The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1873-04-17

On Sunday mornng-that is, it was Sunday
elsewhere, but they don't use the article here,
are ahead of that sort of thing, possibly
visited the French Market, one of the standard
curiosities of this city. 1t opens at 2 o'clock
on Sunday and on other days. did notput'
in an appearance at that hour, as was proba-
bly engaged in Intellectual combat with pre-
MUM musquitoes but at 6, when | arrived,
the market was a scene never to be forgotten.
Nearly all the sellers and most of the buyers
are French. Some of the former do not speak
English, and butcher who rejoices in the
name of Peychawd Caverocouret, to whom L
put question with true Yankee curiosity as
toahe amount of fractional currency necessary
to the possession of pound of beef looked at
me- but made no response. He may have
taken me for an escaped lunatic, but he was
unable to say just what was the matter with
me- The first shed was devoted to meats, of
which there was large and very varied dis
play. The next which is bazaar, rather than
q market is filled with everything conceivable
and inconcevable; you can fit yourself with
clothing from sock to plug hat, and fancy
notions of all descriptions. The next shed Is,
first, vegetables, splendid assortment-peas
by the train load almost, caulidower, snap
beans, and such produce as your citizens are
probably planting to-day, or would be if you
thought no more of Sunday than they do here;
then fish. of which saw more varieties than
ever heard of before. Ispent several hours IN
the market which was a feast for the eye as
when cooked it will be for the palate. The
throng of BUYERS, the apparently excited re-
marks of the French, and the endless variety
of food. formed picture which will always be
q pleasant memory. Some of the darky pur-
chasers we're very shrewd, and developed an
ability to "Jew" the dealers worthy of regu-
lar Connecticut wooden nutmeg vendor.
A very curious custom prevails here, IN the
manner of giving notices of funerals; printed
notices, such as in other places are sent by mall
or otherwise to the friends and relatives OF the
deceased, are nailed on trees, telegraph poles,
&C.. on the main streets, in some cases only
few hours after death, as they invariably give
the time of DEATH Possibly, when you under,
stand all the circumstances, as the man said
who insisted on seating his mother-in-law on
the cooking stove, it won't seem so curious.
The cemeteries here are curious sight TO
strangers. The nature of the ground does not
admit of digging graves, and the Dodies are
placed in brick vaults built above ground, and
whitewashed they have marble door, on
which names and epitaphs are cut. ihese
doors are fastened in with screws, and are
easily taken out. In some cases there are rows
of small vaults, six or seven high, each large
enough to contain one coffin and looking like
gigantic pigeon holes. Of course, in such
Cemetery monumental effect is out of the
ouestion-no chance to make "a pleasing va
riety of tomb work." as mason once told me
when looking for tombstone for near and
dear friend. For this reason the cemeteries do
not strike one as being so handsome as they
are in other places, but they are kept scrupu-
lously neat and clean. In the Catholic ceme--
teries, the use of pictures, paintings, bead and
wire work, paper flowers, &C., to ornament the
graves, has most singular effect
The Custom House is grand affair, covering
a large block, built of Quincy granite, is of
magnificent proportions and handsome archl-
lecture. It was commenced in l84S, and it
would be an interesting problem to find out
how much of the various appropriations have
stuck to the different fingers through which
thew passed, how many incipient Colfaxes have
become rich out of the stealings. It is not
completed and, the election being over, not
many workmen are employed on it at present; |;
and if they all resemble two that ! saw there,
the fewer they have the better for the Govern
ment. Two stone cutters were dressing piece
for the cornice, sitting down to it, and under
the welcome shelter of an awning; possibly,
they together kept up three strokes to the
minute, but doubt it. They were beautiful
specimen of how not to do it. Becoming ia
tigued with such laborious exercise, they unan-
imously voted an adjournment for refreshment,
in the shape of smoke. They had not pro-
gressed far, however, in this true nepenthe,
balm of every grief" when very hatchet-
faced Yankee in store clothes and KID gloves,
who appeared to move by machinery so SUN
was he in the joints, sailed forth from neigh
boring tavern and delivered severe reprimand
to the workmen, interlarded with frighttul
amount of exceedingly neat and effective pro-
family of style that clearly proved his nautl-
cal education. Under this furnace blast the
convicted wretches withered and resumed oper.-
atiops and the faithful overseer meandered
back to the pleasant tavern, to dilate probably
on his fidelity 10 the interests of the govern
ment over a couple of glasses of the improved
nose.colorer, to which from his appearance ne
was a willing victim The effect of his sermon
was not permanent, for the door which con-
veniently shields from the passers view our
friends when they make astronomical obserVa,
tions through the bottom of tumbler had
scarcely closed when, with common consent,
the malet and chisel were allowed to rest
again and the pipes reinstated. While enjoy
ine this farce it occurred to me, to what a fear
full pass have we come when free and enlight.
ened citizens of the Republic-for of course
they are citizens, and vote the str:!ight ticket,
too, or they would not be on government job
are not allowed to swinde the country, when
their betters do it every day in Congress, to the
tune of $4,000 at a clip sometimes. The build.
ing needs good deal to finish it; only part OF
it Is habitable, and that is covered with tenn,
porary roof. From the samples of workmen ~
"a it is mbS noEsa bs mn Thsn day is IT pc r
poned long enough, it may be completed in
time to be shaken to pieces in the general
smash-up. Nothing short of that day, or a
genuine double California earthquake,
can destroy its massive strenth unless it sinks
in the marsh on which this city stands, and
that is not very likely, as it is built on twenty
thousand cypress piles, each forty feet deep.