The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1883-10-04
The NaMhayan Fishwiyes.

4 Most picturesque OF all the hgureS to
be seen in Edinburgh are the Newhaven
fshwiyes. With short, full. blue cloth
petticoats, reaching barely to their an
kles; white blouses and gay kerchiefs;
big, Iong-sleeved cloaks of the same
blue cloth, fastened at the throat, but
flying loose, sleeves aud all, as if thrown
Sn5in haste; the girls bareheaded; the
married women with white caps, stand
ing up stiff and straight in point on
the top of the head; two big wicker
work creels, one above the other. full of
FISH,, packed securely, on their broad
sroulders, and held in place by a stout
leather strap passing round their fore
heads, they pull along at a steady,
striding gait, up hill and down, carry
ing weights that it taxes a mans
strength merely to lift. In fact, it is q
fshwfve's boast that she will run with a
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 earlier days of Jutland, where
these curious Newhaven fishing folk ara
said to have originated, it has come
about that the Newhaven men are sim
gulafly docile and submissive race. The
wives keep. all the money which they re-
eeiye for the fish, and the husbands
take what is given them.La sigular re-
version of the situation in most COM
munities. / did not believe this when it
was told me, SO stopped three fish
wives one day, and without mincing
matters. put the question direct to them.
Two of them were young, one old
Ehe young women laughed saucily. and
and the old woman smiled. but they
hh replied unhesitatingly, that they had
the spending of all money.
sssIt's q spent i the hoos." said one,
anxiouss not to be thought too SELFISH
i.it,s a. spent i the hoos. The men.
they cam home an tax their sleep, an
Then they'll be aft again.
..It 'ud never do for the husbands to
stop in the city, an be spendin a the
money!" added the old woman, with
severe emphasis.
Whoever would see the Newhaven
fishwives at their best must be on the
Newhaven wharf by seven o'clock in the
morning, on a day when then the trav-
elers come in and the fish is sold. The
scene is q study for a painter.
The fish are in long, narrow boxes,
On the wharf, ranged at the base of the
sea waIl; 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, fioun-
ders,s huge catfish, craytish, and her.
rings by the ton. The wall is crowded
with men, Edinburgh fishmongers. come
10 buy eheapAoh the spot. The wall is
,,.,k .,va,. turn foot wida and hara thar
stand, lean ever, jostle, slip by TO right
and. left of each other, and run up and
down in their eager haste to catch ths
eye of one auctiOneer, or to get first
speech with another. The wharf is
crowded with women,-an army in
blue, two hundred, three hundred at
time; white caps bobbing, elbows thrust
ing, shrill voices crying, fiery blue eyes
shining, it is q sight worth going to
Scotland for If one has had an atfec-
tion fer Christie Johnstone, it is de-
lightful retnrn of his old admiration for
her, A dozen faces which might be
Christie's own are flashing up from the
crowd; one understands on the instant
how that best of good stories came to
eswrittan. A man with eyes in his
head and pen in his hand could not
have done less. Such fire, such homes
ity, such splendor of vitality, kindle the
| women's faces 70 spend few days
among them would be to see Christie
''Johnstone dramatized ON all Sides
September AttGaltic.