Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-15
PAULINE PRY ANSWERED
Center Market Patrons Are Not of the
"Gad-Grab-and- Cable Sort"
Experience of One Who Has Dealt
There for F'i{e Year.-sav-
ings In q Trim.
To the Editor of The Evening Star:

omous article printed in last SATURDAYS
Star she must have been suffering terribly
with q severe attack of neuralgia of the
head or tooth, or afflicted with some other
more terrible ache, or it may be that she
wrote the article after having passed
most restless night on account of the heat.
OF course, if she wrote her little story I'M
der, these conditions she is to be pitied, and
she has my sincere sympathy; but if her
sentiments receive her sober second
thought sanction then 1 cannot but feel
that 1 am justified in requesting the privi-
lege of refuting her assertions that the
people who go to Center market to do their
marketing are of the "gad-grab b. and gabbe
sort And to intimate that the farmers
who receive the rewards for their honest
toll are creatures reeking with garlic is
papable insult to that class of people
who seek to make an honest living in an
honest way. Her article is colored through
out by the most extravagant statements
which do not bear out with the facts, and
I was astounded to read such an account
written by such an intelligent person as 1
had always considered Pauline Pry to be.
She intimates that the vendors of produce
in that locality are ''boated with disease
that the butchers are dyed-in-t he-w wool
criminals, for she states women drive
butcher to the point where he's mad
and to keep himself from the crime he has
to turn around and kick some of the men
who are working for him.. Then she goes
on to say, "the butchers assistants all
walk kind Of lame, because their S1inS are
always black and blue from being kicked
by the butcher to relieve himself from the
depravity of ladies' domestic economy"
l have eyes to see with, and | generally
use them, but I have never yet seen a
butcher do anything of the kind intimated
by her, and know human nature enough
to know that such an assertion is any
thing but a truthful one and one which
the assistants would very soon resent from
their employers and, unless 1 am mis-
taken. they will also resent such an i'm
putation. 1 wish it to be understood that
I have no special interest in Center
market. excepting that for the past five
years we have bought the majority of
vegetables, meats, etc, there, and with this
experience l believe 1 can speak with au
thority, and so long opportunity is af-
forded l shall continue to do my market
ing there. do not consider myself one Of
the greedy, grabbing sort" yet l know
good thing when l see it and know l save
more than II cents every time 1 go to mar
ket.
Let me recount my last Saturdays pur-
chases and see how much L saved by go
ing to market and the prices given as the
"grocers are those asked by the grocer
who has mis- place of business in the block
where l reside and of whom L would have
purchased the goods had L not obtained
We're verified the Same day
One nutmeg cantdloupe, 1 cent; grocer's
price, cents. Two larger ones, ) cents
each; Srocer's price, IL cents each Quar-
ter peck of tomatoes, ) cents; grocer's
price, 5 cents. Quarter peck string beans.
the same. Six cymlings, at 1 cent each;
grocers price, cents each. One pound
butter, at % cents grocer's price, 30 cents
Two pounds lamb chops, Ii cents; grocer's
price, u cents pound One spring chick
en-: 20 cents land the finest of them can be
obtained of the farmers for % cents); Paul
Inc Prys stated price, BIZ cents. One
pound of liver for the cat, cents; grocer's
price, cents. Two dozsn eggs at Is cents;
grocers price, 20 cents.
Therefore my expenditures were, in all,
sl.2s, while IL had Bought the same arti-
cles at my grocer's would have had to pay
Sl.3S12 L go to market three times a
week, and my savings can generally be
computed to be about the same; therefore
my total savings for the month L believe to
be fully $50 To Pauline Pry that is evil
IDENTITY small. insignificant sum, but to a
majority of Washington people that sum is
a considerable one. But it is not alone in
the price that is saved, for | could pur-
chase my goods at market much cheaper
than do If l was to look at the price
alone, but my wife and L are exceedingly
particular as to what we eat, and buy
nothing but the best that we can obtain at
reasonable prices. The majority of the can
taloupeS this year ire taSteless on account
of the very damp weather causing the
vines to grow rank, and they have not that
sweet taste which they generally have dur
ing dryer seasons.
l pride myself that four out of five which
l have selected this season have been good
ones. and have learned to know a good
one when l see it. At the market l have
a thousand to select from, where l would
nave but a dozen at my grocer'S.
Take it also IN the meat line, where there
is such an assortment to select from, is it
not but reasonable that person could do
much better purchasing than he could in
q grocery where pOScih1v a i'm
tied number of cuts were available?
Pauline also refers in apparent horror
at the sight of 1.-The Juicy remains of cows.
calves. sheep and Lambs" it is wonder
that she ever allows the dead flesh Of
animals to be placed upon her table, the
very idea is sickening. Then she states
that we snatch corn, punch soft spots in
tomatoes and throw them back; bite an
apple and don't pay for it; pummei the
palpitating flesh of squawking chickens;
climb, claw and clash" Just think of 1t,
what an exaggeration for the sake OF
effect. Such person who would be guilty
of that at market would be guilty Of the
same acts anywhere. and pity the grocer
frcm whom she purchases But she tells
she does not puTchase-She orders-and
advises every one else to order, but in this
day of the world people as general rule
like to know and see what they are buying.
And ] consider 1T just as important that
we should see and know what eataDles
we buy as any other articles necessary to
our welfare. Does Pauline Pry order
dress pattern when she wants one and
leave the selection to the store clerk!
venture to say not.
When she wants a piece of furniture
for her room or a carpet for her floor does
she telephone the order or Write postal
card asking that '.brass bed or piece
of Brussels carpet" according to meas
urements, be sent to her residence? A
person who would do that would be con-
sidered little worse than eccentric, and
I believe and think I have a good many
followers who take the same view, That 1t
is as necessary to select your own eatables
as it is anything else, and it Is but natural
to assert that the best. selection can ger
orally be made wfsre the greatest variety
is offered Would Pauline Pry prefer to
trade at small eJuntry store than at
modern city department house? The com
parison is in the same, ratio-but my, arti-
Gle is already too long. and really do not
believe that PaulinaiPry meant what she
said, and l am surprised that she should
have allowed her. pen to write such an
unwonanly trade ''7 c. E.
ID
Real Estate transfers.
Twenty-fifth street northwest between L
and NJ streets-Chss HI Allender ct Tx. to
Ida v Mcclure, lott" 81, square IA; $40.
Nineteenth street northwest between e
and II Straats-yVp T. Reed to John Mel