Antiquities 



It is not to be supposed that you can walk 

 into a shop and buy such treasures. The 

 getting of them still has some of the excitement 

 of the hunt. There are as yet no dealers in 

 curios, and there are consequently no sham 

 antiquities at genuine prices. Occasionally an 

 old piece finds its way to one of the cabinet 

 makers, or if it is known that you are looking 

 out for such things you hear of them. In a 

 country where the lower orders cannot read or 

 write, report by word of mouth seems to play 

 a greater part than with us. Everything is 

 known everywhere at once, and no doubt our 

 mysterious tastes excite much comment among 

 a people which loves nothing so much as talk. 

 And when you do get a chance of buying, you 

 are generally asked quite old-fashioned prices. 

 I bought a " Chippendale " chair for twenty-two 

 shillings. It was covered with green paint ; 

 this being: washed off it stood revealed as of the 

 finest design and workmanship. And do we 

 not possess one of the most beautiful silver 

 cake-baskets ever seen, with London mark and 

 date 1762, which was bought for a trifle more 

 than its weight in dollars ? 



Occasionally the contents of an old house are 



199 



