Here's an interesting story from one of our readers. What would you have done   
   or said?  We'd love to hear your comments!   
      
   "Hi, here's a story that your readers might find interesting.  I live on the   
   west coast and every year there is a huge (really huge!) garage sale in my   
   town.  It is held in the name of a little boy from our town who died many   
   years ago and, over the years, this sale has become enormous.  The little   
   boy's parents are the ones who started it and they still run it.  Thousands   
   upon thousands of items (furniture, sporting equipment, household goods,   
   jewelry, silver etc) are donated by local residents and it is held in an   
   enormous indoor space.  The residents know that the proceeds from the sale of   
   their items go to various very deserving kid's charities, schools, foundations   
   for kids etc.   
      
   I always volunteer the day before to help set up, I work a table on the day of   
   the sale and I help clean up too.  A few years ago I was in charge of the   
   tables that had various pieces of silver and crystal.  (a local appraiser even   
   comes by on the day of set up, to try and help appraise some of the higher end   
   items and yes, many of the items come from very affluent residents).  There   
   was a gorgeous set of candelabras that the appraiser said were worth at least   
   $1000.00, if not more.  Knowing that it is a garage sale, but that   
   all of the proceeds go to very deserving kids, they were priced at   
   $750.00.  Many people admired them but admitted that they hadn't   
   come to a garage sale to pay $750.00 for anything.   
      
   Toward the end of the day a woman offered $100.00 for the candelabras.  I told   
   her that I couldn't sell them for such a low price but that if she could make   
   a more reasonable offer, I would consider it.  (if items of great value don't   
   sell, they are put into a local antique shop until they do sell, and that shop   
   owner does not take a percentage of the sale.  Other, lesser valued items are   
   donated to nearby shelters).   
      
   The woman who made the offer started to make a commotion, telling me that   
   whether it's $750 or $100, I was depriving kids of the money by not selling   
   them to her for $100.  She was yelling so much that people around us started   
   to take notice.  She tried to get people to listen to her as she told them   
   that I should be removed from the sale because I was preventing a sale which   
   could benefit children.  It was quite alarming that she would accuse me of   
   anything and that she was causing such a commotion.  Finally, she was escorted   
   out of the building but it left me feeling unsettled, to say the least.  The   
   best thing to come out of it was that the candelabras ended up going to the   
   antique shop and selling for   
   $1500.00, all of which went toward a new children's playground."   
   --   
      
   Harry J is still looking for a Homer Laughlin wash basin to match other pieces   
   he has.  Can you help?   
      
   I have been trying to locate a Homer Laughlin Wash Basin, Pattern 2366,   
   Victoria/Violets Pattern.  It has purple violets with gold flowers and rim.    
   It is supposed to be Dutch Shape in toilet ware. I have the rest of the set   
   from my Grandmother, and it is still almost as good new.  I would really like   
   to find the Wash Basin to complete the set.  I have almost exhausted my   
   searching ability. Someone has to have one somewhere.  I know it is old; close   
   to 1890 as far as my research has got me.  Thanks, Harry J To see the images   
   he provided, please visit:   
   http://on.fb.me/R7uDDv   
   --   
      
   WE NEED YOUR STORY ABOUT COLLECTING. DO YOU HAVE AN INTERESTING STORY TO   
   TELL?  SEND IT TO newsletter@tias.com.   
      
   If you have a story you'd like to share, tell us about it and if you have any   
   photos, we'd love to see them!  Send us an email to newsletter@tias.com so we   
   can share your story with the rest of our readers.   
      
   Thanks to those of you who have been responding! We really enjoy, and   
   appreciate, the feedback!   
   ---------   
   --------------------------   
      
   --- BBBS/Li6 v4.10 Dada-1   
    * Origin: Prism bbs (1:261/38)