Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 97, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 July 1904 — Said the Boy Was Dear. [ARTICLE]

Said the Boy Was Dear.

At a leap-year party held recently in Germantown a novel way of raising funds for a charitable object was suggested and carried out in the auctioning off of the young men present, the highest bidder for each being entitled to his attentions for the evening. A bright young girl was chosen for auctioneer, the boys being banished to another room. The sale started with the’ fair auctioneer naming the meritorious points of the young men. No names were used, but she managed, in a humorous comment ou their failings as well as their virtues, to Indicate the personality of each one as offered. Bidding started off briskly in dime Jumps, but after the dollar point was reached the auctioneer announced that the boys would be so Impressed with Uteoir value that they would be too conceited to be good company, and blds were reduced to 1 cent. One young man hung fire at 30 cents. “Why, girls, the brass in this article Is worth more than that,” pleaded the auctioneer, in an effort to secure a higher bld; but to no avail. "Sold, at 30 cents,’’ she announced, as the young man was brought in, adding, “and you are dear at that” And the young man for the life of him can’t figure out whether he ought to cut the witty auctioneer’s acquaintance or consider himself complimented.- Philadelphia Record.