Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-06-13

Finally, when the fellow from across me
street whoops over and asks II you Oh
served the trembling, you admit that yot
did. Then the other neighbors chim
In. and each one tries 10 get ahead o
the other in telling what he did when
the earthquake occurred. No matter hoW
reticent a man may be on ordinary oc-
casions, or how frightened he was at
the time of the earthquake, be likes 10
describe lust what he was doing when
the shaKe-up occurred. He regards IL
as his constitutional prerogatiye. and
never doubts that his narrative VIII De
of intense interest 10 the whole popua-
ton. lie wonders why the newspapers
don't send up their reporters 70 interview
him. and even admits that he would not
decline to be interviewed under such
circumstances" In fact. he feels himself
a hero. He doesn't recall just what his
heroic deed was, but somehow he has
a vague idea that he has just given a
remarkable exhibition of courage. And
vet. for two or three days after an earth
quake, we are in fear and trembling,
lest the beastly thing respond 10 an en-
core.
II Is not the economical woman alone
who goes TO market, nor il the saving or
dollars and cents the only motive when
prompts her TO HE herself hither. Verify,
there are other incentives which urge
her in that direction, for nowadays the
market-place is a sort OF Rialto, where
not only early York cabbages and new
potatoes are scid. but gossip OF the
freshest sort is dispensed. The day may
be hot, the flies ferocious, and spring
chicken at a premium of 10 cents. but
these unpropitious circumstances do not
check the interchange of news. Con-
ventions are held hourly at the butcher $
stall, and from this place are dlssemi-
mated the little sparks Of information
that are soon ablaze throughout the city.
So. too, the hucksters stand Is another
rendezvous, where the quacking OF sacrl-
fetal ducks is drowned I'm feminine cackle
The old woman who SETS eggs and fmall
chickens covered with calcareous sub
stance known as shell, by 10 O'Clock "A.
NJ finds herself encircled by a schOoi
for scandal, which SO attracts her atteh-
ton that she can hardly attend TO Dusi-
ness. II she listens she WI hear all
sorts of tales-especially from the mar
rled danes, who. through the medium
of their husbands, have fine means for
gathering information-and possibly, II
her conscience had not become benumbed
by the tricks (or, rather. chicks Of her
trade. she would even blush. The man
who sells oleomargarine, and Is always
viking TO make affidavit that II is butter
likewise finds himself the centre o, an
excited pettlcoated throng, who all claim
the privileges OF the floor at once. lie,
too, hears many strange revelations, ana
possibly would hear more, were II not
for the fact that he Is n man. anu that
much Of the news is communicated IN
awed whispers. The whispered part or
the news. by the way. is the very part
he feels that ne would enjoy the most
And then he knows, instinciivesy' 100,
that his own wife would feast upon II.
1t would be a great injustice for my
readers TO imagine from what nave
said that these conversations among me
egg and chicken mongers interfercd with
the daily routine OF our hoisekeepers'
Nay, nay. Pauline. they serve rather
TO sharpen their wits and TO post then
on their culinary duties. For II Is IN
the market that the news OF vegetable
bargains and fowl opportunities Is DIS
s4minated. BY II o'clock on SATURDAY