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Show 4 AbMIoti by Candle. It would seem strange today, rays tho Portland Transcript, to step Into a large auction-room where furnlturo, wearing apparel, Jewelry and knick-knacks knick-knacks of every description were scattered scat-tered around waiting their turn to be disposed of according La tho whims ot a burning candle. The proceeding In. a, candle sale were as follows: A piece of candlo an Inch long was lighted, and tho Instant the ilame arose the bidding bid-ding on a certain article began. The lost bid made before the flame expired was the lucky ono. Sometimes this was varied by dividing the whole, candle can-dle Into sections, marked off by red circles. Bids were received on any nrtlclo during the burning of one section, sec-tion, and tho last bidder before the second sec-ond ring was reached was the purchaser. pur-chaser. This manner of conducting an auction was very general during the seventeenth and eighteenth conturles. Tho custom Is by no means obsolete, certain portions ot France and some counties of western England still retaining re-taining It. |