Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-09-05
A HISTORIC MARKET.
INCIDENTS IN CONNECTION WITH
AN OLD INSTITUTION HERE.
The TRUCKERS and THEIR FOIBLES.
Some of the Ethics Governing the
Men who Drive I'm From Henrico
and Hanover with Their Produce
They Possess Peculiar Traits.

From Hanover, Henrico, Chesterfield,
Powhatan, New Kent. and Charles City
they come.
Every Friday, as the hour of midnight
draws nigh, and from then on, till break
Of dawn, the rattle of the truckers cart
can be heard on the pavements Of Rich
mond, and. as I'm the country round
about, all the roads lead to Richmond,
SO for them all her streets lead to the
Old Market.
Whatever may be said Of the palatial
residences on west Grace and Franklin
streets, where the queen of society sits
with majesty enthroned; whatever may
be true in the reputed rush I'm the retail
stores of Broad street that has likened
them to arenas on which gladatoriai
contests take place daily; whatever beau
ties and cherished memories OF the
fathers may cluster about the Capitoline
hill and the majestic pile which crowns
its summit, over against 1t all may DO
placed the "Old Market"
There Is not q child in all the country
side who does not know of it, 1t isn't
pretty, or picturesque. or always clean
and neat in appearance, but 1t Is the re-
sort, day in and day out of hundreds ana
thousands Of Richmond people, ana
IL is there they get their daily
bread. 1t Is becoming less 50
now, and II may be unfortunate
that such IS true, but time was when
prince and pauper. proud matron ana
Irish maid jostled each other there, and
fought for bargains" But 1t Is still the
place OF all other places in Richmond
where the masses of the citys people
mingle with those blessed folk from the
free lands stretching away beyond the
hum OF city noises
Every evening OF the week, save Sum
day when the quiet OF that hour Is not
disturbed, as night comes on apace, the
countryman's carts are heard on the
streets. and one by one they take their
place along Franklin street, beginning al
Seventeenth and extending in solid array
I'D to Eighteenth, often TO Nineteenth
and on Friday evening even TO Twentleth.
On both sides OF Eighteenth from Main
to Grace, there Is often an unDroken hne
of wheels Joined together in pairs; ahu
at this time OF the year, with CABBAGE
corn, blackeye peas, tomatoes, potatoes
watermelons, and cantaloupe5 Detweef
every pair.
The Second Market, on sixth street
from Broad to Clay and the Ihiru' III tn'
west End are also visited by the carts
but are not so much frequented as tne
old First.
LIGHTS AND SHADOWS.
I'm the history Of every human life since
The God Of Creation drove the nrst mar
from Eden's gates, and babe him earn ms
bread by the sweat OF his GROW, there u
drudgery and work and care 80 these PEG
pie work all the day long. In the neids
before they are lit up by the rays OF th'
sun. they toll through the heat OF noon
and when evening comes, and the shad
ows are falling towards the east they
work on there still
While men in the city are In their or
fees. cooled by the ceaseless whir OF cleo
tric-fans, or else on the streets, theil
heads shielded from the heat or the sun
their brothers of the country have much
that they enjoy most heartily. Most o.
them have pleasant homes and interest
inc families. and while they work hard
q Ga such work as keeps their bodie.
strong and healthy, their appetites GOOD
and their sleep at night SOUND ana rest
fuI when they want holiday, with a.
much assurance and with less rear .
losses. untramelled by care OF stocA'
and notes and bonds, they ANNOUNCES ny
fact or not as II pleases them, and tAh'
a.. Then good deal OF pleasure Is manu-
featured at their meetings on the roau
They arrange often to come TO the CIV,
three or four together, their horses khos
the way equally as well as their master
and when they are started, come a'on q,
unattended, with an easy. Jogsihs ga.
In tho mean time the truche,ss a
together along the road. waiKihs
ING crops" politics. and excnansin'
y,ews on everything that enters 'nsn
,,ves when tired. each man climbs INV
his cart, and they pass along the c'n