Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-24
Fine Supply Of Thanksgiving Essen
tials at the Markets.
SURGING CROWDS OF PURCHASERS
Dealers Grateful for Custom, Pa
irons Thankful for Abundance.
QUOTATIONS OF PRICES

Those who visited the city markets today
had more reason than ever before to claim,
as every loyal Washingtonian never fails
to do that the Washington markets are
the best in the world. for never before was
seen such an abundance Of those good
things which go to make this life one of
satisfaction and delight The spirit of
Thanksgiving was felt everywhere in the
markets-the purchasers thankful for this
abundance. and the market people grateful
for the liberality of their customers. Tn
fortunate, indeed. will. therefore. be that
man. woman or child who tomorrow goes
hungry.
1t is the boast of the true Washingtonian
that no product, fish. fowl or meat. vege-
table or fruit, no matter where originating.
is missing in the markets of the nations
capital, and nowhere are they displayed n
more tempting ways. Therefore. the mar
kets of Washington make up, as one en-
thusiastic visitor remarked today, "a dream
of good riches.''
The Weather Conditions.
1t was real Thanksgiving time weather
today, too, cool and crisp. and unusual APP
petite and eagerness were given, therefore.
to market-goers. They came literally in
droves, from all stations in life, the mil
lionaire's wife or daughter side by side
with the helpmate or child of the poor
man; the wife of the cabinet member next
the marital partner of one of her husbands
clerks or messengers: the white the black
all were there. Next to the one whose
purse was well filled stood the one whose
pocket contained barely enough to appease
hunger. Yet all seemed grateful and NOT
one of the vast procession of buyers failed
to realize that Providence had again added
the blessing of abundance to others enjoyed
by our people.
Old Uncle's Dilemma.
This very abundance however, was the
cause of no little embarrassment to many
purchasers, for while nearly every one
came with the purpose of making the ma
tional bird, the turkey. the centerpiece of
the Thanksgiving day dinner, yet as an
old colored man explained: "Dere amt
nuthin to be said ag inst turkey whar tur-
key is de onliest ting in sight. But how
in de name of de Lawd is yo gwine to set
tie de matter when yo' is 'fronted at de
same pertickler time. as yo' is hyah. wild
'possum. fur instance. an sweet pertaters;
wild spar rib an pone: wild channel cats,
an de Lawd knows what?
Deed, boss. / doesn't know but what
it faint flynn right in de face of Providence
to try to settle sech a matter. De onliest
way dat L see out of it is to Sot down in
yo' mind jes' what yo' gwine to git. an.
lookin not on de temptashun dat besot yo,
git what yo' done sot down in de fust place.
an den go home.
The Ruling Prices.
Never before, perhaps, were turkeys as
plentiful, the average retail price being -
cents pound, and ranging from 12Ia to IS
cents. The wild birds retailed for about IS
cents. Domestic ducks ran from 10 to IL;
geese from to L. and chickens from 10 to
10, capons being about % cents That king
OF wild fowl, the canvas-back duck, sold
for 50 a pair; red-head, $3.50 pair: mall
lards, trapped, not shot, S1.25 to $50
Eenison retailed at p cents a pound. best
cuts. Pheasants could be had for 150 a
pair, and quail for $3 dozen. Potomac
terrapin. the best in the world, many be-
lleve. sold for from $40 to $50 a dozen.
counts averaging about $50 a dozen. while
the North Carolina stock could be had for
from $40 to SO dozen less
OF fish the pompano sold for from 20 to
% cents pound; red snapper, Is; black
bass. 10 to 20; striped bass, 70, and 5 . on
down.
Oysters and CLAIMS were in abundance.
Crawfish. 20 cents a dozen. Scallops, y
cents a pound. and smelt 20.
OF vegetables and fruits there was an
unlimited supply, Strawberries selling at a
dollar bcx: tom atoes, 80 cents a pound:
cucumbers, 8 cents apiece and upward:
radishes, 40 cents a dozen, and lettuce from
cents a head upward. Celery, cranber-
ries. egg plant, mushrooms and other veg
etables sold at unchanged prices, as did
the seasonable fruits.
Fine Floral Display.
The floral display in the markets today
was very attractive, and the sale of flow
ers and plants was much heavier than
usual, very few indeed of the market-goers
failing to make a purchase in the flower
departments of the markets. The dealers
told of firm market of liberal purchases
in all lines and of a general excellence of
products, all speaking of a more than usual
general observance tomorrow of Thanks
giving day.
RESTORED WITH DIFFICULTY.