Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-04

TT may have occurred to the curious
to speculate where the banana man
obtains his daily supply OF the sue
p culent tropical fruit. which he Is
often wont to wheel in his cart
through the highways and byways OF the
city. shouting forth. In divers weird ac-
cents, mica ba-nan, MICA ba-nan, ten-a
cent-a Dozen" or words to that or similar
effect.
The mystery OF the aforesaid source OF
supply would be solved to the satisfaction
of the aforementioned curious individual
IL he would wend his way. when the sun
is just commencing to peep. as IL were.
through his cloudy eyelids. and the first
yawns Of the early morning breeze are
beginning to shake the already falling
leaves-if he would wend his way. be 1t
repeated. at this most interesting but
little appreciated portion Of the twenty
four hours, In the direction OF Louisiana
avenue. between 9th and 10th streets, In
the vicinity OF the Center market For
here are gathered. at this matutinal time
every morning. during such portions OF the
year as render push-cart vending profit
able and feasible. Luigi and Giulio. and
Baptista. ETC.. carts. 1t Is dificult for
the popular mind TO separate these inter-
CSllIlS IlulNluudiS lTOIl SUNNY 1tdiy
their carts with which they are found
daily and Intimately associated. 1t Is
here they barter for their wares, and
load UP their handy vehicles, and de-
part for their daily labors, counting the
nature of their toll as that of those
who only stand and watt" for the most
part, for 1t is comparatively seldom that
a sudden attack of strenuousness induces
the push-cart man to go crying his wares
The sales are conducted by auction. In
front Of the still mountaineering es-
Establishments OF the dealers are crates and
crates OF bananas. There are also other
fruits and vegetables In boxes. which
will be duly disposed of during tho early
morning to hucksters, but the banana
men are so clamorous and appear to be
SO largely in the majority. that they
almost OF necessity rivet the attention OF
the spectator upon their movements.
And. indeed. they elicit first attention
from the auctioneer himself. That func-
tionary is here, as he Is elsewhere. OF
autocratic nien and manner. and. as he
commands that q crate OF fruit be OPEN
ed. he gazes around in a lordly manner
while the attendant performs the neces-
sary operations by means OF q hatchet
The crate being opened. the auctioneer
mounts an improvised rostrum, formed OF
convenient boxes. or takes his stand upon
the curb, with his auditors at a respect.
full distance, and commences to hold
forth. Then Is there excitement. indeed.
through the thoroughfares.
among the merchants Of the push-cart, as
the auctioneer's assistant holds up before
their gloating gaze a particularly fine
bunch OF bright yellow fruit. A prospec-
tive bidder draws near to the crate and
eagerly examines as much as he can OF
the contents to see whether the rest OF
the fruit fs as good as the specimen.
Then he mods to a colleague, and makes
his bid. Sometimes such q cursory exam
ination is not satisfactory, and closer
inspection OF the crates contents Is de-
manded, and when a number OF the bid
ders Join In such demand. all the auction
eer can do IS to submit with as good q
grace as possible, but with an apparent
air OF boredom. But the animation Of the
Italians-there are q few Greeks. too, In
the audience, but these two nationalities
are. evidently, all represented among the
stration on the part Of the monarch Of the
hammer.
Such facial contortions. struggling OF
wonderful movements of flngers-one
would imagine from the latter that the
speakers were aiding their frenzied con-
versatiun by means OF a deaf-and-dumb
alphabet--could surely be witnessed at no
other place or occasion In this city. The
bidder in his excitement, will often use
his native tongue. and, whether the auc-
tioneer understands this or not, he de-
mands repetition in English. and this
must be forthcoming, too.