchase-money. .Hut the most amusing incident he has personally witnessed was as follows :~ • - i.s well-known that an auctioneer '~ r,i,,.l ,|> v.. !;Y ,•!,!,- ■ ■'ice. so thai he may be able to .s.-c w!io is bidding. On one occasion when the writer was present the ■ iuelioncer and his clerk were sil|ii];.; at: n desk rai.sed upon the din-iii<M-oom taj.de, as the str;iii./ i'>t piece of furniture in the h;>:i>;<-< iijid most suitable for the purp. >■■.■ 'I he room was full of buyers, some 'if whom also sitting on *li-.- •' l '-' of the table, when" the i ><_'"- b.':'..i!i to yield uir.ler the piwire. Ominiiiis cracks wei'e heard, {• rm ni'.. , : a ground bass accompany, -nt '?' the " (Joingi Ooinir !'' when ■ ii'l <!''iily the nnciionoer realised the danger, and in a few brief sec.md> in , to a more seen re. if les.-i elevated, position of the l\r,r.\-.