National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-07-12
WAITING ron MARKET DAY.
Scenes in the Rear OF the Market
House ON Friday Night.

Scenes in the Rear OF the Market
House ON Friday Night.
"Put them taters right chere," said an
old woman wearing calico sun-honnet
to q frowsy-headed urchin at the rear of
the Center market last night, and the
boy put them taters" there. The old
woman was seated in wagon which was
surmountcd by an old canvas cover.
Tho animal that won't with this outfit
was an old blind mule, who moved with
slow and labored step when awake.
When asleep his breathing was rs soft rs
that Of q child. and the frowsy headed
boy grew tired OF laying on the fence rail
20 awake him. The old women descended
from tho wagon, and after seeing "them
taters," told Josh TO bring out them ere
cabbages."
Berries in huge pals, tomatoes bright
and large, corn in yellow husks, aud all
varieties Of early vegetables followed next
until the sidewalk for two yards square
was transformed into miniature farm.
The woman then produced an old clay
pipe upon which the soil of many seasons
fingered, and announced to Josh she
would smoke. Josh pinched the end from
q twist of light brown brand" of coun-
try tobacco and filled the pipe.
He then produced a match, seemingly
from the bottom of his trousers, for his
hand was showed into an aperture to his
elbow, and lighted the pipe, putting IL
himself and giving 1t to the old woman.
The latter coaxed considerable satisfaction
from the dirty pipes while the boy pro-
duced an aged and soiled blanket and lay
down, and soon his loud breathing told
that he was asleep.
Other wagons came meanwhile, and q
similar performance was enacted a dozen
times. By o'clock the whole length of
the street was lined with vehicles of
heterogeneous variety, and q passer by
was compelled 70 move cautiously, lest he
should stumble over the PROSTATE form
Of sleeping rustic, or fall against the
wares of the sleepers.
By tho side Of the center door Of the
market lay two prone figures. Ono was
white, but to identify the other soap
would have been necessary. The latter
was smoking pipe, while the former
breathed laboriously and tossed about in
o restless manner. He of the pipe kicked
the white boy with why canee keep
stillT
Tho white boy awoke, and said in q
gruf voice, "Lemme lone. amt doing
nothin' to you" His tormentor kicked
him again, and the white boy struck him
in the nose, drawing blood. The howl of
the injured one was loud. He sprang up
and, running to on old gray-haired wo-
man, said that Tommy" had licked him.
Tho woman wiped his nose, and after
putting away his pipe, tho boy returned
to whore tho other was sleeping and lay
down.
| A group Of men whose attire and ac-
tions stamped them as farmers stood ut
the corner smoking and discussing the
crops and politics.
Cleveland amt tho workingman's
| friend, and won't be elected" said one.
The others nssented, and then one re-
marked that the "craps weren't q bit
hurted by the shower" They then re-
lapsed into silence, and one by one
dropped out of the group, and, going to
some part Of the street near their wagons,
lay down and were soon asleep.
Over by the Smithsonian grounds man
was preaching. He uttered crude aphor-
isms in shrill voice, and around him
stood half score of men and boys with
barred heads. He talked of everything,
but the theme of his discourse was relig-
ious, and some of his SMILES were ludi-
crous and entertaining. When he had
finished his discourse he sang song.
A policeman would stray in his direc-
tion occasionally, and after stopping for a
moment or two would thread his way
through the figures ON the pavements
and the merchandise and 60 around the
corner whistling, "At the Market on
Saturday Night"
By midnight tho scene on the street
was peaceful one. Even the old mule
slept, and the only noise was that made
by the policeman or the occasional bray
of some animal.