Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-15
NHYAR'S YO' wATERMILLIONS
~ Red to de rine

IL Red to de rne
Good fer desert at
Yo' dinner time
From time immemorial the watermelon has
been associated with the negro. Just now the
watermelon season is at its height and thous-
ands OF juicy melons are landed daily at the
wharves along the river front
The supply comes mainly from down the
river, for both Maryland and Virginia are
noted for melons. They are loaded on schooners
and brought to the city and the surplus is
shipped to Baltimore aud New York. 1t is an
interesting sight to see boat load of melons
unloaded and well worth q trip. reporter of
HE STAR visited the wharf early one morning
this week and was interested spectator.
Lying alongside the wharf was a large schooner
with matches uncovered displaying hundreds
Of melons.
MAKING SALE.
The boat had just arrived and three or four
hucksters were aboard examining the cargo
with view Of purchasing. Having carefully
surveyed the lot, an inquiry was made as to
price. The owner stated that they we're fine
melons, fresh picked and ought to be worth
go per hundred. He accepted S1S per hun
dred for the lot and 80 extra for unloading.
During the barter group of half a dozen
big bury wharf hands had collected and as
soon as the deal was consummated commenced
to cry out:
Does yer wan. 'em unloaded mister?'
The huckster stated he did and engaged four
OF them at so cents apiece to do the work.
UNLOADING.
One OF the men with little more intelligence
than the rest elected himself boss of the Job
and placed his men in the most advantageous
position, being careful to pick out the easiest
Yiaco for biu,sai Gp.., he -, A..
hold one on the deck one on the wharf while
he himself did the piling 1t did not take
them very long to begin work, for no sooner
had the man i'll the hold disappeared than a big
watermelon 'bobbed up sereneiy' through the
hatch and with deft swing from each man az
he caught it was sooE made the beginning of
pile. The reporter timed the fight of melon
once and it took just eight seconds to make the
journey from the hold to the pile on the wharf
seldom did the men drop one, and when they
did II was eagerly caught up by set of hungry
boys (veritable wharf rats), who watched and
wished for a cluster, as they term it. All the
time the men kept up song, resembling an In
dian chant more than anything else, and did
not seem to mind the work at all. After the
vessel had been uuloaded each man selected a
melon and walked away. for it is one of the un-
written rules, that whoever helps to unload is
entitled to a melon.
THE HUCKsTER's TALK
"Do you make much money selling water
melons, asked the reporter Of the huckste..
1T altogether depends upon the weather."
was the rejoinder. IF it is hot melons sell
well, but people won't touch them in wet or
cool weather. The best people i'll the city,
mean by that the eft-oy er-io the summer aristo-
crats-are very fond of waternelous, and have
six or eight regular customers during the sum-
mer who take one every day. They are very
healthy when fresh, but not fit to eat when
stale. I've heard" continued the huckster,
that their heightened people have peculiar
way OF preparing a watermelon. They say that
ing whole bottle of champagne in it, seal it
up and put it in the cold storage until it freezes
mat must be good"
What is a good watermelon worthy''
Anywhere from Is cents to 40 cents. The
best melons, according to my idea, and the
ones that command the highest prices are
those from Georgia. The only fault have to
lind with them is that you cannot depend upon
them for freshness. 1he Eastern branch
melons are fine ones and those from Charles
county, Nd, are SO good as to be often palmed
OF for the Georgia variety"
WHY THE SKIPPER WAS MELANCHOLY.
'Twenty-one melons short. If ketch them
thar boys I'll make EN- think there's u bee hive
in the seat of their breeches." The speaker
was q skipper and he was addressing the buck
stcr who was standing guard over his melons
whats the matter now!' inquired the huck-
ster.
.'You leave them melons of yourn to get
a drink and you'll durn soon find out. left
my melons to step across the street, and when
come back durn my steersif thar amt twenty
one missin.
"Why have been standing here for over an
hour. said the reporter land l have seen no
one but that little boy near them, and he
couldn't get away with that number"
LITTLE SINNER.
(which little boy do you mcanT" inquired
the skipper.
"Why. that one fishing"
1t was poor little urchin not twelve years
OF age, with soft blue eyes and saint-like ex-
preston. 1t changed, however, like q flash as
the skipper made tor him, and with his out
stretched hand holding his thumb to his
nose no ran and disappeared behind IN oyster
house.
You wouldn't believe what thieves them
boys aire," said the skipper, returning. Snow,
that youngster was apparently tishin', but
would you believe it, he was a chuckin' them
melons overheard as fast as he could and his
partners is under the wharf in q boat u grab
bin 'em as they come. Oh, they are sharp
ones"