JAPANESE AUCTIONS.

Woodville Examiner, Volume XXVI, Issue 4469, 8 September 1911, Page 3 (Supplement)

JAPANESE AUCTIONS.

To the uninitiated the announcement of the real Japanese! auction means real Japanese goods, but; persons wise in the ways of auctions know that it means a lot more than that.,

• “ It means, for pne thing, silence,” said a woman. “ Nobody has anything to say, or if he has ho exercises a powerful restraint over • his emotions and refrains from saying ;t. Even the auctioneer, holds his tongue. Every nrti.clo that fie offers for sale is simply hold np for inspection. 1 - “The wondrous vocabulary w ith which Occidental auctioneers proclaim the merits of their wares has no place in a Japanese auctionroom, the dramatic thrill of 'Going, going, gone ’ is never felt. Purchasers write their bids on slips of paper and^send them- up hv page.-'There, is no hurry. Everybody has time to count his change and make up his mind how much he thinks things arc worth and how touch lie can afford to pay. ■ t - . "n . .

" When .hidsfard all. in the auc r tidneer' the 1 article to jho clerk wjth the'ibigbest offeh, and next'thing' on the list. k % r nless poopl^ : wijh to' talk-after-wards- nobodV? wilh ever kfioyv what anybody else bid, not Sven ‘ paid by the successful bidder.”

NEW IDEAS FOR SPRING COSTUMES. The first suggestion of spring invariably brings with it the desire for new clothes, and happy are those women "ho cai.. cast aside their old wardrobes and array themselves in an entirely fresh outfit in honour of tho new season. Many, however, are obliged to bring into service again last year’s dresses, and to occupy themselves in a great measure with renovations; but in spite of this, few there be who, with tho advent of Spring arc not concerned with tho choice of a new tailor-made — either a coat and skirt costume or a princess dress of serge or cloth. Tho serge dress is ouo of the most charming and useful acquisitions to the spring wardrobe, and conies as a relief to the coat and skirt costume that has been in general use throughout the winter. Tho mention of serge instantly conjures up to the mind’s eye navyblue, which remains, as ever, the most popular colour in alliance with sorgo.

For those who prefer a change to the sorgo suit there are countless pretty dress-cloths of plain and fancy character wherefrom to choose, striped suitings of flannel-liko texture promising to enjoy a great vogue. Some of these are made up very smartly as princess dresses, cut high to the. neck and com-

pleted by new turn-over collars of satin or cloth, edged with luce; others are cut low to reveal “ gilets” of frilled cambric or vests of lace. Then, again, the" sailor collar, which lias risen in fashion’s ranks, is a pretty feature of not a few of tho new princess costumes for the spring, tho front of the collar developing, now and then, into long, tapering revers or suggesting the effect of a roll collar. The colours in vogue among woollen materials for the spring are chiefly blues, of the Wedgwood and navy family, light cedar and saffron-browns, mauve and old-rose. An entirely new idea for a spring costume is depicted in tho accompanying sketch. Here, verily, we have a charming change from the eternal coat and skirt suit. Tho dress illustrated, which is of princess mould, would be serviceable in navy-blue serge, with hem of its own material or of black satin, and collar faced with satin, tho buttons and ornamental loops being of satin or sorgo. Tho collar is strapped uuth serge, and the long sleeves are finished with buttons and small cuffs of black satin. The hat sketched is of the newest type, and shows the fancy for rose-rings posed on tho crown of a hat. To make the costume illustrated, with hem of its own material, seven yards of double-width stuff will bo required. A GRACEFUL TEA-GOWN. The busy woman and tho woman of