New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-08-27
THE RUSSIAN JEWS MARKET.

SELLING GOODS IN THE OPEN AIR.
A MOTLEY GATHERING N TIE EAST SIDE STREETS
INDUSTRIOUS SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF
ISRAEL,
a unique sight, among the many strange ones
Of tlds city. is the RussanJewish openair market or
fair which is held every week from Thursday event.
to Friday evening, in hat portion Of the Tenth Ward
which includes Hester ST. between Essex and Ludlow
sts and the latter streets Canalst This
mart is of comparatively recent origin, dating from the
advent in force Of the RussanJewish exes, who seem
by consent to have fixed upon this maOdorOus
neighborhood, possibly drawn thher by the plenitude
Of Jewish names displayed on the signbOards which
affords the desired atmosphere Of fellowship The I'M
mistakable Semitic features everywhere encountered
make bcwdering cOng0meratiOn of parabOlic curves
In almost unbroken lines along the curbstOnes are
rudey constructed tables for counters Of rough boards
and ends of packing which displayed heaps
of cacOes, cheap prints, cotton handkerchief, aud
other odds and ends OF laberdashery On fixed stands
outside Of the stores arc piled tinware fish, meat and
vegetables, while rckcty wagons, drawn by Gothic
steeds" and shay handcarts, propelled by swarthy and
sweay Muscovitsh descendants Of shem are laden with
fruit often far more fit for the cOnpostbeap than for
human consumption Potatoes the only attractive
and healthy looking edibes to be The stands are
for the part attended by women in more or less
Oriental freedom OF, from, dress the older women
Invariably wearing brown wigs This curious custom
is explained by the statement that III ther own country
on marriage the compelled to cut of their
hair. TO keep other men from falling In love with
them" apparently work OF supercrogatiOn Incrant
cothiers their whole stock in trade over their
shoulders or their arms, wander from corner To
corner, seeking whom they may" make new man Of"
Halfcad children and youths with some pretension to
d" style" IN dress fill in the picture.
The market is at its best, worst, according to the
view that may taken of it, in the early morning OF the
second day; It is then most crowded. and lOcOm0ton ia
difficult The "native" Qrish) population does not take
kindly to these strangers from the sea- and this Is
manifested in many ways. Numbers OF belligerent
women, designated by the policemen on the beat as
" huns" after earning dino or two in scrubbinS or
other mental employment, and exchanging their earn
Ings for "forty-rod lightning" applied internally,
occasionally take the warpath against the children Of
Israel and with "sprig Of shlclah" drive the tinid
tradesmen before Them until checked IN their career
Of conquest and des0aon by the faithful guardians Of
| the peace who sometimes run in" dozen or so OF
these AmazOns in the course OF a day. on can Duy
ANYTHING here silk dress 10 anchor, said pO-
liceman 10 TRIBUNE reporter who drted through the
region, and paused TO sllI ~ pea!tes ne IePo
saw anchors aud concluded nat thcy ad Deen weigh
ed-at least they found wanting The SIX dresses
TOO had evidently been gathered by some more
| mother or wife i'll Israel for the coming sabbath.
Another foe have these industrious persons NOW ana
| again a health inspector makes tour through the
Quarter ana mthessy SEXES upon the overrpe or un
wares aud camorousy but the officials arc
unyicding and carry off the spoil to the garbage Meet
willie tho owners drop down on the cdrbstone to bewa
their impending ruin, go off for more merchandise.
All Of these dealers show permits from the Board OF Al
dermen when challenged, and indeed, seem readily 10
learn all the points Of law necessary for Their protection
or advantage though already shown they sometimes
disregard the city ordinances The prices paid for some
az the stands are remarkable peder OF tnwarc, for
a small stand outside liquor store at Hester ana Luz
low ste pays SiOper month Another, dealer IN lou
try and meat for basement ROOM nve steps down from
nc sidewalk in an old frame house in Hesterst pays
SOS per month. The old clothes dealers probably have
the easiest time AS the reporter passed Jew ciad III
uInper was selecting coat from number borne on
HE arm OF n dealer. He finally took light weight coat
which really fitted him, and by Its newness threw his
once light but much varlegated trousers INTO inhaT
monios relief AS he paid his 81 90 for IT, to his wIes
snrgestOn that he might have bought cheaper he re-
Piled with the air Of man who appreciates his own
worth Will buy for less" and walked proudly
| OFF feeling several inches taller Tho trade OF TINE
unique to be mostly among the jewish class
though occasionally the rhilstnes and Gentiles ven
cure to buy there. II strict law of the market that
| everything must be ana the stands and tables
cleared and washed up before shutdown ~ Friday Any
greedy story tTadesman VINO should break this law
would be ignored by HE cOrelgOnsts for fortnight OF
more az after Of Friday the Jewish Sabbath be
gins aud is held In great reverence by these per