AT A RUSSIAN FAIR.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 1, 2 January 1937, Page 2 (Supplement)

AT A RUSSIAN FAIR.

By T. HEALY. What extraordinary things one finds for sale at a Russian fair! Nothing is ever thrown away—even rusty nails finding a place in the market. On one stall in Batura I observed a halfemptied tin of sardines, a door mat worn to holes, an old saucepan, a rusty mattress and an ancient kerosene stove. "How much the kerosene stove?" I asked in sport. "Ten shillings," said an old, sorrow-ful-looking Persian. I laughed sarcastically and was about to move away. "Name your price," said the stallkeeper. I did not want a stove, but for fun tried a low figure. "Sixpence!" I said. "Whew!" The Persian wondered whether he were asleep and dreaming. "Nine shillings!" I moved away. "Five shillings!" cried the Persian — "four shillings." I moved further off. "Ninepence," 1 offered. "Two shillings!" He bawled something else, but I was out of hearing. I repassed the stall later in the morning. "That kerosene stove," said the Persian, "it is yours for one-and-sixpence." I felt sorry, but I could not possibly buy a stove. However, after a short haggle, I purchased some battered but Interesting books for fivepence, and the old Persian dropped the money into an ancient wooden box, looking the while with melancholy upon the unsold kerosene stove.