COLLECTANEA.

AUCTION OF LADIES.
{"newspaper_name": "The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware advertiser.", "edition": "01", "page": "p1", "byline": ""}
An auction of unmarried ladies used to
take place annually in Babylon. In every


di strict, (says-the historian,) theyassembl-
ed on certain day Of every year, all the
virgins of marriageable age" The most
beautiful was first put up, and the man who
bid the largest sum of money gained possess
sion of hers The second in personal appear
ance followed; and the bidders gratiied
themselves with handsome wives, according
to the depth of their purses. But alas! it
seems there were in Babylon some ladies for
whom no money was likely to be offered !;


vet these also were disposed Of, so pro-


vident were the Babylonians. "When all
the virgins (says the histopian) were sold,
the crier ordered the most deforned to stand
up; and after he had openly demanded who
might marry her with small sum, she was
at length adjudged to the man who would be
satisfied with the least in this manner the


money arising from the sale of the hand


some, served as portion to those who were
either Of disagreeeble lscks, or that had any