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Thursday, June 13. 1974
University Daily Kansan
Auctions Hold Hidden Treasure
Equipped with a microphone and a challenging finger, the auctioneer singles out a possible buyer from the crowd for his client's wallet. His lacrionous sales pitch holds
a certain thrill for the audience while his finger acts as a focal point for anyone whose attention might have wandered.
Armed with the essentials for an auction on a sunny day, you can save time and money by number of participants.
on the drone of the auctioneer's voice. The auctions draw people of all ages, from
An assistant thrusts his merchandise toward the crowd, hoping someone has a use for slightly bent but "just as usual." He does not, and her hand hangs loosely.
Public Sales have become a tradition in the Lawrence area. As many as 200 people may show up in someone's front yard on a sunny day, and they'll look for bargains or antiques, or maybe just to listen to the auctioneer's rapid calls. You never know what you'll find at these stores—much more than you'll pay for the most nuanced to the most exotic of items.
The stage for the auctioner is nothing more than a flatbed truck, if he is lucky enough to get that much of a platform. However, to those who attend, the auctioneer could just as well be standing on his mother's shoulders.
Photos by BILL SEYMOUR
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Loaded down with newly acquired treasures, a young girl heads for home. She leaves behind a crowd of
bidders still looking for more good buys.