The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-15

{ Wallach would get of" any Percy boy
/ who got in trouble with the police. and
l the other that Capt Peter Bacon. who aied
only a few days ago and who kept a gro
Gerry store on Seventh Street and the Ave
nue.. would never dishOEOr reasonable
requisjtion for crackers and cheese II li
came from the Perseverance Engine House.
The old Watch House was an attractive
] place to the boys Any newcomer vas
speedily announced 90 the engine house
and the crowd went over TO see 10 out.
A Justice came every morning 10 thc Watch
House to try the cases gathered there dur
fr- the previous night. Occasionally ocm-
ic scenes were exhibited but the proceed
ings were mostly hum-drum. The cd
story Of the justice who fined the pi8in,in
SO. the prisoner s., the witnesses $3.50
each. and the spectators 81 each. and clos
ing the door enforced the fine. was told
in turn on each of the Old justices with
equal falsity. Many nights there was not
a single arrest. Drunks and yags were not
brought in unless afflicted or suspected.
One week FOR FIVE mornings in succession
the Justices book had no entries. The
market itself was a busy place oniy On
Tuesdays Thursdays and Saturdays.
Many OF the country people who brought
provisions TO market to sell were slaves;
aLt-aL OF lLtil were NdlatIt5 vi Alle At4sLt % g.
well known 90 the police so that strange
negro was soon spotted" and required TO
show either his free papers or the pass
from his master. or else go into custody.
At first only country stuff was brought
10 the market. but gradually peddlers
wares. dry goods. etc. began 90 occupy
benches in The market. The cook shops
were carly supplied TO furnish meals 10
the dealers. and the bakers with their
bread and cakes used the market almost
as soon as they had built their bake oF-
ems Old colorod women with small
beer" kept cool by being set IN tubs OF
pump water and with puffs. sort OF
vaGles fried in bacon fat, and with a tub
Of smoking hominy early became feature
of the market.
Many Distinguished Patrons.
It is a tradition that jefferson and all
the early Presidents made occasional Nis-
its to this fresh provision depot. but OF
later years the Chief Magistrates of the
country were represented at the market
by the White House butler. Members OF
Congress were sometimes entrusted by
their constituents with business in connec-
tion with the market. The writer well re
members that Gov. William Smith. the
aute-belium representative Of the AleXan-
dria district. showed him one morning q
few years before the war a letter in sub
stance as follows.
Dear Governor. I have sent my colored
man. Horace, to market with COW for
sale. It is an excellent COW and il is pos
siblc that his color would stand in the
way of his getting the best price for It,.
I cannot come to market myself but know
you viii do me the favor to pass by the
market on Tuesday morning. I Will tell
Horace to look out for you and he viii
obey your Instructions as how to proceed.
Get me a good customer for the COW and
I will be as ever. your friend - --
by special Providence which always
favored me" said the Governor, "a Wash
inEton friend had asked me few days be-
fore where he could get a first rate \ir-
ginia COW. On the next Thursday morning
/ carried him to the colored man. Horace,
who was really a sharp dealer and The
firm OF Horace d Smith did. 1 assure you.
make an excellent business trans ton
that day. But DO you know that Did fell
low never thanked me. and | am not sure
that he viii not vote against me at the
next election"
After 1880 the writer knew little of he
old market except what he learned while
the old city municipality was going out
and the District municipality was coming
ll. IN letD-t J. 4 new mar htl tbiibdhN NANtl
a charter Of Nay 20. 1870. was organized
and purchased from the corporation Of
Washington the ground on which the mar
ket is situated. The old sheds were burn
ell by a fire which occurred in the fail Of
1870 and the new market company. having
made temporary provision for the deal
ers, put up the present superb market
building on. the rear Of the old lot. while
the old mud-dlled canal was covered in
and converted into the B Street sewer,
and the front portion Of the market lot
was redeeded to the District Government
and placed in order on the south side Of
the Avenue as a companion park to that
which exists on the north side OF the same
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