Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-09-07
ECONOMY Is WEALTH.
A Well. Dressed Man Illustrates the
Principle ~ . Garbage Amateur.

"Dat's de pusson, sab, |" ssid the old colorsd
vegetable peddler on the sidewalk opposite the
big market 10 SrAa reporter, pointing out as
he spoke An elderly man. quite well dressed,
who was engaged at the moment in turning
over heap Of refuse from the venders' stalls
and baskets in the dry gutter.
'Do you mean TO say" exclaimed the news
paper man, "that an individual of 90 respecta-
BILE an appearance actually makes o practice of
shopping around the market here and picking
up half-rotten fruit and stuff like that for his
own eating, in the streets?"
"Dst's what said, sab. Watch him now and
see what he gits."
The elderly man was just then examining a
much-decsyed banana which he had fshed out
of the refuse pile with stick. Upon removing
the skin he seemed to find about one-third Of
it available for his purposes; any way, he broke
1t in two. threw away the larger portion and
slipped the smaller:one into a covered basket
that he carried. In garbage heap few
steps further on he found one over-ripe tomato
and another green one; these he also possessed
himself of. A really good potato that had
fallen out Of a box he grabbed with ill-con-
cealed eagerness, and thereupon gave himself
up to the exhaustive investigation Of a barrel,
the contents of which had survived the period
he added number of secondhand edibles to
his store, including two exceedingly dubious
peaches, an ear of corn that had been plucked
immaturely, half of caulihower over age and
another tomato with a bite taken out of its
good side. Evidently he was well known to
the peddlers on the pavement near by, for
they watched him with the interest Of recogni-
ton and hurled at him laughing jibes, to which
he paid not the slightest attention.
Hi, you, Massa Gutter-Sniper" called out
one fat old colored woman with her head done
up in a bandanna turban. lis yo' gittiu' er
pooty good libbin' desc times2"
"Libs on de fat OBJ de lan'-yah, yahr' laughed
picturesque darkey in a check jumper
"Youse all wrong, niger" Joined in griz-
zled old fellow with watermelons. dat gem
man keeps bodIn' house for white folks, an
dis am de way he gifts his provisions fer de
Establishment"
A continuous fire Of this sort of badinage was
kept up all along the line of vendors on the
sidewalk, but its object continued to pursue
his scavengerlike occupation without seeming
to hear a word of it. At the corner of a sewer
culvert he came across dead rat that had been
run over by a wagon; but ne simply stirred il
with his stick, shook his head slightly and passed
on to pick up a highly-impossible apple from
some offal in the middle of the road The re-
porter, for curiosity's sake, ventured to ap-
proach and address to him a question which
often best serves to smooth over an introduc.
ton.
Make II whisky" the scavenger-man re.
piled, 'and I'll go you?"
The amendment was agreed to and the two
entered q saloon near by, where big drinks
were advertised at such moderate rates as to
bring the luxury of intoxication within easy
reach OF the most exiguously circumstance.
Cooking or eating whisky" said the bar.
tender to the scavenger man, politely, when
the latter had nominated that beverage as the
especial poison he desired.
at don't matter HIGH so looO Won hav ap,
got any that's good to drink" responded the
grubber after stale vegetables, with graceful
repartee. Then he poured out for himself q
liberal tumblerful of the fusil-oil-laden fire.
water, fresh from the still, and poured it down
at gulp.
81 approve Of whisky" he said, ''because
whisky is vegetable product All things veg
etable are good for man. Nature intends thai
human beings shall feed on vegetables and moi
ON meat. Vegetables are much cheaper thar
meat, also, and that Is likewise an advantage
l get my vegetables and fruit. which compose
my diet, very cheap indeed; in fact, procure
them for nothing. You have seen how do it
l am impelled to practice this method of pick.
ing up livelihood not merely by q motive OF
economy but also to teach a valuable lesson
by example. By instinct 1 am opposed t.
waste. Waste is vulgar; it is in bad taste and
| will discourage 1t in 80 far as am able by
the expression Of my disapproval Not a DAY
passes that do not afford a valuable lesson il
Judlcious economy TO the hucksters about the
market, who throw away enough every
twenty-four hours to support one hundred
| people. II q banana is trif,
decayed they chuck it into the gutter; if .
! tomato exhibits symptoms Of incipient decom
position it goes to the offal heap, and SO will
| everything else. This is an abuse of nature
bounty, which do my best to rebuke with d,
stick and market basket, gathering the best O
what they have rejected and making the result
supply me with three luxurious meals per day.
Il noticed that you did not pick up the dea,
| rat suggested the newspaper man.
"And you supposed that was too proud
| answered the scavenger, hastily. "Pray do no
think me guilty Of entertaining 80 false q senti
ment. But the rat, though good to eat, is no
| a vegetable, and for that reason did not fin,
it available. But, speaking of vegetables, s.
much talking has made me very dry. viii
have another drop of the corn Juice. Thanks
Yours to command. All! That's not SO bad
Sorry you're going; trust wen meet again
Good-day!"