Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-07

appeared this winter in stylish pedestrian
skirt, a near-seal jacket a picture hat
trimmed with plumes and a muff to match
the coat, her patrons were fairly dazzled.
In stormy weather she DOTTED the picture
hat for a wide-b rimmed Fedora, but the
coat she wore through fair weather and
foul. She is exceedingly reserved and even
her best customers could elicit nothing
more than quiet good morning" At last
one bethought himself to inquire at the
newsstand on the corner below. The pro-
prietor, a bright-faced 1rishman, replied,
with frank laugh: --ds
Sure, that's me own sister, an it's
corner in stands We have hereabouts. Me
cousin has the one hon Gthe corner beyant
hers an It's no Interference we have
from any one Mary-thats me sister
Just works while the rush is on, for you
see the men hereabouts is not early risers,
bein' that it's a fashionable neighborhood,
when trade is light While Mary gets the
breakfast for US, we gets her papers ready.
Whin her trade drops OFF, she goes back
to the fiat an makes the dnner, an we
all have supper together. Its great pap
err trust we have. Mary wouldn't work
'cept to keep out the others
Women Fruit Peddlers.
It is also in New Yorks better residential
sections that one sees scores of women
running fruit and vegetable stands, having
leased sidewalk space in front of successful
wife usually manage the stand jointly, but
1t is the wife who does most of the selling.
Her husband buys in the wholesale markets
and delivers the purchases. Many Of these
women can barely speak English, but they
know values and are shrewd traders.
They wear nothing on their heads and a
shawl over the shoulders. and this is all
sufficient in the way of wraps. Even in
severe weather, when it is necessary to
keep the bulk OF their stock indoors, they
never wear gloves, and seem immune to
cold AS a rule, these women occupy Few
rooms close to their stand, and are relieved
by their husband or children for sufficient
time to hurry home and prepare the meals.
No more proficient fakirs are to be found
in New York than the women who sell laces
and shoulder shawlS in the fashionable
shopping streets. These women usually
work in groups of two or three, and cry
their wares in a low, monotonous voice.
which sounds as If they were talking
among themselves. They represent the Ro-
many races, and insist that they can speak
no English. Like the majority of the side
walk saleswomen, they wear no hats. Rain
or snow has no terrors for them. They SIM
ply cover their baskets with oilcloth, draw
their dull-cOlOred ShaWlS over their heads
and stand in doorway until the worst has
passed. Any one watching group of these
women will note that competition between
them Is not keen. They have common OBJ
Ject to fleece the unsuspecting with Amerf-
can factory goods and to turn the proceeds
over to the padrone who sends them out.
Matches Mary's" Ingenuity.
OF all the match sellers Matches Mary"
Is perhaps the most picturesque, and GER
tainly the most successful, at her trade.
Not only is she cajoler Of dimes. but she
Is an authority on theatrical attractions.
Where you see Matches Mary there will
you find running the most brilliant produc-
ton of the season. She wastes no time
on theaters featuring moderately success
full attractions
She stands close to the entrance between
the acts and at the close OF the perfor-
nance when she sees man feeling in q
pocket for a match, she steps forward
with q light and. hayihg accepted her cour-
tesy, he can hardly refuse to buy box.
By moving quickly from group to group
she does thriving trade.
Matches Mary, bass counterpart in an
elderly woman who. haunts certain cafes,
notably those affected by theatrical people
She offers wax matches in fancy boxes,
and frequently slips by the watchful door
inside -
To the careless observer all these street
saleswomen look alike by reason of their
foreign speech, their dlyn-colored garments,
their dark. hatless heads. and their shut
fling gait, but to their customers, on whom
they work many clever tricks, they present
divers curious traits. No keener business
women are to be foundIin the metropolis.
and their bank accounts would make WELL
dressed well-groomed stenographers and
supercilious clerks of Indoor shops open
their eyes In wonder. II The street sales
woman Is not in business for the sake Of
avoiding housework, nor because down
town holds a fascination for her. She Is
/ there because she and her family need the
mOney-and che usually gets 1t.