Selling A Piano.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 24 July 1915, Page 3

Selling A Piano.

Before the drawing for the motor car took piace (in tho Century Half on Wednesday night) there was an auction sale held by Mr W. Simpson, ot various articles. Many of the articles offered sold ■well, while lor others no olfer was received, and they were passed in. As they w«ro of small bulk the committee was not faced with the question of paying for »torage. When it came to a piano, however, ?t was different. The committee already had stored ib for a. few months ami declined to keep it any longer. Those present did not seem to want it, and Mr Simpson determined that .someone should take it. "How much lov the piano? £o? Well, C- ' J No offer? £1? 10sP ss? 2s (id? Well Is?" A bid of Is come from the back and the price rose rapidly to ten or twelve shillings, then competition dragged and bids of Is were taken. Slowly tho price rose, but the bids grew smaller; from Is to Gil, to 3d, and at 18s to Id The audience was like a man stacking a wood pile, the higher the pile the lighter the pieces. Like a teamster urging his team out of a bog Mr Simpson persuaded the unwilling buyers along .until in Id steps the price i-ench-ed 19s lid. Then it stopped. All coaxing was useless. Mr Simpson wanted the .01; no one would give it. The irresistible had met the immovable. A -way out was found by a member of the audience giving: the extra penny and the piano was sold for £.!. Mr Simpson deserved the cheer he g r >t for his effort. During the sale mauv requests were made for a tune, but were not acceded to. Possibly Mr Simpson is not aware that "'music hath charms'": on the other hand .t may have been a knowledge of the 1 act that prevented him allowing anyouo Li play a tune on it.