New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-11-29
vESEY STREET ODDITIES.
YOU HAVE ONLY TO ASK FOR WHAT foo
WANT AND YOU WILL GET 1T.


costumes and babel Of tongues. Beginning az INC
river and westst. which fronts 1t, the FIRST ou'ions
nm the right IS Washington Market, extending BACK 70
the street that bears Its Here Is the overho"
NJ stalls and counters which are CHARACTERISTIC VI uo
street. Fruits, game. shellfsh ana othcr hihus a.
we'll cheap-very cheap-meats celery ana green eoou.
are sold here. Here also are figs dates ana nuts anu
all kinds OF birds ready for cooking Let IL DC aooea
that the impartial dust of vescy-st falling on iruit
and fowl alike makes necessary their thorough washing
by purchasers.
Vesey.st business may be divided into three classes
according to site-frst floor, upstairs ana stl"i'
Among the first may be classed several restaurants
number OF wine and liquor dealers, importers anu
rcctifers, a shoe mandatory. large grocery.
crocSery and glassware store whoiesaie anu 'e''''
cigar places several large tea and coffee warehouses;
fruit store and a place where all sorts OF baskets
arc nm sale. The space outside the windows OF tihs
last is CAV with colored wicker. rattan ana sphn''
The tea stores display their outside wares IN husc
bins which are dscreetly covered win strons ITO"
netting else many o passer-by might hastliy seo"o
handful Of the fragrant beans and caves Ihey "i'o
show gaidy tin cans with certain brands OF goous' anu
the reds and yeIlows add to the symphony OF prsh'
coIors on the street. There Is also candy s'o'o
whose whole front can be removed. Many OF tne
+ores ara arranged in that way and the majority OF
yesey-st business can be described In worn as
"street trade" 49,
A TOW store overa6ws on the sidewalk with rows OF
hooks dangling groups Of dolls and mechanical Joys "
all Sorts Hardware stores are another feature Oh inc
street They always set many OF their wares out on
booths next TO their windows and display In DasRets
or boxes OF uniform size everything In the metal lne
They are always surrounded by groups OF men LOOKING
At bargains In knives rulers nupcks, brooms, picture
cord hooks and things uncomfortable because OF their
variety
The clothing trade is represented by q store where
mems complete outfits Sold There are places ior
the sale of rubber and wire gooos' cigars
and pipes, stationery, supports for crippes' drugs
trunks and bags, electrical contrivances anu many
more There are stalls where yellow cheeses aod 10
the number Of coIors, and Easements, carrying s.och
~ pctes in green red and white, have pushed their
contents out to the level OF the Sidewalk sometimes
good looking girls preside over these aciduiateu
Of peppers. cucumbers and onions and IL you ony
a pailful of tho sharply odorous compound they VIII
present to you a shining tin pail
The upstairs business of Vesey-st is dinereh' rom
ts first floor or street trade One need only read the
signs on the hall directories TO see that Here is
Mace where all sorts Of writing and typewrtng sup
plies are dealt in there burglar alarm Is OH ca
hibitlon for tmid houseowners. Engraving, paihuhe
and thographing flourish and one jewelry mahu1actofy
which makes speciality OF those ancient novelties
sea bean and alligator teeth tewery retains ls sign
to that effect. Bookslates are made In one place,
weather strips and ayewaslers I'm another, hags ana
hammers in a third. lawyers sign is the only one
of its kind in large building despite the ct tha'
misery loves company, and the estate OF some man
administered in another one firm sells crate
bars another tricycles, still another corks.
place where band instruments are kept denotes the
fact by case Of banjos, accordeons anu
eutes set outside Pictures and picureframcs occupy
a case on tho steps Of another building, and that
toather.d busters are to be found within certain
third story front Is shown by row OF them swing
ing from a bar which projects from the WINDOW
Leather findings" "syrups and cordals," lamp
shades and "hypophosphtcs" complete list hastily
made while passing along.
There is almost too much street trade to allow one
TO STOP for the small traders look suspcously at any
one who oiters, and think pencil and tebook with
reporter attached almost as great CURIOSITY as
Kodak To close tho upstairs businesses, there are
some advertising agents, and at least one paper Is
published here, while the central ONCE Of newspaper
syndicate represents the world Of letters in street
whose daily inhabitants look as IL they were little &C
quaned with any thing so civillzing
But most of the pcturesqueness Of Vesey-st. lies
In It's street trade and traders. The men and women
rival famous ugglers in plng up wares on almost no
base at ALL or in keeping large stocks OF china and
fragile things fiat on iron steps, with little or no
breaBage. number of women stand grinding horse
rads Just outside the curb and If any carts attempt
to usurp their places drive too near there
IS an angry war Of words, the women's shrill
tones always getting the best Of 1t. One
woman standing a corner, has arranged on the end
of a soap-box stock Of matches, shoeblackng and
dirty loong CASTLE SOAP She can maintain her place
there all day, though no one knows how except the
initiated She stands with her box right on the edgc
of the curb, and there will be than one blockade
in tie streets with rearing horses locked wheels and
swearing drivers bnt she will not be routed If you
but glance at her she will say: Here you are, parlor
matches"
| Now man steps up around whose neck hangs a
queer looking bundle of dried stuff, very savory,
| ones nose at discovers He calls out, "Thyme
| and sage, lady," to each woman who passes, but
though they remark, How good 1t smes,n they do not
often buy. The thyme and sage man in the fall is
supported by the man with wreaths and punches OF
shining Christmas green's Another enterprIslng ped.
Ter has his clohesbasket full of punches OF ferns,
whose roots are stuck in balls OF moss-covered SOIL
He, at least Is patronized by the weaker SEX and
his basket will not hold the glossy fronds very long,
eggdcaler has piled up his with toy rooster
standing ALL and near him is a STALL like others
the street, where young fellow presdcs over cheap
notions and fancy goods including red and white lamp.
wicks. bandanas OF every size and hue pocketbooks
buttons, stockings, suspenders and many other things
II looks in his direction he Is ready with nasal
| " Can sell you anything today"
woman who is arranging her wares similar to
these shakes out a bunch Of children's black hose
pounding them against the top OF convenient barrel
to get the dust out. One has little stock of eve
glasses, cravats coarbuttons and square wto
cushion stuck full of scarf pins. There are pink and
white popcornb balls there trunks and travelling.
| bags. with his stock OF peacock feathers tied
In punches and spread out a newspaper stands next
to another whose variety of canares in little wooden
| cages has attracted a crowd.
| on the Platform of steps leading to big building
has spread his supply OF second silver and
| cutlery. There are few dozen knives, forks and
spoons, but little else except WORKOUT butterdish
| or two A young woman dressed in duilcolored
| gown with shabby sack and crooked felt hat,
Whose garnet velvet bands and thin feathers look
dragged ind soled is out to buy and she is dckcrng
for greasy looking plated tablespoons whose