The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-16
NEW YORK MARKETS AT NIGHT.

strange that several great markets have sprung
up to supply their wants. Each of these mark
cts is distinguished by peculiar features. Fulton
Is pre-eminently a fish market, and any one who
passes that way early in the morning will see
State Fish Commissioner Eugene Blackford,
twice millionaire. in the very act of dissecting
fish with knife in hand, sleeves rolled up and
covered with scales from head to foot. Union
Market is babel of tongues, where old clothes as
well articles Of food offered for SALE Jefer
son and Center Markets are merely local depots of
supply. But Washington Market still remains to
be mentioned, than which there could perhaps
be no more completely perfect illustration OF the
many sided activity of the American metropolis.
1t is par excellence the grand source Of food
supply of the city of New York, both in the
wholesale and the retail lines. Like the city, its
prototype and exemplar, the market never
sleeps and no sooner does one day close than an
other begins. Occupying space three blocks
square, between Fulton and Barclay streets, it
has grown outward and westward, until it ex-
tends into the North river. and boats can unload
at the very point where their cargoes are want
ed. Within this comparatively small space is
crowded all that can satisfy the hunger of the
laborer, tempt the appetite of the most fastid-
ious epicure. Here is the most democratic
spot in the world, the common point of meeting
of all classes whom motives of curiosity and
business draw together. Here, indeed, extremes
meet and no extremes could be further apart.
just before midnight profound silence reigns
through the spacious quarters, silence broken
only by the noises Of the night, which is the life
of things as day is the life Of beings.
But even at this hour the North and East-river
boats have begun to bring over hundreds of
wagons from Jersey and Long Island, and these
rumble along the streets as they find their way
to the common mart to take their accustomed
places of waiting for the marketmen to buy their
loads All are there, and several hundred
wagons, each in charge of silent and sleepy
driver, form line on Greenwich street. de-
lusive calm prevails, and he who saw the loaded
vehicles and motionless teams for the first time
would imagine that the place was abandoned to
horses and vegetables. But let him act on the
idea, and attempt to help himself from one of the
wagons, and instantly the head OF a wakeful
Waterman would pop up to convince him OF his
mistake.
ing and pending the cessation Of it's waiting
mooi, even its repose and slumber are active,
and it's expectant rest is but semi-torpor
sembling the sleep of soldiers under arms
Such scene presents elements of perennial
interest. On the stone steps at one of the en-
frances to the market there >Nits through the
small hours of the night an old woman of with
cred face and bent figure, whom the chill damp
air of the May night does not prevent from
catching cat-naps while waiting for purchasers
of her small stock of dandelions gathered the
day before in Central Park She and her fam
lily. by working from AN to in the afternoon,
can pick three baskets, which 1t takes till 10
o'clock at night to clean. The days produce
sells for ST. So Such is the life of the dandelion
woman.
Wholesalers are the first to buy their stocks,
and these are followed by the hotel and restau
rant men, in quest of their days supplies Close
Ai~a.- L<-l h,,%a lav-
erocers, also in quest of stocks. AS 6 o'clock
approaches, the way is clear for the small pur
chasers in the retail line. simultaneously bawl
ing calves and bleating lambs are being unload
ed from boats, and driven IN wagons to abattoirs
for slaughter, while in the incosed spaces of the
west market hang hundreds of beef and veal
carcasses ready for sale.
AS the retail customers come in, vegetables,
are temptingly arranged on the counters and
the butter from the tubs cut in quarters and
these again into thick slices. The meat man
trims his .oasts, and addresses himself to posi-
BILE customers in voice characterized by ravsh-
ing cadences attainable only through the posses
sion of native genius, supplemented by long
vender of the city, the marketman is
a born artist and like him. also, is doomed to
waste his vocal sweetness the dull ears of
feshy females in search of roasts and garden
sass for dinner. Pride shines in his every feat
ure and like the belle who is vain of her beauty
he wonders that the passing throng, composed of
both sexes, and all ages and conditions, do not
admire his skill in offering his top sirloins, fine
ribs of beef, brook trout just received from the
wilds of Canada, Long Island or the Adrion-
dacks, skill OF which he is himself so conscious
His movements too, though perhaps not altogeth-
er graceful, touch the spot every time and he
quickly loads the seemingly endless procession
of basket-carriers. The elderly female whom
daily visits to the market have hardened into
sharpness and cold calculation, eyes the varmnt
behind the counter with deep suspicion, while
she slowly makes her purchases. Near her. per-
haps is maiden of sixteen summers, more or
less, who. if no. handsome, is at least pretty
comely. Unlike her more matured sister, she
dashes wildly about and tries to buy half
dozen things at the same time. She succeeds
to, in the attempt, the principles of mathematics
to the contrary.
Everybody's attention is attracted by the tall,
saunt figure of an old man of perhaps seventy
FIVE, who wears butchers gown reaching to his
feet, and a faded silk hat of type which has
long since passed into the realm of tradition.
Everything about the old gentleman. though
cleanly. is suggestive of antiquity and long use.
He is always on hand at peep of day. AS the
visitor gazes through the market stout sons of
Erin brawny Teutons, and here and there an
aged female with a squeaky voice, give variety
to the spectacle.
Curious and interesting as is this grand temple
of purchase aud sale in its Interior its approaches
are even more So Crowded along Vesey street
are small vendors of the finest brio "a brac most
probably obtained from fence" and their fire.
quent expulsion by the police is only followed
by their speedy temperance. There also
inviting displays of old clothes which have all
but lost the power of cohesion.
The market has made millionaires, both
through its buyers and its sellers. Smith &
McNells Washington restaurant buys
its supplies by the carload For years the Long
Islander and Jerseyman asked for nothing better
in the season of them than strawberry short
cake and cup of coffee and the mammoth
bakery whore they were made turned them out
by the carload. Liquids. too, were in heavy
demand, and ten fortunes have been realized out
of those market saloons. which have existed less
by the grace Of the Board of Excise Commits
sioners than by the sufferance of the police.
These places We're quiet and orderly. and the
''cop," as he walked along his beat did not
trouble himself about them In winter, when
the air is cool and the proximity of the river
makes it windy, the policeman at his post does
not disturb the rural bivouacker as he kndles