Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-09-01
The NeWhavem Eishwives.
!. r., in the September Atlantic

Most picturesque of all the figures to be seen
In Edinburg are the Newhaven fshwives
With short, full, blue petticoats, reaching barely
to their ankles; white blouses and gay kerchiefs;
big. long-sleeved cloaks of the same blue cloth,
fastened at the throat, but flying loose, sleeves
and all. as if thrown on in haste the girls bare
headed; the married women with white caps,
standing up stiff and straight in point on the
top OF the head; two big wicker-work wheels,
one above the other full of fish, packed securely
on Their broad shoulders, and held in place by
stout leather strap passing round their fore
heads, they pull along at steady. striding gait,
up hill and down, carrying weights that it
taxes a mans strength merely to lift.
In fact, it is a ishwife's boast that she
will run with weight which it takes
two men to put on her back By reason Of this
great strength on the part of the women and
their immemorial habit Of exercising it; perhaps
also from other causes far back in the early days
OF Jutland. where these curious Newhaven fish
Ing folk are said to have originated, 1t has come
about that the Newhaven men are singularly
docile and submissive race. The wives keep all
the money which they receive for the fish. and
the husbands take what is given thenl-a singu-
Lar reversion Of the situation in most commune
ties. did not believe this when 1t was told me-
so stopped three fsh-wives one day, and, with
out mincing matters put the question direct to
them. Two OF them were young. one old. The
man smiled. but they all replied unhestatingly,
that they had the spending Of all the money
- Its q spent 1.-THE hoOs." said one. anxious
not to be thought too selfsh-.'it's a. spent T.
the hoos. The men. they cam home an tax
their sleep, an then they'll be aft agen"
1T I'D never do for the husbands to stoop in
tina city an be spendin' a. the money" added
the old woman, with severe emphasis.
Whoever would see the New Haven fishwives
at their best must be on the New Haven wharf
by O'Clock in the morning on day when the
trawlers come in and the fish Is sold. The scene
is study for a painter. The fish are in long,
narrow boxes, on the wharf ranged at the base
of the sea-wall; some sorted out in piles. each
kind by ITSELF skates. with their long tails.
which look vicious, as if they could kick; hake,
witches, brill, sole. founders, huge catfish,
crayfsh. and behring's by the ton. The wall
is crowded with men. Edinburgh fshmongers.
come to buy cheap on the spot The wall
is not over two feet vide. and here they stand,
each other, and run up and down in their eager
haste to catch the eye Of one auctiOneer or to
get first speech with another. The wharf is
crowded with wOmen,-an army in blue. 200.
3O0 at time; white caps, bobbng. elbows
thrusting, shriii voices crying, fiery blue eyes
shining. it is a sight worth going to Scotland
for. If one has had an affection for Christie
tombstone, it is delightful return of his old adj
miration tor her. A dozen faces which might
be Christies own are flashing up from the
crowd one understands on the instant how
that best OF good stories came to be written!
man with eyes in his head and pen in his hand
could not have done less. Such fire. such hon
esty, such splendOr OF vitality, klndle the
women's faces. To spend few DAYS among
them would be to see Christie tombstone drama
TIED on all sides.