The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-07-05
LITTLE ITALY,S LUXURTES.
Good Things or the Table Sold i'm Mulberry
Streets Open Air Market.

The Yavorite luHuries Of New York Italians
are those Of the table. Only the well-to-
do in other parts of the town buy many
OF the table delicacies daily sold in the
Italian quarters. and only the really rich
among country folk indulge in such things
All winter long the crowded open-air
market OF Mulberry street is lined with
pushcarts piled high with fresh vegetables
and tropical fruits, Tomatoes sell a. first
by the piece, then by the pound. Even
now they have fallen no lower than s
or 0 cents pound, yet for weeks they have
been bought by the Italians Of the region.
Keen buyers in many-colored, shabby
gowns finger fruits and vegetables, and
carry on In their poor baskets delicacies
that prudent uptown housewives deny
themselves. save upon special occasions.
Apples, oranges and strawberries sell in
the same market late and early and bananas
are never out of season.
You see woman moving steadily along
with board on her head laden with freshly
made polenta, redolent Of garlic, stop
before fruit or vegetable cart 10 price
the hawker's wares At home in Italy
she and her family have lived largely upon
the wholesome and nourishing mixture
which she now bears on her head, but In
America she permits herself other indul-
gences such as her friends at home would
believe impossible to one of their own walk
in life.
Peaches have been selling for some days
past in Mulberry street, and across Broad
way In the West Side Italian quarter. They
sold pretty well al five cents each, they are
freely bought at two and three for five.
Watermelons are still selling there in
slices, but they will soon be bought whole,
and muskmelons find ready sale when
they are still served at so cents in clubs
and vegetables, such as seldom reach the
tables OF ordinary New Workers. Of COM
Portable means, appear in the Italian
markets
1t is promiscuous CAST ronomic taste
that relgns among these people. They
may buy cheap meats OF doubtful fish,
but fruits and vegetables they find irresst-
IDLY attractive al almost any price. Call
FRUIT Italian, and at once you make IL
temptation
A tall, swarthy, middle-aged man passed
slowly through Mulberry street market
the other day, solemnly Offering fresh Ital
ian figs at Is and 20 cents each The little,
shallow crate hung before him with its
layers Of figs. each fig wrapped in white
paper
He had eight or ten dollars worth of fruit
In that little tray, and he was expecting to
sell il among a people who haggle over a
fraction of a cent in their ordinary pur-
chases, yet many wistful glances were cast
at the fresh figs, and the vender probably
found forty or fifty among the thousands
OF his countrvmen to empty his tray, Fresh
figs were selling nowhere else in town save
at the shops of the fashionable fruiters.
The Italians are credited with pretty
keen appreciat ion Of the value Of money
and many Of them save a large part of their
earnings, but those who indulge in Injuries
have somewhat the attitude Of children
suddenly enriched with tips. Thousands Of
Italians when they first reach New York
earn what must seem to them fabulous
wages, and until they learn prudence their
money goes easily for whatever tempts.
II is complaint of Italian husbands hat
their wives overdress in America, and Of
Italian wives that their husbands buy wines
and liquors here as il such things were as
cheap in America as in Italy.
So the pace is act good deal faster than
at home, and wages easily earned are
easily spent
The Italian laborer is almost the only one
In town who drinks wine. Other such wage
earners are content with beer.