The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-09-03
APPIE-WOMEN.
Disappearance of the Variety Which Pre-
vailed ia ChiIdhOod.

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to make it tinted, hides the cholera
germ which careful mothers say exists
within, and gives it a position in the
minds of youth far ahead of that
occupied by plain but substantial diet,
the shaggy but healthful potato, or the
''roasting-ears with their harsh, green
coverings topped with the faded silk"
Despite its delicate appearance, the
green apple is hardy, and it is very
bad season that does not produce it in
great numbers, so when it does begin to
come to town it comes in quantities, and
the supply keeps up until in the natural
course of events it gives way to some
other product.
OF course. these green apples are sold.
Many are carted from market-houses by
heads of families with a view to apple
pie for lunch or dinner, but countless
thousandS-to use an expressive but
ancient expression-are dealt out one
by one to the small boys and others who
patronize the fruit-vender.
When the men of to-day were boys
they bought their apples from the ''old
apple-wOman." but the boys of to-day
have less dealing with what their fathers
considered an immOvable fixture in the
worlds progress. 1t is fact that the
apple-wOman is passing slowly but sure
" away. Where she could be counted
by tens and tweDties the same number
OF years ago, she is now only found at rare
intervals She has been crowded out.
Her well-filled bavket is superseded by
the more cOmmodiouS corner stand, and
she herself is superseded by the dark
complexioned Italian. whose race seems
to have emigrated 10 this country to
make fruit-selling and rag picking their
Specialties. The Italian at the best is
lazy. If he does hard work he goes
about it IN q slow. measured way that
makes an active man nervous. The
fruit business just suits, and when he
can sit and dose in his little box. keep
ing one eye half open to guard his stock
from the Onslaughts of the tOrmenting
gamins, he is happy. His limited vO-
cabulary of English words enables him
to tell the price of his wares and he has
cunning enough to keep the bruised side
of his apples, pears. and peaches turned
away from the customers. His whole
mind is on his business, and that has its
effect. He makes vigorous war on the
dust that settles on his fruit, for he
knows the American people admire
cleanliness. no matter how far his nat
ural disposition may lead him in con-
trary direction.
But the apple-wOman is different.
She leans toward the over-ripe and
acidulated. and by sheer force of per-
siStence compelS the public to take
them off her hands. She has an I'M
dying antipathy to fresh apples and
oranges. The way she sits on the
publ;c'S prejudices and forces it to take
what it doesn't want marks her genius
for dealing with that untractable beast.
She never advances; has no ambition to
have an attractive or prosperous look
ing stand: prefers to pose as Il figure for
the generosity OF the benevolent rather
than be a factor in legitimate business.
She is but bungler in business at best.
She lacks tact and skill and pride.
If she begins business with a barrel
covered with board, or with basket,
when she retires from business her out
fit is the same. She does not depend
on attractiyenesS for her trade. She is
patient very patient. Sometimes she
depends upon the whines in her voice,
the Respondent look in her face, and
her pOverty-stricken appearance, be-
lcy;ng that it is not in human nature to
resist Il stationary and persistent appeal.
In this she judges Alright. She lives,
and that proves success. Sometimes
she grows wealthy. and that proves
greater success: but unless YOU have the
same amount of patience that she has,
and watch her day after day, you can
not but wonder whence comes
her custom. Sometimes you will
watch her for hours without see
ing customer approach. Yet
she has customers, else her career
would not be so protracted. She wins
them by patient waiting, which the
proverb says is never loss. She sets
up her small establishment and sits con-
tentedly down beside it to wear out the
public's patience, and succeeds. At first
people in the vicinity of her location re-
sent her presence among them. She is
considered in the nature of blemish
upon the landscape-a blot upon its
record of prosperity. But they get over
that, and get used to seeing her there
day after day, and at last they are so
impressed by her quiet patience that
thev are impelled to buy something Of
her as a reward for her perseverance.
Then they buy a second. and third.
and a fourth time. because they see she
expects it. and would feel small not to
CRAFTY her. BY that time the habit Of
buying from her is formed. and habit is
really the cog-wheel of the machinery
that moves human kind. The habit
kept up becomes a sort of duty. and the
apple-wOman' future is fixed beyond
peradventure. She is now what the re-
porterS call identified with the local
ity." In her own language, she has
worked up a trade.
The applewoman is paradox in her
way. She IS patient and persever;ng,
but not ambitious. No matter how
lucrative her trade. she never retires
from it. If she have children she sends
them to school. They grow up more
educated than she and fitted for higher
place in society. Sometimes she has
sons who hold good positions. and some
times she has daughters who marry
well. The prosperity of her children is
s qualification to her, but she continues
lat the old stand just the same. They
may own house or two, paid for by
the careful storing up of the pennies
that came so slowly into her hands. but
she is not satisfied. She has become so
accustomed to her business that she can
not leave it. Her children may invoke
her 10 retire. but she will not. The
sidewalk has attractions for her that the