Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-12-13
FssDUM vTvIMUs vIvAMus will not do;

| oErS ALONG WITH BAR6AIN-DRIvINo PEOPLE.
tsDUM vIyIMUs vIvAMUs will no. do;
~ We must live well and cheaply too"
This or something to the same effect is the
mental resolve Of every good housewife who
goes to market. But the best Of resolutions
are often broken, and after one has journeyed
through the aisles Of the Center Market and
looked at all the good things displayed in such
profusion she is ready to declare that it's an
impossibility to live well and at the same time
cheaply. Yet it can be done and is done every
day. 1t takes an experienced buyer, however,
| for a new hand in the business, if allowed full
| swing, will bankrupt millionheir.
The experience one needs can only be &C.
CURED after close observation and continued
practice. 1t sometimes requires years to ar
rive at that stage where one can 60 to market
with the same amount of capital each day and
return with the same standard Of dinner yet an
entirely different menu. 1t is impossible for
| one who has not had the experience to appre-
ciate what difficult task this is but still harder
| Is 1t for those who, with a small pittance. are
called upon to provide respectable meal.
! Here is where the long and continued market
| goer brings her experience to bear. She knows
| just what to buy and where she can get it the
cheapest. Then, again, she knows what time to
| go to market.
EARLY HOURS AT THE MARKET.
'The early bird catches the worm" is an old
maxim and a true one as far as marketing is
concerned. Yet oftentimes the other extreme
brings good bargains to the late Corners But
| the earlier one arrives at the market house the
better it is. The farmers are Just uncovering
their goods and the hucksters haven't picked
| them over as yet. Many good bargain can be
secured then. When the rush Of the market is
over, and it generally lasts from about $50 I'M
til noon, the farmers who have not sold out are
anxious to get home and are willing to take
| anything for their goods.
SELECTING NEAT AND POULTRY.
There is another requisite for first-class
marketer, and that is to be able to distinguish
between tough and tender meats. Now, there
is nothing so deceiving as meat and too much
care cannot be used in making selection. It
is the same with a roast with steak in max
ing selection. The meat should be bright
red and the grain of it should be fine.
In buying steak it is the rule of good caterers
to insist upon having it cut thick, for nothing
Is 30 unpalatable as q thin beefsteak. Tough
poultry is another one of the things good
housewife should avoid, for there is nothing
that will vex a hungry man more than a tough
chicken. The best method of judging of a
chicken or turkey is to lift one of the wings.
Ii the skin breaks easily under the wing it is a
pretty sure indication that the bird is tender.
GAME.
Last but not least in the marketing line ia the
selection of game. Tastes differ so that a gen.
eral rule looking to the selection of game can
not be laid down. Some people like wild duck
or bird trife gamey in flavor, while others
insist upon having game very fresh.
Those who favor the latter condition can
never be deceived if they will part the legs of
the bird and pull few feathers from the space
intervening, just trifle below the breast bone.
This place is called the apron, and here is
where all birds begin to show signs of decay
first. just one word about keeping ducks and
birds. If it should happen that you have some
birds on hand which you desire to keep for
few days, always hang them head down in a
cold place. In this way you keep the entrails
from collecting in the apron and thus preserve
your game, at the same time giving it a wild
flavor.
NEWLY PLEDGED HoUsEKEEPER.
1t ii interesting to watch young married
woman who has not assumed housekeeping re-
sponsibilities try to market. She looks as
wise as a sage rs she trips through the market,
dressed in her best clothes Now she stops be-
fore butter stand and asks. timidly: ''How
much is your best?'' Nothing but that quality
suits her. The dealer has several fancy brands.
with correspondingly fancy prices, and she takes
a pound linen, drawing small note book
from her pocket. she makes memorandum of it
and asks If the dealer is sure it isn't that hor-
rid greasy stuff called, oh. whatyouma ycallem."
Never sold pound in my life" says the
dealer, in an injured tone. and they separate.
''There, I've forgotten the eggs. How do YOU
sell these?" says the young married woman,
picking one up daintily in hor gloved fingers.
by the dozen" rejOins the dealer.
How stupid Of me, 1 do declare" she says
with litter. 81 mean how much"
''Thirty-fiye cents Dozen"
Are they fresh?' she questions, irving to
shake one, never asking if the price isn't too
high. The dealer says they were laid yester-
day. and then she commences to count up on
her fingers how many she needs. She decides
on Dozen fOrgets to wait for the change from
the half dollar she hands to the dealer and
brings up next before poultry stand.
Are these chickens?" she inquiries as she
picks up duck.
NO, madam; that's a duck" replies the
poultryman. Nv ould you like nice broiling
chicken?'
How much is it?'
"Only fifteen pound"
us 1t real young and tender" she asks, feel
ing the chickens breast.
Just right for broiiing." he adds, as he
places 1t on the scale and wraps it I'D without
asking her if she wants it,
dollar thirty, please" and she, afraid of
hurting the poor mans feelings, buys the
chicken. although she hardly has the money to
spare and the chicken is altogether too large
for her purposes.
THE EXPERIENCED HAND.
Now, the old married woman and expert
enced housekeeper. who, perhaps, has to plead
with her husband for the market money every
morning, is an entirely different parsonage.
The dealers are afraid of her. and If they i'm
pose upon her tongue flashing is snre to come
next morning, and she is very foxy" and gem
orally buys close that at the end of the year
she has nice purse of her own.
A DEALERS OBSERVATIONS.
off You would like to study the whims and
caprices of people from an interesting stand
point just take my place behind this bench for
a little while" The speaker was a prominent
huckster in the Center Market. and he was
talking to a STAR reporter last Thursday m orn-
ing. Il think without doubt we have a harder
time than anybody in any other business" con-
nnued the huckster. land it's a wonder to me
how l stand it. The meanness of people is
bound to crop out in the market house and
often have been surprised at the penurious-
ness OF people who had a reputation for iber-
atty. There Is a prominent society woman
who sometimes deals with me that heads the
list OF squeeZers as we dealers term them and
oftentimes have wished that some good fairy
would transform her into man, SO that could
speak my thoughts"
FASHION RULES IN MARKETING.
''Well, why don't you give her to understand
that you don't want her custom?" asked the
reporter.
THAT would never do in the world. She
draws custom, you know. Many people follow
these society leaders and the society leaders
know they are doing us good and impose on us.
Why, q lady said to me the other day. .You
should give us discount, for the trade we