The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-01-31
QUITE A CONTRAST.
Fruit and Flowers Here, Snow
and Ice at the East.
What Can Be Found in Our Local Markets To-
Day-A Great Profusion of Everything
Needed by the Housewife.

about SIX years ago from tne olu county "
visit some friends, after being In San Fran
cisco q month remarked earnestly that she
did not like the ways of the people; they
were so unlike the English. you know; the
climate was beastly Qt was in the summer
time, when the strong afternoon winds were
blowing), and that she should return home
at the first opportunity, as there was no
climate like that of dear old England.
In about one year after making the re-
marks the young lady was married to a
young business man here, and last July she
went back to England to visit her old home.
In letter received from her few days
ago she says: 1.-The weather is and has
been terrible here, and it is so hard to get
the things / became accustomed to in Cali
fornia and that we considered neceSsaries
Here they are considered the greatest luXu-
ries and can only be bought by the wealthy.
No grapes, no fresh fruit of any kind, no
flowers, and just fancy salmon half crown
a pound and crabs half a crown apiece.
The only vegetables we Can get are Brussels
sprouts. Oh, what wouldn't give for bit
of California climate leave here on Feb
ruary 7th for San Francisco. and if get
there safely will never leave it again."
OUR GLORIOUS CLIMATE.
The young lady mentioned is not the only
one who would like just at present to enjoy
the blessings of the glorious climate of Cali
fornia. Not from England alone, but from
all parts of Europe come reports of unprece-
denied cold weather, of dearth of proyis-
ions, of starvation, of sufferings of homeless,
hungry poor, OF misery and distress. From
the Eastern States comes news of storms
and Billiards and washouts, of trains being
delayed by snow-banks, and of accidents
caused by the severe stormy weather.
What II great contrast that is to the glori-
Gus climate of California. The term has
rather chestuutty flavor, but though old it
is ever new, and has been frequently used
lately by residents here as they read and
discussed the weather reports from the East
and silently sympathiZed with their brethren
on the other side OF the Rockies.
Here. all through the winter If that name
may be given to the last three months, the
weather has been mild and pleasant; more
like late spring or early summer than win
ter. The weather has had its effects ON the
products of the soil, and never before per-
haps at this time of the year has there been
such profusion and variety of provisions,
fruits and flowers, and in fact all the essen
tiaI coed things of this life as there is to-day.
IN THE MARKETS.
On a visit being made to the principal re-
tail markets yesterday it was found that
they were all supplied with goods for the
usual Saturday trade. In the vegetable
stalls there were the usual large stocks of
green stuns such as chiy eS, cress, celery,
cabbage, ca1lf10wer, lettuce, radishes, pep
pers, etc, which are in season all the year
round and fluctuate but little in price.
Here were shown new potatoes just up
from Los Angeles, which were selling four
pounds for quarter. at would be treat
for an Fastener TO be transported here sud
denly and take trip through the Market"
said the dealer. Besides the new potatoes
we have sweet green peas from Los Angeles,
1917 cents pound, and string beans from
tile same place. They are % cents pound.
Then we have fresh summer squash, which
is % cents, and fresh tomatoes, which are
Sh 10 1914 cents pound
Here we have mushrooms. They are
cultivated and retail for from IS cents to 81
pound. Then to-day we received new
rhubarb from San Leandro. 1t sells for IS
cents pound now, but will soon be cheaper.
We have also artchokeS and gem squash
and swert potatoes from MERGED. Aspara-
gus Is 10 cents pound.
FRUITS AND FLOWERS.
I'VE have lots of fruit of all kinds" said
the frut-dealer, pointing to his fine display.
"Pineapples. oranges, apples. pears, man
goes, cranberries, lines. lemons, bananas
anything you want. To-day we received a
fine lot Of Ferrera grapes fro III Santa Cruz.
They are Is cents pound"
At the florists stall flowers were seen in
great HiO1uslDil. llltIt Mtlt GILL
erarias, frisias, China primroses Gala lilies.
"Chrysanthemums," said the dealer. 'are
yet in bloom in the open air; roses, hya-
cinths, California p0ppies are yet in bloom.
l saw an early Towering almond in bloom
this morning, and We have lots Of pansies
and yiOlets."
MEATS, POULTRY. ETC.
At the butchers stalls meats of all kinds
were still found To be dear, first-class cuts Of
beef being 20 cents a pound.
Eggs and other dairy produce was found
to be selling at the same prices as last
week.
Poultry is very plentiful and the stalls
in the markets specially devoted to that
branch of business were found loaded down
with poultry of all kinds, ducks, geese, hare,
rabbits, turkeys, etc. Wild game, too, is
very plentiful and cheap
Altogether, perhaps, there is 10 city in
the world where, at this time of the year,
the markets are so well stocked with such
variety of tho necessaries and luxuries, and
selling at su'h cheap rates as they are in
San Francisco to-day.