Bisbee daily review., 1909-07-08

coiored petticoat. and a nowery ker- chief ou the head make bright flashes emerging from all the dark alleys. and a soft thick pad on the head supports the shallow basket loaded with the spoils of the deep. From the market place. each woman plunges on. straight as an arrow for the builseye. and all day long one may meet her. calling her wares in the heart of the city. or on the topmost windy height. Heads and tails flop on the baskets rim. as the vendors stride along, rejoicing fn tthat priceless blessing. good health. They are a plump and stocky lot. the picture of animal life. and we may 1 envy them the bare brown feet. 90 broad and strong. which the horrors of | civilization have never twisted out of shape.
 A marvellous choice the fishwomen have at the market. which is one of the worlds rare sights. What riches would be the onlooker's with one cent
 cash down. for every trophy of the sea piled up on the quay. one morn ing. Acres and acres are spread with fresh hauls. Thousands and thousands of tiny sardines, silvery smelts. squirming eels, unlovely swordfish,
 monsters long and giants fat, that only
 piscatorial Solomon could name Piles of cuttlefish show their flabby. inky tentacles. which the accustomed
 women grab without repulsion. Pave
 ment and stalls are piled with hnny
 creatures whose scales fly beneath the
 fishmonger's sharp knife. There are
 barrels of scallops. vats of shrimps. hampers of crabs Lobsters sprawl and crawl over each other in general
 confusion. The merryminded urged
 on me the sturdiest monsters O: the
 lot, knowing that I am a homeless
 stranger.
 Wholesalers, retailers, casual buyers
 hotel commissioners. clamor for the
 best bargain. Pandemonium makes
 triumphant outcry. Men figure ia the
 minority. as the great fish market Is
 chiefly In the hands of the women, .
 brave and comedy lot. quite equal to
 their charge. If the toilers of the sea
 have reaped the waterways by night
 the women will relieve them of duty and care for the harvest by day. They are black-eyed, brown-skinned, kindly But be sure you deal on the square : Fire flashes in the keen eye. and c yolley of violence greets any ofense
 They stand decked with tinsei which . would beflt Christmas tree. and thetl ' color scheme is punctuated by glarfns , ornaments. Huge. glittering hoops ars [ heavy In the ears. Rings. chains , brooches are conspicuous. making { ' diszy outfit of brass and tin and gilt
 tering glass. The market is a nois, } scene of barter. and when trade slack s ems in the later hours. the fisher foll [ read or snooze at their post. Mel r are tangled up. fast asleep in thei n vats. women knit. and nurse their ba | bies. or Ioll drowsily in their big baa
 kets. Theirs is a hard life and bus. r. one, but the workers seem cheery. ant s the back is fitted to the burden. sl Street fountains arc numerous fl t Lisbon. where the poor. who have n' n modern plumbing. may draw wate r. free. The daily groups are fascinai
 ing. a they gather with jars and ba, s rsls, and finger for confab and gossi n on the steps, ere they cart and carr
 avay the water for home use. Thes
 ciustsrs of the poor give . most vivi
 and animated picture of humble life.