The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-06-26
THE WATERMELONANDART
PICTORIAL USES TO WHIOH IT rs
PUT M EAST SIDERS

PUT M EAST SIDERS.
Tho Wet Hind Used to Make WA Pictures on
tho Observation-Disclosures ON the Proper
Methsd or Eating SIclona-The Middle
OF the PIeco the Initial Point OF Attack.
II. by any chance, II colored citizen from
Thompson street should stray into tho lower
east side and should carry home tales OF tho
sights to DO seen there, there would DO trouble.
Tho Thompson street contingent would rise in u
body and descend upon the east side in quest of
spells, and there would DO such n race war as
this generation has not seen; for. in Rivington
and Delaney streets, and others enough like
them TO fool any one save the residents, life at
this season Is one riotous round Of watermelon.
pushcarts and fruit stands arc loaded down
with luscious pink slices, ana tho proprietors
carve away steadily. II Is II pleasant sound on
n hot day, that crisp scrunch, rs the knife runs
through the melon; but there isn't time for
proper enjoyment OF the occupation, for the de-
mOnd Is so brisk that it Is hard to satisfy 1t.
Every old lady in a jutc wig and hoop earrings
who sits on a doorstep and talks with her neigh
bOrs munches melon between gossip. Every
baby that rolls around tho sidewalk clutches u
wet pink chunk in its grimy hand. All tho small
boys and girls who have pennies patronize tho
melon stands. and those who haven't the pennies
hover around the bases of supply with hungry
eyes. Watermelon rinds pile up in the cutters
and refuse barrels. and are scattered over the
sidewalk in wild profusion. Incidentally. be 1t
said, n melon rind, il properly adjusted with tho
slippery side up, is almost as effective az u
banana peel in humbling the proud and laying
low the mighty. Any one who walks along cast
side streets nowadays should do so in q spirit Of
humility and praycrful caution.
There is only one correct way of eating q
watermelon, and that is the one in vogue down.
town. One should grasp tho croscent-shaped
slice firmly at each end, and. beginning exactly
in the middle, eat n path out to the rind. After
that initiatory move, individuality Of taste may
have some scope. but not before. Some anna
tours fnyor nibbling along the edge of the slice.
and by slow degrees approaching the rind in q
harmonious curve; but that pernicious practice
should not be encouraged. 1t is an effete notion.
probably of uptown origin, and one cannot
properly saturRtc ones face with juice ana dis
solve the dirt stucco TO damp frcsco unless ono
boldly eats from tho centre to the rind at the
first attack.
One Rivington street boy of artistic tastes
went through n terrible moral struggle n few
nights ago. He know how melon should DO
eaten, but he went wrong, as is natural to the
artistic temperament. Ho nibblod at his slice
carefully, calculatingly. until he had given the
pink edge the shape of a Hebrew profile. and
the melon slice bore a lively resemblance to a
Hebraic man in the new moon. A man who
CHANGED TO be passing stopped to admire tho
work of art, and the boy beaned. Then no
looked sad. He had suddenly realized that in
order to preserve his cher d'purrc he must give
up eating tho melon.
This story will sound like an a~llegory to the
noble army of artists. They've all run up against
similar situations, at one time or another; and,
like the small hoy, they probably ate the melon
and let the masterpiece go hang. The boy, hav-
ing eaten as nearly as possible to the rind. there
by counting cholera morbus ana early death,
threw "a liberal SOP to his artistic conscience.
lie look the melon rind and with the wet side of
IL began drawing pictures on the dusty sidewalk.
The idea wasn't original with him. Dozens of
boys we're doing. the SAM thing; and If the pic
lures hadnt an inconsldcrate habit of evaporat-
ing. the sidewalks in that part of town would bo
striking testimonials to the artistic talent of
the street urchin. They would testify. also. to
art seem directed toward drawing 2oldiers and
guns and boats and flags.
The boy who had sacrificed the man in the
moon was evidently recognized as Il master
spirit, for as soon rs he got down to work an
admiring crowd gathered around him. BY way
of getting his hand in he dashed of an Ameri-
can flag. Next. he drew a soldiers head, topped
by a forage cap. Then. to show that his field
Whats that. a bee hive T. he asked.
"Eskimo,s hut replied the artist, with
Hes in grammar room. That's where no
learns such as that said little girl in an awe
Where aid you ever see a picture of an
Eskimo's hut E asked the bystunder.
'Jogrqphy.' and the ~taciturn artist drew an
unmistakahle parrot which. apparently, had q
small feather buster in its mouth.
Curiosity again got the better of the by
stander.
"What are those 7" he inquired. pointing to
the dashes radiating from the birds hoax.
"Cuss words"
Evidently the artist belonged to the school of
realists. Just then an Italian boy with a mop
of black hair and preternaturally big eyes saun-
tered up to tho group. He looked at the pic
lures with the air which an artist wears when
at the salon he finds "a painting by his rival
hung on the line.
IL could kill that If had some melon" he
remarked tentatively. Tho bystander took the
hint and handed over a penny. The challenger
made quick work OF the edible parto of the melon.
Then lie devoted himself to art. From that
time on there was a desperate rivalry. II one
boy drew n house. tho other drew n bigger house.
A plain soldier called ont a dragon with q wav,
ing plume in his helmet. A dog inspired an ele.
plant. Tho admiring crowd took sides and
Chcercd the contestants on. Suddenly a how
arose.
'Ye stole n piece of my melon"
We're n liar!'
Art went to The wall instead of the sidewalk
and the rivals made for each other with gore in
their eyes. Once more the friends took sides
and there was material for n very pretty scrap
but the bystandcr Quclled the storm. He pro
posed an adjournment to the melon stand,
where, with reckless generosity. he stood treat
all around and won for himself fame and afHOo
ton in RivingtOn street circles.