Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1886-11-26

A few days since, - reporter of the
REPUBLICAN WAS busy in the of1ee
grinding out items to satisfy the NAV
OF the insatiable copy fiend ,Ciei K Of the
Market Smeliz stepped In, ene -Yiah 4
pleasant good morning invitee him to
take ride up to Madison street mar.
ket. A brisk drive of few minutes
brought them to Seventh and Madist n
streets, where the horse was kitched.
and the clerk and reporter started on
foot through the market, and 1t WAS q
matter OF surprise, as we'll as gratifica-
tion, to notice how well 1t 10 arranged
and the abundant quantity Of coun-
try produce with which it was
supplied. But the genial clerk had
other business besides looking around,
and that was to test the Jumps of but.
ter. lard and sausage offered for sale
and ascertain beyond O doubt that each
contained the full 16 ounces.
The butter belonging to several par.
ties was weighed and the side on
which the weight rested few up, while
the butter went down, but In little
time some butter was tested that didn't
go down worth q cent, and in fact IL
seemed for moment or 80 that there
was q contest between the weight aud
butter as to which should pull the other
down. At last the butter got the best
Of It and turned the scale, when the
clerk, not fully satisfied, demanded
another lump, which was tested with
about the same result.
The owner was given a word of warn
ing by the clerk as he passed on to the
next wagon. Further down the ssSeel
another party was found whose butter
was about the same as that just de-
sciibed, and the vender was informed
In polite but q firm manner that he
had better be more careful in the future
or be might have to take his butter
home cut 10 quarters. At Fourth street
a man was standing with ak Jumps OF
butter, three Of which purported to be
pounds and the remainder half pounds.
They looked suspiciously small, and the
reporter had come to the COZ cluslon
that 1t was remarkably compact butter
when Clerk Smeltz placed q lump on
the unerripg scale. Down went weight,
when the butter rose In exact proper
ton.
"Lst me try another" said the clerk,
as he set the first lump aside, but the
result was the same with all, and the
consequence was each lump was cut in
four pieces. Several persous had stopped
while this was going on. and the coun
tryman tried to excuse his short weight
BY informing them that his scales were
broke or 1t wouldn't have happened,
but 1t seemed strange TO the reporter
that any one who was accustomed to
putting up butter for market was not
able to judge nearer the proper weight
by the sizs OF the lump. TIT seems like
n Nntf 60 81 kw,A
In the crowd, when another answered,
II have no pity for him, as we have to
pay money enough for tho butter to get
full weight"
"This is an unpleasant duty" re.
marked the clerk as he passed on down
the market. Mo more light butter was
found, and 1t WAS noticed that every
package OF lard or sausage, whether for
sale by farmer or butcher, was full,
weight, and some of them apparently
run from seventeen to eighteen ounces.
During this hasty run through the mar
ket not single peddler or simmer was
seen, which speaks we'll FOR the admin
istration OF Clerk 6meltz, who, although
he has been In office but four months,
has, by inducing farmers TO 20 on Madi.
fon street and by other L se.ns, made Ii
rival to the King street market. Spaces
are marked along the curb from Second
to Eighth streets, and there is no doubt
that within the next few months every
one will be taken. IL is certainly q great
accom- modstlon to the people living in
that section OF the city, and as far as
could be ascertained prices are about
the same as on King street.
He was selecting presents for his girl
before Christmas. He bouRhtn nm am ber
comb, box OF caramels and a bottle
OF DIR. Bulls Cough Syrup, and showed
thereby right sensible dude.