Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-06-03
BY FREDERIC j. HAsKIN.

BALTIMORE. MD. June 2.-Balti-
more has the marketing habit There
is no city in America that puts a big
basket on Its arm more regularly or
more enthusiastically. to go forth and
purchase it's food in tho public square
Few cities. II any. on the other hand
have such markets to visit Balttmore'a
markets are an institution-an insti-
tuition picturesque and venerable. and
OF size and solidity that COM
mands respectful attention. Licking
ton Market. for instance. is three
squares 1ong. with 1900 stalls. and
$4,000 people visit II on many Satur-
days.
The markets are one OF the sights of
the town. like St. Peters. in Rome, or
the White House. In Washington. The
visitor Is taken forth to see them as
he is taken to see the Falls at Nj
agra. The streets for blocks around
take on market-day atmosphere.
Temporary stalls are set up on either
side. until there Is only narrow lane
left In the middle Of the highway where
the big cars nose their way a foot at
q time. Countrymen and farmers draw
up their wagonloads OF produce along
the curb and walt philosophically for
purchasers, scorning the practice OF the
recent immigrant who is wont to cry
his wares Candy stands and flower
stands and peanut stands appeal to
the esthetic and the gastronomic func-
tions OF the olfactory nerve. The street
faker is in his glory. Perched on a
coffee-box he eXtols the merits Of "a
miraculous invention. ladies and gentle
men-a combination OF the South
American sapopa tree. the East Indian
senega root and the Mexican ammonia
plant-a combination shaving soap.
shoe polish and complexion beauti-
fer."
Everything Edible Found There.
The market itself is housed under a
long high roof. like the roof OF a
railroad terminal, subdivided into hun
dreds of little stalls. Everything which
the human race Is in the habit OF chew
ing and swallowing finds it's place
somewhere. Beef and mutton. pork
and veal and sausage and bacon.
string Of fruits that would read like
the invoice Of South American
freighter, all the vegetable; you have
ever seen and few new ones: fish.
nuts. bread and pastry. live poultry,
candy-consult the supply lists OF Herr
Tortolowitz Won Batocki, the new Ger
man food dictator. for partial list
OF what you can buy.
All this space under the roof between
the stalls Is damned with humanity.
chiefly feminine. 1t takes an hour or
SO to push through the three blocks
OF Lexington Market. The makeup OF
the crowd Is surprisingly heterogen-
eous. 1t may be a mistake. but the
visitor gets the impression that milady
of Baltimore dons her silver fox set.
steps into the limousine. snirs the
orchids In the holder. says. Tho
Market. James" and sallies forth to
buy quarters worth of wienerwurst.
At least. you see plenty Of big cars
discharging their inmates at the curb.
and have your toes stepped on by
otroy 10,
in an r. w Chambers novel
AS one Baltimore official puts II.
THE market problem is one of edu-
eating the municipal consciousness up
to the marketing conception" or. in
other words. OF teaching society to
carry basket, These big markets
are really kind Of fruit and vege-
table department store. and the depart
ment store. OF course. is firmly estab-
lished as n perfectly correct hunting
ground for all ranks OF femininity.
Baltimore women make appointments
to meet at a certain stall at certain
hour and go to lunch together. 1t Is
not a matter OF record, but 1t seems
probable that they occasionally stop
to buy a dozen eggs on the way to the
opera.
Pioneer In Market Field.
The question OF public markets is
coming in for great deal of serious
a possible means Of solving certain
phases OF the distribution problem.
Busy markets have been established
In a score Of cities. but Baltimore is
by way Of being pioneer In the fold.
and her experience should be valuable.
In the $50 years that markets have
been a feature of the landscape. the
city has encountered most of the prob
| lens that can arise In connection with
| markets. Back In the year 1851, when
| there were only two dozen houses In
| the town, the citizens decided to start
| a market, and conducted a lottery as
| a means Of raising the necessary cash.
| institution in those days. The private
| ledger Of George Washington occa-
| sionally charges the price OF few
! lottery tickets to profit and loss.
The age OF tho system in Baltimore
has had the effect Of obviating certain
| is introduced later In municipal prog
| ress. For instance, 1t Is something Of
| a problem to reconcile the rights Of
| the retail grocer with the activities Of
| the stall keeper. The grocer is a tax
| payer, a rent payer and an employer
| OF labor. while tho market stall pays
| no taxes, very little rent and is usually
operated by the proprietor. who thus
| becomes something OF a favored COM
petitor. In Baltimore. however. the
| market canae before the grocery store.
and the grocors had the competition
| to reckon on when they entered the
business. In actual practice. the
| neighborhood of the markets has
| proved a favorable location for ordi-
nary retail shops Of all sorts on ac-
| count OF the crowds drawn. Some Of
tho local grocers go farther. and rent
and operate stalls on market days.
Baltimore markets--thsre gre eleven