Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-12-23
COOP THINGS.
THE SCARCITY OF s0nE-THE
ABUNDANCE OF OTHERS.
How TO Figure out a Good ROII-
day Dinner.

1he approach of Christmas has
stimulated the market for many NJ
%ticles, classed among the Injuries.
Fresh game belongs to the list, and
sales yesterday and to-day we're as
high as ten cents per pound Cor whole
deer, when three days ago they went
begging at 3@4c per pound. Eggs
belong to the luxurious list and have,
since the cold weather set in, causing
the hens to quit laying. Their scar
city has forced prices up to 10 cents
per dozen in round lots where any
round lots are to.be found. Louisiana
oranges have advanced to Sc per Dbl.
Though this is not very steep it is 81
above the prices of a few days ago.
Western apples are reasonable a bar
rel, of fresh, large and choice, being
purchasable at about 80 so. Fresh
%cocoanuts arc also low, a single one
costing emily a picayune, while a hun
bred can be bought for SO or 81.
A single dealer received sixty hhds
direct from the West India islands a
few days since, and among them we're
a hundred or 50 with the green
coating or outer shell, which
protects the hair in which the nut is
imbedded. They we're quite a curios-
ity to many, v e among those who
deal in cocoanuts. And this serves
to remind the writer, who in his time
has sailed occasionally "o'er the wsters
Blue" hat the first %cocoanuts he ever
saw vas away down ip the island Of
Ruatan, in the caribbean sea, to the
southwark Of Cuba, and not far from
the coast Of Yucatsn, in Mexico. In
company with an Irish sailor, a tramp
on shore brought the party to a cocoa
nut grove. The lad from Ireland
espied the grove first, and running
quickly toward his comrade, said, BE
jabers, me boy, a lot Of tall trees over
there have ever 50 many bladders
g owing away up in their tops" aud
the two spent several hours with a
shotgun, trying to shout some from
t cir lofty perches, but they didn't
do it,
but this has nothing to do with
the game and provision market, which
S the absorbing theme just now among
those who have a Christmas dinner to
provide. There is a bountiful supply
OF shsd now offering, fresh from the
salt waters Of Savannah, also an album
dance Of red snappers, from the Gulf
Of Mexico, and oysters In any quanti-
ty from various places, chiefly
Norfolk. They are all fresh and
toothsome, and really reasonable in
price. So that if game from the
ueighboring woods is too dear for our
pocketbooks, or If we have no eggs to
make cake and eggnog with, a real
nice dinner can be provided from the
product Of the ocean, and not at a
heavy expense, at that. We are now
so near to the salt waters of the ocean,
by the rapid express lines, that the
most delicious of fish are brought to
us, sold and served on the table, all
inside of 36 hours from the time ~
ere caught out of the briny deep.
There is just now a big run on fruit,
for the Christmas season, Of course.
but the supply is bountiiul and ample
for all demands. A single dealer, on
Front street has sold, since Monday
last, over 1900 barrels Of apples, in
from one to twenty barrel lots, and
several merchants report d~isposing of
from two to four thousand barrels. in
a wholesale way. Hen fruit, and deer
meet may be scarce and dear, but
other fruit is not, and there is no dan
ger Of a scauty Christmas dinner, at
the homes Of those who have money in
their pocketbooks to pay for one.
While on the subject, however, it
might be well to say that there are
many poor and worthy people in our
midst who cannot buy a dinner. The
widows, the orphans and others, whose
earnings are small, and with whom the
times have dealt hard and pinching.
There is plenty, and to spare,
from the bountiful store Of the we'll
to do, and in the generosity Of their
hearts they should take measures to
provide a good Christmas dinner for
all. In this joyous and happy Christ
mas season none SHOULD be left out in
the cold to go hungry nor be made to
feel that their fellows are heartless
and u%ngenerous.
Camel coal, at Brown & Jones, 282
Main street. 1Ol