Leaves from a Madeira Garden 



sold by auction. If the sale occurs during the 

 winter season, when the town is full, fair prices 

 may be obtained for the more obviously 

 attractive lots. But s^reat bargrains are some- 

 times to be had. Not many years ago a very 

 beautiful and extensive set of Nant-Garw 

 china was sold for a mere song, perhaps less 

 than the price asked for a single plate by 

 London dealers. It fortunately passed into 

 the possession of those who were able to 

 appreciate it. 



The ethics of buying valuable things at a 

 low price have often been discussed. If the 

 purchase is made in market overt, as at public 

 auction, under the eyes of the world, there 

 would seem to be no moral obligation on the 

 purchaser to pay more than his bid. The case 

 is different where the sale is privately made 

 by a poor and ignorant person who has little 

 means of judging the value of what he is 

 parting with. A sensitively honest purchaser 

 will hesitate to take advantage of such a situa- 

 tion, and may fittingly astonish the vendor by 

 paying more than is asked. Where a dealer, 

 who may be presumed to be an expert, is 

 concerned, it is too much to expect any one 



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