Believers in Fur

Last week over a CBS network Robert Ripley reunited after 40 years a mother and her long-lost son. Having accomplished this minor miracle, Ripley changed the pace of his Believe It Or Not show, abandoned hearts & flowers to hold radio's first network fur auction. Purpose of the auction was to raise funds for four Norwegians who fled from their Nazi-controlled homeland last July in a 38-ft. pilot sloop, pulled into New York City 54 days later with no assets save their boat and a platina fox fur.

A mutation of silver fox, platina fox furs come as low as $300, as high as $12,000. Since the quota on platina foxes has already been filled, due to unloading by Norwegian furriers before the war, the fur Ripley's four Norwegians brought with them is being held in a warehouse until December. To suggest the fur that wasn't there a fancy platina fox worth $11,000 was on display in the studio. On hand for the show were representatives of many a famed Manhattan store, along with bidders from stores in Philadelphia, Dallas, Cleveland, Chicago and Indianapolis.

Bidding recklessly, the studio audience quickly ran the platina fox up to four figures. Spurring professionals on were such amateur bidders as Mrs. Arthur ("Bugs") Baer, a Lady Sydenham of Calcutta. To $1,600 went Mrs. Baer, to $1,900 Lady Sydenham. Then the professionals boosted it to $2,100, but gave up the struggle when Manhattan Furrier I. J. Fox offered $2,200. Graciously refusing to accept the platina fox, Dealer Fox suggested that it be given to the American Red Cross to auction again, stayed after the show to present his check for $2,200 to the four Norwegians.

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