Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-11-28
TURKEY Is KING.
A Visit to Center Market on Thanks
giving Eve.

giving Eve.
TIE AMERICAN BIRD IN HIS eLoRY-suRRouxpKr
By ALL THE SUBSIDIARY REQUISITES FOR 4
GOOD DISNER-THE PRICES WHICH RULE FOB
GAME, MEATS, POULTRY, VEGETABLES, ETC
Turkey il king! At two seasons of the veal
the great American bird outstrips all his com.
petitors in the fight for popularity, and
Thanksgiving is one of them. The Center
market is the local headquarters Of King Tur.
key to-day, and he is very numerous there
Depending from hooks by his long neck
stacked up on benches, laid out in tempting
rows and packed away In barrels, he was
almost omnipresent within the precincts
OF the big brick building. Housekeep-
ers walked past the butchers stands
to-day with look that very nearly resembled
contempt and entered the main building, where
turkeys did abound. The variety was almost
infinite. ranging from the wild specimen which
mad fallen victim to the unerring aim OF some
virginia marksman down through the various
grades Of turkeydom to the most insignificant
and scrawny specimens that we're ever sacri-
feed for Thanksgiving. The great majority OF
them were plump and tender, tempting the ap-
petite even in their raw condition as they were
exhibited by enthusiastic statesmen. Other
I
they extremely delicate in their appearance.
Occasionally one would be seen who had for
many years been
A PATRIARCH IN THE BARNARD,
and no art Of the dealer could hide the wealth
of muscle that such turkey had accumulated
by long years Of scratching aud pugilism. For
only three classes Of people did such bird
have any charms-the INSCRIPTIONS boarding
house keeper, the poverty-stricken who could
not buy any kind Of a turkey. and the antigua
rian- The Juicy and juvenile turkey was in
almost universal demand, and if all the turkeys
In the Center market are sold by tonight ii
would seem as though but few families in this
city win have to go without at least taste of
the national bird tomorrow
AND THE POOR WERE NOT FORGOTTEN.
All those who visited the market to-day did
not go there merely for the purpose Of supply
ing their own necessities. A STAR reporter
saw several people who have no extensive
reputation for benevolence buy more turkeys
than their own families could eat in a month,
and he also saw one salesman tie little labels,
already addressed to the necks of the plump
birds and then put each in a basket where
cranberries and celery and potatoes were hiding;
and that was not the end of the quietly CON
Quoted proceeding for the market mans wagon
was soon after loaded up with a number Of
such baskets, and quite early in the afternoon
houses of worthy poor and waited patiently
while his driver delivered the Thanksgiving Of
fering OF Christian people to homes where
there would have been little to be thankful for
had there been no generous hearts in the city.
A GLANCE DOWN THE LONG AIsLEs
of the main market building revealed boun-
teous supply of all that the hungry man could
desire or the human stomach digest. Turkey,
Of course, was most prominent, but there was
much beside. The sweet smell of butter and
the delicate perfume of rosy apples were mex
tricably tangled up with the odors Of salt fish
and the equally pronounced flavor of cheese
that had attained its majority some time ago.
The green hues of cabbage and the pale stalks
of celery, combined with the bright-tinted
apples, the russell potatoes, and the variegated
colors of the flowers and potted plants to form
pleasing if an incOngruous whole.
The market was not crowded with BUYERS
this morning. All the other markets in town
were open at the same time and they relieved
the pressure considerably. Tomorrow morn
ing, however, will see most of those who want
to purchase, and who have not already done so.
down at the big market. There is plenty for
all and at
PRICES THAT GOOD HoUSEKEEPERS DECLARE TO
BE REASONABLE.
The dressed turkey may be purchased for IS
cents per pound, and his undrawn brother or
worth IS cents, but chickens and ducks are de-
cidedly quiet at Is cents per pound.
THE SUPPLY OF GAME
is somewhat limited, but prices do not range
high. Wild turkey can be bought by the
pound at Is cents Quail are $3.50 per dozen,
and pheasants sell readily at S1.25 per pair.
Prairie chickens, all the way from Illinois and
Iowa, are in demand at from S1.25 to 81 so per
pair. Mallard ducks are S1.25 per pair and
the black-headed variety but little more than
half as much. Rsdhead ducks hang peace
per pair, while their canvas-back rivals look
down contemptuously on them from
an attitude of "a for a couple. venison
brings 25c. per pound without trouble, and the
person who will buy a whole saddle of the
savory deer-meat may secure it at the reduced
figure OF 20 cents per pound, Squirrels are
few in number and 10 cents will buy the best
OF them-tail and all. Rabbits are worth
from 20 to 80 cents and are selling well. while
'possums. dear to the Ethiopian stomach and
grateful to the sense Of smell, can be secured
at prices ranging from Is to 40 cents, the depth
OF the fat being the standard of value.
THE VEGETABLE MARKET
Cranberries, the genuine Jersey article, and
the turkeys bosom friend, can be bought for
from 10 to Is cents per quart, and celery is
selling rapidly at from s to 10 cents per stalk.
Sweet potatoes and onions are in partnership
at 40 cents per peck. Spinach is Is cents per
peck. Cabbage at from to 10 cents head is
said to be good value, and caulifower at Is
cents each look as though they were worth the
money. Hubbard squash, and no market
basket Is complete without one. are selling at
to 214 cents per pound.
FRUIT IN ABUNDANCE.
Apples are plentiful, although the varieties
did not seem to be numerous; from Is to 40
cents per peck were the prices asked and paid
Oranges are cheap, the ordinary Florida varie-
ty going at from Is to Is cents per dozen; the
North river (seedless) going as high as IS
cents.
Catawba grapes are to be had at the rate of
pounds for Is cents, and the Concord variety
is selling at pounds for the same sum. Mala-
gas are plentiful at from 10 to Is cents Der
pound.
FISH, FLESH AND "FIXINs."
The 'fnny tribes" were well represented on
the south side. Large rock are held at Is cents
per pound, while the medium and small NAV be
purchased at 10 and 1919 cents respectively.
Large Potomac bass, heavier by many tantaliz-
ing pounds than those ever caught by amateur
anglers, can be bought either by the anglers or
their wives for rs cents per pound. Kennebec
salmon Is valued at so cents per pound, and
white halibut is quoted at rs cents. HOLSTERS
sell well at Is cents per pound, but the demand
for diamond-back terrapin at $40 per dozen is
not noisy.
The quantity of eggs on the market was lin
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