The Press., 1884-06-12
Issued Every Thursday Evening.
A VISIT TO CENTER MARKET.

A VISIT TO CENTER MARKET.
 strawberries strawberries five cents a box, six boxes for quarter Y Fms cry, in tones melodious and otherW1se, mas been resounding through the streets for week past. On Friday night friend sad to me. "Don't you want to get up early tomorrow morning, and go down to the Center market before breakfast It Is sbio market day as the darkeys say, and YOU will see strawberries by the carloads, and everything else in profuslon. 1 was very glad to say s'yes" to the proposal. On Saturdays the market opens very early, and keeps open till midnight. There IS constant stream of people coming for sup plies for the day and for Sunday Every stall is occupied, and the pavements all about are lined with colored people. and s' few white ones, with wild flowers, ''fresh aigs,'' 'sroots and yarbs," vegetables, live ducks and 'schickuns," and as the adVer- tisements say. s'other articles too numer- ous to mention" for sale.
 We rose early and started ont, ,munchln8 crackers as we went, regardless ot who might see us. But we were not Ill fear oI spectators, for in our neighborhood no body but ourselves was astlr so early. AS we came into the business streets, the stores were being opened, and some were all ready for customers, especially those kept by Jews, on the principle, suppose, that the early bird catches the worm.
 | The cars were not yet running so far up town, and we walked briskly along in the fresh morning air, feeling as if we were really Tout on lark"
 When we reached the market we found everything very lively. Most of the stalls were arranged, and some of them looked very inviting. Those containing vegeta- bles were like picture. In the center a great pile of bright green pea pods, with bundles of asparagus standing round 1t. Punches of radishes red and white on one side, and on the other, white onions with green tops, and punches of orange colored carrots Piles of kale and 'spoke salad, , spinach, lettuce, and here and there heaps of red tomaroes, made brilliant study o1 color. Everything looked fresh and nice. Later in the day, the vegetables became wilted by the heat and their picturesque arrangement is spoiled by frequent hand ling and sorting over. ...
 The fruit stands were pleasing to the eye. Heaps of oranges and lemons, piles of pineapples, punches of bananas, arc strawberries "by the cart load,' sure enough. The air was fragrant with them But ten cents a quart was the lowest price and the choice ones were fifteen.
 Next we came to cool looking stall where butter, cheese and eggs were fo sale. Then came one where you migh buy all kinds of pickles. Tubs were stand ing in TOW, holding mixed pickles, chow chow, made mustard, grated horse radish and every other kind of sharp or sou condiment. At one end man was busll. working treadle which propelled a grater , With one hand he held long root o horse radish, and with the other shellet cocoanut, against the grater, and the tw fell down i'll white shower into separat compartments, looking very much alike T. but tasting so different
 We passed the long rows of meat stalls with every variety of meat for sale, and s much of it, that it seemed as if no on need go hungry; and the fish stalls, wher shad, ,rock-fsh, ,sea-trout, herring, blue-fsh ? sisaft water taylors, 2 founders and man. other kinds, lay in piles, or hung in TOW overhead. The flower stalls were lovel. 5 with potted plants and cut flowers. But it was getting near breakfast tune and we went outside to buy some ffesl country eggs A TOW of colored Womel sat against the market wall, and anothe TOW on the outer edge of the walk, whef carts were backed up, with everything m aginable for sale in them-llttle pigs, INV calves, live poultry of all kinds, and yer. lively they all were. l saw several par aI of fowls tied by the legs and lying on th , sidewalk. but they were making the b' S of their situation by pecking at the bunche r of lettuce and other green stuff near them ' As we walked between the rows of Wo men, we were assailed on all sides by erie s of "Buy sump'n, lady daisies and buttel : cups, two punches for five cents-two 10 five, lady Violets aigs cymblins (sum : mer squashes), right fresh, lady Chick uns, lady right yere!' Every one ha wild flowers in profusion. Great bunch
 of snowballs, bridal wreath, spirea, swan apple blossoms, (called here wild honey suckle), blue and white iris, sand violets- not blue as the sky like ours, but wit dark purple petals-wood violets, bluettes, as they are called here, alycaI thus or sssweet bush" blossoms, and da sies, buttercups ssandN houstonia, in grea heaps.
 By this time the market was full of c'lf toners, and hardly filled basket wa without its bunch of flowers. We as yielded to the fascination, and took up tn line of march for home, with strawberries tomatoes, lettuce, asparagus, fresh eggs 7 fresh fish, etc., R. and I bringing bunche of daisies and buttercups, iris and mignol e ette We had spent two hours in a Vt I
 pleasant way, and got home before breal fast. to find the other member of our fan fly, just wondering if it was time to g.
 up! C. W.
 Washington, D. c. @-t .-.-. E l.4 d A big, red-faced Nothing was strolli }
 along the street when deputy sherl
 slapped it on the shoulder.
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