Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-08-31

III looks easy enough. but it's not so easy as
it looks, is what an Italian, the proprietor OF
fruit stand, said when asked by STAR re-
porter about his business. The fruit vender
was seated at a three-cornered stand. Around
him were piled foreign and domestic fruits OF
all kinds, and fancy candies made to catch the
children's pennies. He was almost hidden
from public gaze as he sat among the heaps Of
tempting wares. but the footsteps of the re-
porter brought him to his feet and into view.
NO." the Italian continued, ''it's not such an
easy thing to remain about a stand al day as
it looks. From early morning until late at
night the stand has to be kept open. So that
all the rest person in this business gets is six
hours day. In the summer 1 have to stand
the hot sun all day long, and at night the
bright lights attract the mosquitoes and they
make it more unpleasant than the heat. In
the winter time, with cold winds, rains and
snow storms, 1T is even worse. The blinds can't
be put up. for then the stock Of goods cannot be
seen and there would be nothing to attract
custom.
MAKING SHOW.
"In this business" he said, 'the show made
Of the goods on the stand is everything. 1t is
not like grocery store, where persons are
obliged to go and make regular purchases.
Sales in this business are made generally to
persons who are attracted by the artistic man
ner in which the choice fruits are displayed on
the stand. OF course, the transient trade has
to be relied upon to keep up the business, but
in many neighborhoods the pennies spent by
children really support the stands. In making
purchases much care and judgment has to be
used A person must know from experience
what sort of fruits suit his trade and then he
must be sure to get fruit III such condition that
it will not decay in a short time. For instance,
in the purchase of bunch of bananas you
must be careful to get bunch OF fruit not too
green. Bananas that are too green never rIpen
to advantage and they become a dead loss to
the dealer.
SELECTING CANDIES FOR THE TRADE.
Sand such is the case with other sweets
sold" continued the dealer. when a box of
peaches or pears or barrel of apples is pur-
chased they have to be counted out picked
over and assorted. Each assortment brings a
different price. and it takes careful figuring to
make both ends meet.
The same rule" he continued, lis applicable
to the purchase of candies. If bad judgment
Is used the purchase proves expensive. Candy
for such business does not have to be selected
always for its real quality. 1t must please the
whims of the young folks The children will
for week or two purchase 'taffy on stick
The next week they want something different,
so that it is not always well to carry too large a
stock of one kind of candy. Prize popcorn
and other prize packages have a better run
awning sue younger Cuiiureu
THE PATRONS OF THE STAND.
'Who are your patrons?" the reporter in
quired.
They are confined to no particular class"
replied the vender. 'You see, it depends upon
the time OF day. In the morning l catch the
trade of the clerks ON their way to the depart
ments. Many of them, mostly ladies, stop and
purchase fruit to take to the Office with them
as part of their lu lch. They always want the
finest fruit to be obtained. and are generally
willing to pay good prices. Such trade is good
in pleasant weather, but in bad weather it is
lost because the clerks take the street cars
Then the clerks in the stores good custom
ers. As rule they are not so particular as the
office clerks, and are willing to take smaller
fruit at lower price; Along during the day
and evening the candy trade is good, for it is
then that the children get their pennies Dur
ing the day many persons out shopping stop
and get a couple OF peaches or pears instead of
going to lunch room. In the afternoon the
newsboys and bootblacks come around. They
are not particular as to looks. They want all
they can get for penny and will buy the
rough and knotty fruit If they get two or
three peaches or pears for penny they are
perfectly satisfied"
THE PEANUT TRADE.
.'How about the peanut trader" "Well, that's
about the same the year around" he answered.
Il sell what people don't help themselves to.
You know It'll habit with people when they
make a purchase to take handful Of peanuts,
and indeed it is not an unusual thing for per-
sons to scoop up peanut or two as they pass
by. During the day the sales are pretty good,
but the night time is when l expect to sell pea
nuts During the theater season the sales
greatly increase. Many theater-goers, or
many of them who do not carry peanuts inside
with them, will buy them on their way home
remember the time when it was not an unu-
sual thing to sell o two-bushel bag of peanuts
in one evening. After the theaters are closed
there is still business. Many men visit the fruit
stands as late as midnight and buy bag Of
fruit and peanuts to carry home to their wives
That is the last trade for the night. The lights
are lowered and the stand is closed until the
following morning."