The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-11-06
IN new Y0RK'S
ITALIAN MARKET
Some Strange Wares That the
Italians Like and Amer
leans Fancy.
SATURDAY A MARKET DAY
Finnochi, Broccoli and Dandelions Arc
Among the Delicacies That May
Be- Procured-All Sorts Of
Greens Liked.


short skirt. heavy boots and a small
hat, securely pinned on. Over my arm
1 AXE a stout round basket, n thus
equipped I start for the Italian mar
ket. I walk slowly along the street,
exchanging friendly greeting with the
little Jew who keeps the tailor shop
half way down the block. His wife is
very well, he says, business Is good,
and the fourth Oldest of his blessedly
large family of red headed children
has just started to go to school,, where
she will soon learn all things. worth
knowing, such is her c~leverness. l
meet Soeur Catharine, a comfortable
looking French sister of charity, who
mods cheerfully and informs me that
the vacation house for poor children
has been more Of d success than ever
this year, and that the roses have In
two weeks bloomed in the white cheeks
Of the children like a holy miracle.
ooh, Ooh! raSlnan, ragman!' l
am jostled by a number Of children.
who push by me in quick pursuit of an
old mar nearly bent double under a
heavy AMI unsavory load of rags. Still
screaming, the youngsters approach
him as closely as they dare, haunting
him, with a fine disregard of their own
clothing, which to an unprecedented
mind suggests an imminent intimacy
with this man or with his brother in
the trade. The old nan goes his way
untroubled by their unflattering per-
sonalities, and the children lag behind,
no trace of malice in their young faces.
They have no feeling against this par
ticlar man, no, indeed, but a ragman
is born to be chased as surely as gar
lie is made to be eaten.
Saturday as a Market Day.
I hurry on. This is Saturday, and a
good market day. 1 must not be late
or the freshest salad and the soundest
fruit will all be gone. Three blocks
south, two west-here I am! The
street is crowded with loud-speaking
Italian men and ONE Laughter and
vituperation fill the air. My appear
ance has ceased to make the stir 1t did
when I first began to come here, but
a pleasant thrill still goes through a
few of the nearest for am
not I an American, and therefore the
instrument OF a benef1cent Providence
to enrich the worthy Italian? l stand
still a moment trying to decide on
which side Of the street l shall walk,
! and as I stand I watch two women near
me who gesticulate vehemently and
shake stout fists in each others faces.
I am alarmed until a few sentences
spoken at concert pitch show me hat
they are but expressing to each other
their approval of The lovely autumn
weather we are having. Like the noted
diplomat who watched two excited
Frenchmen exchanging compliments, I
tremble to think what would happen
should the parties disagree.
A toothless, stern old man, his fore
head thoroughly protected from the
bright sun by a heavy wooden cap well
pulled down, offers me lemons, and a
young boy with a dull, handsome face
6eseecheS me to buy garlic two a
cent-a- On every corner and at several
places along the block are rude stalls
built out from the wall, and the street
lltself Is lined with push carts. Some
Of these market men have their own
gardens on the west slope Of the Pail
sades, gardens SO small that it is hard
ly worth while to sell their vegetables
to a commission merchant, SO they load
them on a cart, cross the ferry, and
tramp cheerfully several miles to this
open air market.
The Produce.
Fish, or meat, eggs and butter one
is not tempted to buy here, in spite OF
the e~nticingly low prices n the ap-
parent rude health Of those who dc
buy; but the vegetables are fine an6
the salads fresh and great in variety
Lettuce and Romaine, chicory, endive
and escarole are here, besides many
others less palatable to an American
taste. Here one can buy great white
heads of that highly priced Italian del
icacy 'finnochi," which suggests celery
but has so strong a favor Of anise seeC
that it is apt to be an acquired taste
1t is eaten at dessert with a little rec
wine. Here one car buy greens-spin
ach, dandelions, carrot or finnochi tops
broccoli, which is a kind Of small cab
bage, and caulif1ower, not in firm head
= as we know it, but with young leave
: and q great cluster of little yellow flow
t ers-to be cooked whole. The dande
t lions, now that the blossoms are gone
! are as delicate In flavor as in earl,
spring, and are sold mostly by cage
, "a -,h@ Io1-a 1,,r tha-, tIa~
: selves. I have a particular frien
e among these old women and l seek he
t out. Her joy at seeing me is genuine
and she proudly displays her ware!
r explaining in voIuable Italian how fires
they are, and adding with an almos
Y too expressive gesture that they ar
S "multo buono" for "lo tomaco." 1 pal
with four coppers, she piles my baske
= high, and we separate with protesta
a tons of mutual affection.
n An E~xtravasant Purchase.
I come to a row Of carts piled wit
: fruit, and now the excitement really be
~ gins, for it is whispered down the 70
that the signora is going to buy a who
basket of peaches today. This is Ell
II tirely contrary to the custom of II
= market, which is to sell fruit a penny
II piece, two for three, or three for
~ cents. 1 prick my fingers on the go,
le geous but disappointing fruit of Il
le cactus while a hurried consulate
> takes place among the men, and the
a price is named. I offer half. tt
l. handsome Italian 1 speak to shrugs h
re shoulders, and tells me that at Who'll
10 sale one could not get fruit as chez
la as that what is more, his admiratit
for me has already cut his small pro
"a in two. I give way a little, he does t.
T same, and after ten minutes of ba
la gaining we agree. His fervent "grazi
ae thank you-as I depart shows r
s. tina he has not been the loser in O
oS little transaction.
tn --~--
American Girls Win.