Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-04-11

~ profit, while within the
huge building the aris-
tocrats of the business, white aproned.
SNUG and muttony, drive their pros
porous trade behind stalls Of immaculate
neatness spread with the choicest produce of
rich acres. inside it is noticeable that the
butchers and other dealers are uniformly fat,
while their humble competitors without are
thin-all except the old colored woman, that is
to say.
On "the line" which extends along the
Smithsonian fence for three blocks on B street.
the farmers wagons stand market days,
filled with all sorts of country vegetables,
enough of them unloaded to clutter the curb
with barrels bags and boxes. This is a whole
sale market, where the huckster aristocrats
buy much of their own merchandise, to sell
again at advanced figures; but any person who
has the gumption can purchase there at retail
aiso-not single onion. perhaps. but a
small quantity. such dozen to-
ma,oes or small basketful of potatoes.
Prices are at least one-third less
than inside the brick building on the opposite
side of the way. Potatoes, for example, are
only 81. 80 for bushel-aud-a-half bag, but then
you must send them or take them home for
yourself, and there's the rub wherefore chiefly
this cheap competition does not seriously
threaten the trade of the exclusive gentlemen
In the white aprons, who have delivery sys
tom highly convenient to their customers. All
the same, many frugal housewife with big
market basket makes saving that counts by
dealing on the Zine"
WHAT IS REPRESENTED.
Each wagon on the Zine represents farm,
each farmer. as rule, 'hauling his own STUFF
to market three days in the week. Now and
then, however. one vehicle will haul for several
small farms and the proprietor docs business
on sort OF commission basis, being looked
upon as rather a big man in his own neighbour
hood. The farmers on b street come from all
the country around within a radius of ten
miles. They are unanimous in saying that
there Is no money in their occupation. But the
producer of thing never does make money
by 1t; 1t Is the person who buys of the pro-
ducer and sells it again-a huckster aristocrat.
for example-who gets rich. You can see for
yourself that the owners of the wagons are not
getting wealthy by observing their suspenders.
1t may be said in a general way that a mans
suspenders are always an accurate indication of
his degree of prosperity. When he fasrens them
with a nail it is because he can't afford rs cents
for another pair
Late on a market day is the time for the
frugal housewife aforesaid to come with big
basket on her arm and buy vegetables on the
Zine" when the farmers are trying to get rid
OF the last of their produce before going home,
inasmuch as it will not keep very well until
their next visit to town. You can purchase
fresh shad and other fishes from the Potomac
there also, which men carry along in punches
for sale. They can afford to sell tnem cheaper.
too, because they keep no stands and pay no
rent. But the wagons are obliged to pay rent
for their places at the curD-l5 cents for
a one-hOrse vehicle and 70 cents for Il two
horse team. Even the old women around the
pavement of the market house itself are
assessed at the rate of 10 cent? II day each for
the space occupied by plank two. and the
privilege of selling their tribes of merchandise.
Nothing Is given away at the market, save the
refuse thrown into the street. which sometimes
tramp will not disdain to pich up. Not SO
the local INDECENT, however. who lives on the
f.: of the land. and expects nothing less than a
quarter of dollar i'll response to an appeal for
aims.
BUSY SCENE.
Along the south side of the Center Market
on market days the scene is the busiest of all,
the pavement fringed on both sides. next the
wall and by the curb, with little stands that
dispense the small wares of the trade. Mostly
they are superintendent by women, and those
nearly all colored, who wear shGws uniformly
and bonnets Of sort of Quaker fashion
wit fla, Tapping bri ..l,,., some of them
mar'jum," at penny bunch; others
ladle out chopped pickles and cottage cheese
which latter the writer has never been able to
abide since he saw a hOgshead of it on a farm,
prepared for the pigs. Still others keep honey
in the combs and liquid in bottles while others
yet have flowers In stock-viOlets. liverwort
and various such wild blooms of the fields.
They won't let sell flowers after dis week."
grumbled one old cronc, because they're
afraid OF our inIerferin wild de flower buck
sters inside"
FRESH EGGS
Usually the women who keep the little stands
exhibit for sale, besides their ordinary stocks a
few products of their own little patches of
land in the country, such as a few eggs. u jar or
two-perhaps only a bottle-of milk from the
family COW, and fowl or two. For their eggs
they are apt to get higher prices than are paid
inside the market house, isasmuch they bring
them three times week, fresh laid by their
own hens, and find customers for
them in people who are particular in drawing
the line between eggs and chickens, relishing
both, but preferring that what they eat shall
be Enthusiastically one or the other. For fresh
eggs the vendors can always command elevated
rates, because they are very hard to buy
with any certainty in Washington. There
is no such cool system here as is operated in
the neighborhood of Boston for gathering
them in from great extent OF country in the
shortest possible time by means Of agents who
drive about collecting from the farmers, nor is
a business made of examining them with proper
care for market, each egg being tested between
the eye and light. Therefore. when one
breaks an egg at breakfast he can seldom feel
confidence that chirp will not follow.
COUNTRY MEDICINES.
But the most interesting things sold along
this stretch of sidewalk, or indeed anywhere in
or about the market, are the country medicines
There are several stalls which keep nothing
else, and the stock Of each comprises quite an
extensive pharmacopeia. Each one is presided
over by a lady of color, who possesses more or
less reputation among her people as "wise
woman" Wise women are much looked UP to by
their own race in Washington. They are deeply
versed in the mysteries of disease, have many
charms as well remedies medicinal at their
command, and the greater part of the medical
practice among the negroes is performed by
them. Not only do they sell roots and herbs
for medicine on b street. but they prescribe
also for any one who comes to buy and asks
what is good for so-and-so, throwing in the
diagnosis tree OF charge.
Use got pains in de j'ints and tremblin' all
ober," one such patient was heard to explain
yesterday.
"Chile," said the old woman behind the stall
examining the applicant critically, ''stick GU
yo' tongue. Huh! Yo' brett is awful bad
Bljousness and chills; OATS what's de matter
Sweet flag for de breff, boneset for de chills,
and for de bljousness dogwood bark. wild Wild