Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-08
A DEPARTED GLORY.
The Old Southern Market is Thing
of the Past.
RECALLING ITS BUSY SCENES
A Picture of the South That Has Been
Blotted Out.
PLEASURE OF SATURDAY NIGHT

a
at Charleston, the old Southern market ex-
:sts no more. 1t has gone the way of all in
stitutions not in sympathy with the mad,
breakneck haste of the age. In its place
has arisen all over the South an odiously
new, whitewashed building which is called
a market, but which is. in reality, only
collection Of shops. The old Southern
market had a social as we'll as business
side On Saturday night, the great time
for all markets in general and the cid
Southern market in particular, it was
crowded-crowded literally to OVERLOOKING
with persons of all ages, sexes and condi-
tions, black and white. yellow and choco-
late-colored, crowding and pushing and
laughing among the torchlit stalls of the
market venders.
Theoretical statesmen aired their views
there, while practical politicians stood
quietly by and made mental notes for future
use. That was the favorite subject of con-
versation among the men who visited the
old Southern municipalities. The man
who couldn't "talk politics" was considered
as bad as the one who couldn't drink his
dozen tumb!ers of corn juice nor play bill
lizards nor smoke 20 cigars day. After
politics had been worn threadbare for the
two wonever-failing topics furnished most of the
mental food for the Southern gentlemen in
those days. Since then thev have developed
two new ways of mental observation-disclosures
ing the negro question and whiting sticks.
THE SOUTHERN MATRoN'S DELIGHT.
On Saturday night. after supper-the
Southerners are sensible and dine in the
middle of the day-the Southern matron
would put on one of her best gowns, make a
stout negro boy follow her with large mar
ket basket and 60 to the old Southern mar
ket to buy her provisions for Sunday and
the ensuing week. The Southern matron of
those days, no matter how wealthy she might
be, would have died rather than delegate
her purchasing prerogatives to a servant.
She considered it as glorious duty to buy
the family edibles as to see that her children
were well dressed, or that her carriage was
kept in good condition. "Tempora mutan-
TURF as Mr. Parnell said when he began his
big libel suit.
No tradesman would have thought of send
ing home goods purchased at his shop in
those times. Therefore the aristocratic mar
keter toook a servant with her to carry the
basket.
The market was generally a long two
storied building, built upon rows OF stone
pillars with wide interstices between them.
AS rule, it was painted white, but whether
for the sake of appearances or as symbolical
of the character of the transactions within
is not known. But although the building
was very low it always had a high tower
over one entrance, with large seml-reliable
clock in it like round lozenge glued to a
stick. On the floor above was the market
hall. An amusing instance of red tape was
the fact that although anyone might walk
calmly in between the pillars at any time,
the doors of the market were always care
fully locked and bolted every night at the
closing hour.
THE MARKET IN ITS GLORY.
But the market The building did not
constitute it. 1t flowed over into the street,
and on Saturday night the street was the
most interesting place in the market. Line
after line of hucksters' wagons stretched
across the open space in front OF the build
ing. The wagons were OF every variety
spring wagons, country wagons" big
wagons, little wagons, old wagons and new
wagons-but all were alike in one respect.
They were loaded with good things that
would make the driest mouth water. Water
melons, muskmelons, cantelopes, pumpkins,
squashes, eggplants, apples and-peaches!
All, those peaches One can understand
how Paris might have melted Celestial
riot if he had thrown a Southern peach
among the beauties instead OF a tawdry gold
apple.
A weird aspect was impaired to the scene
by the fare of the "light'd knot" torches
that were stuck in all parts Of the wagons.
From all sides came the cries of the huck-
sters as they extolled the superior virtues
OF their respective wares, mingled with
badinage and rough, hearty humor. And
the children Whole shoals of them, scam
pering here and there between the wheels
of the wagons, eating tremendous quantities
of fruit and playing all OF the good, hearty,
old-fashoned games that their grand
parents played before them. Even their
ridiculous, unchildlike clothes could not
prevent them from enjoying life.
THE SEDUCTIVE WATERMELON.
"Plug 'em fur yo' boss?"
The melon appears to be perfectly ripe,
but appearances, as the world has been
already informed by several thousands and
odd writer's, are deceptive. The prospective
buyer mods assentingly. The would-be
| seller picks up a battered jack-knife. jabs it
into the melons glossy sides four times in
quick succession and holds up dripping
plug OF rind and meat for the buyers in-
| spection. The buyer examines it, tastes it,
| looks at the seeds to see if they are properly
| edged with black, and mods again. The
| seller makes loop OF twine, in which the
melon is slung, and hands it to the buyer.
| The transfer OF 10-ceut piece from the
| buver to the seller concludes the transac-
| ton.
Then there are the strings of haws. Long,
red strings they are, natural necklaces of
gems from natures jewel casket The ripe,
scarlet globes giisten in the flare of the
torches, and stand out in startling contrast
| against the black skin of the girl who sells
! them. They are sold for five cents, and the
children buy them eagerly. They wear
them ior few days and then eat them.
| Thus the haws serve both as food and orna-
ments. Can the coral beads OF Miladi boast
| as much?
The flare and the noise gradually die
| away. The hucksters give away the fruit
which they have been unable to sell, and
drive off. The old Southern market is
closed for the night
| A whole page for the children in To-
MORROW'S DISPATCH. Paysie has nice
story. I. H. Webb tells some wonderful
things about science and gymnastics, and
| DuzzIes serve to amuse and instruct A news