Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-05-17


darkcned bazaar streets of STEAMBOAT. the
quaint sunshiny square of Caracas. the
gorgeous and bewildering splendor of the
flower stalls of Mexico City or the great
Sioux of Tangiers.
Each has its distinctive characteristic, yet
all are intensely human and picturesque in
certain indescribable similarity.
It was this attraction. ] presume, that
got me out of my hotel room in Washington
on certain Saturday at . 80 A. NJ. to
wander up to the capitals Center Market.
1t is one of the finest on the Continent
One of the largest. too.
Its diversified charms make of ii one Of
the most interesting I have ever seen.
II was thirty years since I had visite1
1t at that unearthly hour
THERE is something-very much / should
L say-of the atmosphere Of the French
market in New Orleans about it.
The profusion of fruits and vegetables,
the chromatic and orderly array of their
display. Only the soft patois of the Creole
was lacking
Memories of Mexico City. fragrant and
coorful. flashed out of the flower wrcaths
and masSed gorics of Virginia gardens and
Maryland hothOuscs.
Caracas was suggested the boiled
beef liver diced and unappctizing-in the
Virginia Negro farmers hunched up on
empty crates beside their little measures OF
fruit. and the chatter of their women.
Even Biskra, Biskra of the desert, was
suggested in the Farmers Produce Market
with its fowls tied in pairs lying on the
stones. the baskets of vivid green's and
water, and the neat piles of scarlet radishes
from the gardens of Arlington across the
river.
A cosmopolitan market. world wide in its
suggestions of life. color and action.
E'AT. pudgy vans, dogs and pigs. bunches
1 of honeysuCke and clusters of locust
blossoms.
Nowhere else can there be found such a
profusion of old fashioned flowers of boy
hood remembrances.
Mountain laurel bloom. sweet william.
pinks. daisies and marigolds were mixed up
with home made catsup in liniment bottles.
chow chow in wide mouthed matted milk
containers, and farmer ladies in green and
red knit sweaters and starched boudoir
caps
There were real dried apples, too. Not
pallid desiccated things but brown. shriv-
eled and tasty.
Artificial flower wreaths two feet in
diameter hanging from wooden pegs sug-
gested the exterior of Pere lie Chaise and
the sidewalk booths of Montmartre.
Glory be, but they were gorgeous and
grand.
DROGRESS has set firm foot in the
i purlieus of the Center Market.
Only here and there were to be seen the
rckety dish wheeled wagons. with shafts
mended with binder twine. of thirty years
ago
The Virginia darky farmer contiguous
to the capital city is right abreast of the
times.
Automobiles and autotrucks. cakcd with
the red mud of the Arlington hills Or
splashed with the yellow clay Of Maryland.
were backed in long rows against the curb.
And every auto had its complement OF
flowers in tubs dcnted dishpans whatever
else it might display.
Flowers everywhere. Inside and out of
the big building. On stalls,' along the
sidewalks, under the long sheds
If were to characterize this great mart
as epitomizing the esthetic ana guStatory
tastes of Washington, | should do It III
five words flowers and sliced dried beef.
Dried beef? Stacks of it. Bundles and
pyramids of it. Sliced as thin as brown
wrapping paper, row upon row
NNEE Farmers Market opens to the clans
l. of a gong at 4 80 a. NJ.
1t closes at l.. NJ. with the same clam
orous signal.
The big Saturday market. though. in the
huge brick building presents its contents
for approval and purchase from Il a. NJ.
to 10 80 =. NJ.
Every day j. market day.
As for the Farmers Market heaven hep
the sidewalk merchant agriculturst who
begins disposing of his garden truck or
pullcts before that unholy hour of \, NJ.
or delays. in hope of cOaxing nickel from
late purchaser. after = Il. NJ.
No matter whether his crates and boxes
are empty or not out he goes and no
apologies accepted.
TT WAS in the Center Market that the
l. most original shopping contrivance ever
A well dressed woman. mother. doubt
less of a large family or mother in law T."
n house full of hungry boarderS. was the
pilot.
II was split woven basket the size and
shane of al umbrella hall stand.
Long narrow capaciOus, describes 1t.
Dull, brown in color. there was attached
"a the bottom a pair OF small rnOD"r'u
wheels five inches in diameter
A handle was attached to the upper END
bv which the COntrivanc" was dragged l"d
or conducted oy its owner,
Judged that its capacity was about three
pccks .., o,..
them popular one of thes" cash ANA carry
days,
HHE new age has put an ind'lbI" I'M
/ prcss on this Center mart in NOR" ways
| than one. "
their dignity to do their marketing here
| not by telephone or by proxy, but in per-
John sherman. Zcb Vance and the unique
! Cockrrpll. with his long black hair combrd
straight back ftom his high forehead. wCr"
among the number.
Each had Negro boy following HIM. who
corriod n basket in which 10 tote home
" senators and Representatives rcsidcn,
! here NAV do the same thing now, but
| doubt it.
Army and navy men have seemingly taken
Huge numbering army trucks carry away
loads in the early morning to adjacent
camps and barracks
THERE is one rude, diScordant not" that
! / dctrarts from the ensemble.
! RaucOus voiced "barkcrs in white aprons
orr their stuff aloud here and there.
They are mostly, ! fancy, Of tn" ,tNpo
that makes South Ninth street IN LITTLE