The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-12-30
NAEkET Day At WASHINGTON.

an interesting Study ofthe Famous Central
SInrket-The Negro Character.
G.. CrdtVordS Washington k,ter TO The Ntlr York
7IibHMc ''''
A painter seeking National subject
full OF character and originality could
not find q better place for such q study
than about the Central Market Of Wash.
inston during the holiday season. The
market, in the first place, is crowded
rom end to end with good things md
busy purchascra. That interior picture
does not differ much from any OF the
great markets OF the world. But out.
side, between the market and the great
avenue, there is patient circle o Gen.
ulne old.iashioned negroes, who come
here from near Virginia farms to sell
greens" in The holiday time. Here YOU
rnrely see white face. They are nearly
all black, and that blush 6lsckness Of
:he pure negro. The people are
dressed III picturesque rags borrowed
from richer friends. The cas,.otl
uniforms OF the eoldiers about the
barracks at Washington are appropria.
ed by the negro hucksters. | cav one
BLACK woman yesterday who would have
made study for Gerome, Her head was
'oug, her face was lined with marks OF
exposure to the weather. Her black,
parking eyes swan in large, yellow.
!nted oroS. Her ifixzled wool, lightly
Hinged with gray, hung down on both
sides OF her face from under q tightly
visited bandana OF red. Over her shoui.
Ter she wore o blue army coat lined with
yellow. Her dress underneath was black.
She was crouched upon a heap of ever.
green's against background OF holly,
warming her long hands over smoul.
Ierlng fire. Back OF her and to the RIGHT
md Lett were various members O; the
family, ranging from the staid son-in-
law, a manly, good-Eatured looking ne.
gro OF thirty years OF age, down through
group, OF children, the Youngest
oe!Ng black witch OF not over six,
~ho was alfred in full winter
suit made from the flap OF the Army
Jvetc0at OF which the grandmother wore
the cape. Up and down this line Of
ceSro vendors were absolutely wonder.
iul studies IN character and color. The
'soef ones bad tho stolidity and easy
pose OF Ofientals, while the younger
Chartered and Gang with all the good ma
ture OF the negroes, who are never go
happy as when in ! crowd in the blazipe
light OF warm sun. There were TO be
found there all the accessories Of a mic.
cure. The sky overhead was rs blue as
IN Alglers. There was nowhere any
Sign .! the fu5h OF commerce. The ne.
sroea who came TO sell never besouyht
any one with more than passing smile
or chant Of good nature. They were
TOO contented with the noise and chatter
Of the moving throng, with the genial
warmth OF the early winter sun, to care
apparently whether they sold anything
or not.
Their wares had cost them nothing,
ior the negroes who h.nked the market
10 the right and LETT and were camped in
front had Chriatmas trees, with holly
and ivy and c!inging strands OF green
stuff, gathered in the woods by them
selves. Smart little negro boys, alert
and active, watched the purchasers, and
when once the purchase was made, q
srlnnlns black boy would dart to the
front and otler to carry on his broad
shoulders the Christmas tree or the
bulky deco.ationssoldin this seni-ci.c!e.
1t WAS pleasant to witness the easy man
ners and the gentle good nature of the
negroes. | heard Que clean.iooking
negro say 10 woman who had Just pur.
chased Christmas tree-and with great
respect, although the language was
familiar-"I sold you dat tree 10,
twenty-five cents, because you we're SC
good.looking. !, would have been
thirty-hve cents to anyone else" Ur
and down the line were negro musician:
who contributed their share to the at.
Effectiveness Of the throng, aud were sc
careless and contented with their own
music and enjoyment that they never
dreamed Of asking anyone TO give theu
anything. The picturesque qualities Of
the negro are rapidly passing away.
believe that nowhere in the South will
be found to-day such elements as are
lett in the upper regions OF Virginia
whose Inhabitants come 10 Washington
on special market DAYS