Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-10-12

want butter that is displayed for sale on top
OF the counter, cheese that has ever been cut
before, or tea from a box that other people
buy from. But she gets them JUST the same.
1t was the easiest thing in the world to carry
that butter down behind the counter and
bring 1t up again with the cloth half un-
wrapped and offer it as something altogether
superior to what it had been few moments
before. And you notice when she tasted it
she thought it was very good butter, though,
really now, I can't see how my ducking it
behind the counter improved its quality
any,"
NATIONAL TASTES AND PECUL1ARITIEs
English breakfast is the popular tea, prob
ably ten pounds of that being sold to one
pound of any other. In cheese the great
American preierence-in Pittsburg-is for
New York Goshen, though the Germans
buy principally the Sweitzer, limburger and
hand cheese. Chickens are always in de-
mand and SO are eggs There is one old
man haunting the markets who has a novel
method Of testing the eggs he buys. He
puts first one end Of the egg in his mouth,
then the other. His explanation is that the
large end of fresh egg is warmer than the
little end.
The Germans are good buyers. They buy
close, are not extravagant, but provide in
generous quantity for their wants. The
Huns and Italians are the terror of the mar.
ket men. They want to handle everything
and know the price of every article in the
stand. When they do buy it is 'tf cente
worth" and an old market man said "they
want 15 cents worth for the ''fi cente." The
English are careful buyers and the Irish.
like the American, slightly inclined to be
generously reckless. The market men like
them, however, as they buy considerable
quantities of any article they happen to
iancy.
woRKINGMEN FREEsT BUYERS.
"Our best customers" said an observant
vegetable and fruit dealer, "are the we'll
the market, and plenty of it. They don't
want it for nothing, either. They expect to
pay fair price Tor it, and usually order
what they want weighed or measured out
before they inquire the price. They are Of
every nationality, but are very much alike.
They recognize us as human beings, like
themselves. A good many wealthy people
come to the markets. They come them
selves; they don't send. And they are hard
dealers. They are 'sniptious' and fault
hndlng, buy in very small quantities, and
are very close"
Here is where some of the principal fruits
anu vegetables are coming from THIS season.
Grapes, of course, come from the region
about the great lakes principally. Apples
are coming from Missouri, the West and
Southwest Ounces and Siberian crabap-
plies from the West via Chicago; canteloupes
and muskmelons from Allegheny and
neighboring counties; sweet potatoes from
New Jersey and the South. The Jersey is
popular fayorite ten to one. White pota-
toes are home grown. Cranberries come
from the Northeast and Nova Scotia. The
chief celery supply this year is from Kala-
mazoo. Cabbage and beets are home sup
ply. Peaches are from the lake region and
California. There is more California fruit
in the markets this year than usual because
of the shortage in other quarters.
CHINESE AND THE CROWD.
The Chinese must be mentioned. They
are good buyers. They are expert judges OF
fish and vegetables and buy the best. They
pay the price, too. Their frugallty is in the
use OF the food after they get it home. The
market men all speak highly of the Celestial
as marketer. He asks few questions,
probably on account of his uniamiliarity
with the language, but makes good use Of
his almond eyes in making his selection.
Market days, Tuesday, Wednesday, Fri
day and Saturday are the times to see the
market houses in their glory. Then the