The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-08-19
THE MIDSUMMER MARKETS.
WHAT THERE IS HERE TO EAT, AND
HOW 1T CAN BE BOUGHT.
Marketing TrOubles-The Song OF tho
Watermelon Men-Prevail.
ing Prices.

Marketing TrOubles-The Song Of the
Watermelon Men-Prevail.
ing Prices.
The markets that the prudent housewife
witches are not those reported by tele-
graph. for these gentle souls never buy or
sell ..short" or "long." With "bulls"
and bears" their acquaintance is limited
to what l. sold them for steaks. The purely
domestic markets-those which most truly
bring domestic good or evil-are the pub
lie places here where fish, vegetables.
meats, &C., are sold to the consumer. OF
such there are two. 1t was for time
hoped that there were TO be three, but the
association organized to build in the West
End met with some obstacles. An iDjunc-
ton was issued against them, and it now
seems that the good work they undertook
has come TO stand-still.
GREEN GROCERIES.
OF green groceries private markets
there are any number throughout the city.
Without them Richmond would be n very
inconyenient town in which to dwell; for
much OF the East End and West End
being so far from the two city markets the
residents would have long ways to 60 for
great deal OF time, which is money to most
people.
So it came about that the City Council
having refused or neglected to furnish the
eastern and western sections OF the city
with public markets, private individuals
entered the field and established green
groceries. till now every neighborhoOd has
at least one. These proprietors, generally
/ 4 81 nd asl-
only far profits, all things considered; but
nevertheless the widespread impression
among housekeepers is that better bargains
may be had at the city markets.
MAKING MARKETING.
Nearly every family sends to the city
markets on Saturday. With most families
there is weekly pilgrimage OF some rep
resentative, and in eight out OF ten cases
the wife is that representative. Ii goes
hard with them at first to push through
the crowded walks, iostled by people OF no
fragrant flavor, and to have to chatter and
bargain with the marketmen (meaning all
who sell at the market), but after awhile the
female propensity for shopping comes to
the surface, and the ladies accept the stu-
alton: but with manv it Is more OF duty
than pleasurc-a duty TO make the hus-
bands allowance for marketing go as far
as possible.
In olden times one i'm person or proxy
had to carry his basket to and from the
market. Very often now the filed basket
is taken from the market TO the purchasers
house in his butchers wagon. or ii his
grocer is near the market, then, perhaps, in
his grocer's wagon.
This saves a deal OF trouble, and, what
is more, is has relieved many wives from
the necessity OF making the marketing.
The husband, if an energetic, younglsh
fellow, can do that before he goes to his
business, and leave the basket with the
butcher or grocer, and his work Is done.
EXPERIENCE.
There is perhaps no part OF mans or
woman's domestic life in which cXpertneSs
is more useful than in the matter OF making
marketing. one has to know himself and the
people with whom he deals; has to know
hat his family needs and what they can
afford TO pay has TO know the difference
between fresh fish and the other; the dif-
| ference between plump, well-filled roasting
ears and corn that legitimately belongs 10
the hogs; the difference between quart OF
potatoes fairly inserted in measure and
Al
good showing but poor meal.
Human nature il about the same all
around: no worse, perhaps, in the market
men than in the other walks OF trade, but
everywhere there are sharpers who hayeto
be watched, and from them the city mar
kets can hardly be entirely exempt.
MORE ROOM NEEDED.
Neither for the good OF those who sell
nor for those who buy are the present mar
kets suitable and convenient. III there are
not to be in a few years East-End and
West End city markets, then the present
ones should be greatly enlarged. The
country people have nowadays very poor
show indeed. Sometimes they are driven
of one or two squares distance from the
markets.
The dreariest old fogy upon whom the
incrustation OF ages Is forming can hardly
maintain that this is right and proper.
II has been suggested that a market for
countrymen exclusively would he good
thing. Perhaps It would. Perhaps 1t
wouldn't. In the winter time, when there
is heavy snow upon the ground. the peo-
ple who went to that market would find it
empty, or nearly so.
Dozens. not to say hundreds. OF the
countrymen nowadays sell out to huch-
sters. Go TO the market about or
O'Clock any morning, and you find the
nucksters, lamp in hand, going from cart
70 cart. peering in. and bargaining with
the countryman. Sometimes he parts To
the huckster half his load, sometimes all OF
if. and i'm this case, with his money IN his
pocket. he is at liberty to return home
without further delay.
RICHMOND MARKETS BETTER.
Our markets are better supplied now-a-
days than they used to be. The Chesa-
neake and Ohio road brings some mighty
GOOD beef here. The retail prices con-
tinue much the same all the year round.
Good beei-stea< is worth 10 cents; extra,
Do cents or more. Splendid steak can be
bought here. but you must pay for il. The
Newport,s News railroad brings fish from
HAMPTON Roads in four hours. Our fish
market has greatly improved OF late years.
ON Yesterday hogtiSh were selling Tor 81
dozen; perch, DC. spots. 3Oc., ana
trout, 30c.; and crabs, 80 to 4Oc.; stur-
geon. Sc. per pound. The coored brother
| loves sturgeon, and while it j. coarse
food. il is said to be 4 healthful and in-
yigoratng as well as cheap one. Captain
John Smith found the river alive with them
when he came here, and the tribe has NOT
much died out since.
The markets here are plentiiully sup
piled with watermelons and cantaloupes
from the unsurpassed fields OF Hanover;
our earliest melons are from the South ana
Norfolk. our best are from Hanover, In
the opinion of our people the neighbor'
hoods OF Atlee's Station, MechanlcsViiie,
and Cold Harbor cannot be beat lor
melons. These are brought to us IN the
small canyas-covered carts drawn 10y one
horse. and are vended all over the city ny