Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-12-24
MARKETS IN ITALY
Offer Not Only Provisions, But the
Handiwork Of the People.

III this country we think Of market
places as being used wholly for the
sale of foodstutfs, but in Italy it has
quite 4 different meaning, for there
you may find not only fish, meats,
fruit, vcSetables-all the products Of
land and sea--but the handiWork of
all the people.
There YOU may buy Neapoiitan hat
from the signora or the signorita who
has gathered and cured the grasses
and woven the beautiful soft. plant
hat with her own nimble fingers. The
hand woven linens of all sizes may
be bought for mere song-linen,
which is in truth the 81 ass bleached,
every thread an honest linen thread,
and which does verify wear q lifetime
and then may be handed on to the
Younger generation. The beautiful
Italian laces, often dirty and crump-
led or carefully pressed and> wound
on shingles or on tiny wooden rolls,
according to the individual idea, may
be bought for an astonishingly small
amount of money. Embroidcrics Of all
kinds will be found there. Oftentimes
an exquisitely embroidered piece Of
underwear lace trimmed, from some
noble lady's wardrobe may be picked
up IN the market place from some
faithful Mariana when the fortunes
OF the house in which she serves are
ebbing low. Yes, even some OF the
fine old family laces and linens may
be picked up, for the pride of many
of the old, old families is being laid
low with their ebbing fortunes.
THINGS he hnIItr Inf
in the market place, such as the sweets
used ali over Italy and the various
sauces without which most Italian
cookery would be Very incomplete.
The mutton of Italy is not the deli
cacy which the English and Amcrl-
cans know, Tor it has q decidedly
strong flavor, and the Italian butcher
disposes OF most OF his mutton under
the name Of veal, aiming 10 put it on
the market on feast days, when, as
he says, people are far too excited to
know just what they do eat
| wonder what an American house
wife would think when she went up
to the market to find the fowls all cut
up--here pan of breasts, there ~
pan of wings, and still another pan OF
legs. ard even tho siblctS Nariously
divided. Cooks may serve what Is
very common with them, especially iii
the better homes, Il pan OF chicken
, breasts interlaid with bits of ham and
sausage or a giblet dish served with
the famous tomato sauce. Your choice
Of cuts would depend largely upon tie
length OF your purse.
Italy is famous for its cheese, par
vi I,n rhn Ich
is sold in the market by cheese vend-
ers. There is the charcoal man, too.
hawkins, his wares tied up in various
sized sacks, and those who buy from
him call him none too honest. Then
there are the stout, rugged women
who come down from the mountains
with great heaps of brushwood tied
together and carried aloft on then
heads.
The art of marketing is one to be
acquired only after much travail of
soul and many lost coins. With the
average Italian, no matter what his
wares may be, it is by grace Of his
patron saint that he charges the Eng
speaking people double what he
would his own CountrYmen. and this.
too. after much bargaining has been
done. 1t seems that an Italian can
| rarely resist the temptation OF being
| 4 little bit" dishonest with the for
egner An old Italian , prov erb is.
Never trust your neighbor, Your
neiehhor does not expect it There
is much laughing, too, among them
selves, but the wideawake bourgeoiso
is quite able to fight her own battle
over the counter, enjoying it the
while. and generally comes out trium-
phant-Housekeepe