Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1883-09-14
III, N wi,ran Fishwiyer

Most picturesque o. nil the figures to
ne seen IN E,iinburgn are the Newhaven
iishwivcs. With short, fall. blue cloth
petticoat>. reaching barely TO their an
kles; white blou-e- and gay kerchiefs;
biz. long-sieeved c,oaks of the same
blue cloth. fastened ut the throat, but
living loose. sleeves and all, as il thrown
on in haste: the girls bareheaded; the
married women with white caps, stand
ing up stiff and straight in point on
the top CT the head: two big wicker
work creels. one above the othef. full Of
fish. packed securely, on their broad
shoulders. and held N place BY stout
leather strap passing round their fore
heads. they pull along at steady.
s,riding gait, up hill and down. carry
ing weights that it taxes 4 mans
strength merely 10 lift. In fact, it is
tishwive's boast that she will run with
weight which it takes two men to put
on her back. BIZ reason of this great
strength on the part of the women. and
their immemorial habit of exercising it:
perhaps also from o.her c:tlses far back
in Tie earlier days Of Ju;land, where
these curious New haven fishing folk are
said to have originated. it has come
about that the Newhavcn men are sim
sulariv ,.ocile and submissive race The
wives keep all the money which they re-
ceyc ~. the fish, and the husbands
take what is given .them,-a sigular re-
version of the situation in most COM
munities. I 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 We're Young, one old.
The Young women laughed saucily, and
and the old woman smiled. but they
all replied uGhesitatingly, that they had
tile spending of all money.
1T 5 q spent i the hoos," said one.
anxious not to be thought too selfish
Its Il spent i the hoos. The men.
they cam home an tax their sleep, an
then they II be aff again
1T nd ueycr 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
tishwiyes at their best must be on the
Newhaven wharf By seven o clock in the
morning. on 4 day when then the trav-
elers come in ard the fish Is sold. The
scene is :, study for 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, make, witches, brill, sole, tloun-
ders. huge catfish, crayfish, and her
rings BY the ton. The wall is crowded
with men, Edinburgh tishmongers, come
to buy cheap on the spot. The wall is
not over two feet wide, and here they
stand, lean over. jostle, slip by to right
aud left OF 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 wome1,-an army in
blue. two hundred. three hundred Mt q
time; white caps bobbing, elbows thrust
ns, shriii voices crying, fiery blue eyes
shining. it Is = sight worth going to
Scotland for. If one has had an affec-
ion for Christie Johnstone.. it is de-
ightful return of his old admiration for
Ter. \ dozen faces which might be
Ihristie own are flashing up from the
,rowd; one understands on the instant
low that best of good stories came to
De written. A man with ewes in his
lead and 4 pen in his hand could not
AVE done less. Such lire. such homes
Y. such >plcndor of vitality, kindle the
faces. 10 spend few DAYS
Imong them would DC TO see Christie
tombstone drsmatizci or al Sides
September .itiaa.ic.