The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-08-15
BUFFfLo'S 3o,ooo roLEs.
Their Picturesque settlement and TIA,
Market That l. IT, Centre.

BUFFALO. Aux H.-The attempt of
Mayer Jcwett TO close the saloons on
sunday and the lively opposition ne has
met from the Poles has called attention
10 their peculiar settlement kaown as
Touchdown. This - no indefinite or
imaginary region. 10 lies in the eastern
part of zee city well within The city
limits ana mas some $1,000 inhabitants.
in fact, q considerable percentage ot ail
the Poles in this cOua-ry are TO be founi
here.
Polacktown may Dee reached by a short
s.reet-car ride from Main street and 30 is
easy 90 tell without the aid of s.gnbOards
when It's boundaries have becn passed
J he houses are most Of then. tWo-sto!y
frame structures. cneapiy and plainly
built lt is hit of Europe iransplantel
10 the Western continent. Barefooted
and barehcaded children play In the dirt.
EircfoOfc1 women with their peculiar
hrade.ar whcl might Dee described
either as large ker. net or as small
shawl tramp along tne streets, cuatt"f-
ms lu 20 tongue that hrlstles with SUIT
tlrais only Boo men Wear .COtsa exc
ccpf ol sunday ami holidays. and they
particularly affect huge h.gh-rOp boots
STYLE THAT the, may have learned 80
home from their Russian neghbors. Bone
nets are practically unknown. II is true
that some of tAe younger women ana
girls have tried t0 introduce tnc American
fashion of wearing hats. hut this lluo-
ydtun U.s. not locked upon with favor hF
tine elders. IN. women usually wear
loose gowns reaching half way between
their knees and their ankles. and the
men flannel shirts. trousers. ana caps.
That is about t.c extent of Gle work
in--day attire OF th, average Pole = om
iOlacktowu. on sundays and holidays
the outnt u.s. more elaborate. The man
usually contents himself with adding
coat and short, black pipe, )ut tue
woman makes greater changes. She ape
pears in cheap nut clean gown ana LOT
hea4sear 81 hiisnt-c1lorel shawl ls SUD-
sltltcd FOR the PLAN one OF efeff-day
ear \ little cheap leNeliy is some
times added and most OF the HOmeh also
wear shoes, if not stockings.
NJ anything We're wanting 90 prove the
ul-A meriean character 0t tAc place, The
number of Skies and "tscns .u the
names on tho street signs and shop Nln-
dows would Doe sufficient 10 is cur
IeIt belief ia Buffalo that the streets
iu this section OF the city were named
10y shanins together IN hat an the let
tcrs in the alphabet with extra s., 3,
and BIS thrown m and then drawing
them out Naphazard. over the shop doors
aye seen aA sorts ~ pr1noluceanle
combinations together with few names
that are familiar For instance. \.
k0sckiosllO keeps saloon on east Broad
Way. the street that forms one boundary
OF polacktown. and present tne anomaly
of being American or one side ana P0-
lish on the other
Perhaps the most interesting part Of
Nearly an PolacktOWn does the greater
part of IFS shopping Acre and the square
which BE- occupies IS always crowded I'D
the morning hours. The booths are COW
cred with canvas, and The Wy I'D Wnlen
the fmIrleteGs combinr business with
lrht conversation suggests European
fair. The music OF the latter Us NOT
wanting II the productions OF the tim
Grant hand organ may Doe di3ninci ny
abe name. but there gre Fewer Dfeht
c0l0rs and fewer trnklets here. The
great majority OF tnc ArcAsftrs age
Poles though occasionally f1uhce D. 10
he seen with wagon LOAD o. tes' -anics-
lie seldom gets the better OF his ior-
e.en neI.Haors. Tor most OF I4cin are
shrewl hargaiucrs. and they are ~
Xtys on the lookout for iraud when deal
ing with strangers
Every woman goes 10 market carrying
q huge basket aud every thing she 3u-s
is put into a. When she IS ieany 10
leave. the basket is placed on ner neau
and she marches away gossipng careless
ly with her companions. II there Us
baby too young TO be- lcft alone ana tNtft
are no other children 10 take care or ~
the baby goes 20 market toe. ana Ht'e
Pole may often bee seen resting on tor
or Il basket OF green peas. The whole
carried on the mothers head. Sugn
sight Is calculated 10 send chills down
am American mothers spine, but paps
doesn't seem 10 mind II rides along on
its lofty perch and never takes a tumble.
Poultry Is always sold alive iu the mar
ket and Polish woman viii walk along
the street with brace Of squawking
ducks over her arm with perfect uncon-
Germ.
The trade in articles OF food IS most
imnortaut hut clothing dealers and ven
dcrs Of images and cheap pictures also
have stalls I'm the market. When Deem
Der 18th approaches the Christians tree
man reaps harvest. NO Polish home
Is ever too poor 10 AFFORD Christmas
tree or 10 illuminate Il with dozens VI
small wax candles.
The men OF the town are seldom In
evidence during the day. They are I~ay
at work on the railroads or in the city
streets II business Is slack in the city
they 70 out TO work on country farms IN
summer or 10 the woods In winter. AS
soon az they arc large enough the BOYS
are put 10 work. There are no idle nands
in POIacktOwn. In midsummer Poiack-
town often has a half-deserted appear
ance. Not only are the men away ar
work, but the women and children are
also out doing their share. They are EN-