Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-17
Center Market as it appeared in 1870.

Center Market as 1t appeared IN 1870.
also had . marriage market. Here is what Sir
Augustus Is credited with having written:
Indeed never saw prettier girls anywhere
As there are but few Of them, however, in
proportion to the great number of men who
frequent the places of amusement in the Fed
eral City, 1t is one of the most marrying places
of the whole continent truth which was
beginning to be found out, and became. by and
by the cause Of vast numbers hOcking thither
all round from the four points Of the compass.
Mauger the march of intellect 50 much vaunted
in the present century, the literary education
of these ladies Is far from being worthy Of the
age Of knowledge, and conversation Ia apt to
nag. though . seat by the ladies Is always
much coveted.
Dancing and music served to exc out the
time, but one got to be heartily sick Of hearing
the same song everywhere, even when 1t was
Just Like Love Is Yonder Rose No matter
how this was sung, the words alone were the
man traps; the belle OF the evening was de-
clared to be just like both, and people looked
round as the listener was expected to be-
come on the instant very tender and 70 pro-
pose-and sometimes such q result does In
reality take place, and both parties when be-
trothed use q great deal of billing and cooling;
eat out of the same plate, drink out of the
same glass and show OF their love to the whole
company"
However, some of the thoughts put into print
by the diplomat are historically valuable, and
others force us to the conclusion that after
all-at least In some respective have changed
but little, or are, so far as customs CO. living
in cycles and repeating ourselves at regular
periods. One Of his remarks caused the writer
to think this way at least. He said:
There were but few cases, however, Of this,
I must confess. though as regards the use of
the powder they were not so uncommon, and
at balls thought It advisable to put on the
tables of the toilette room not only rouge, but
hair powder, as well as blue powder, which
had some customers"
since the Center Market was first opened
ON Tuesday, December IS, 1901 just build
ing here and there and the rope walk on the
south bank Of the T1ber Immediately opposite
the market. An old wooden bridge, built in
1T95, by the Commissioners, at Seventh street,
and the Twelfth Street Wharf close by, where
Is now the Internal Revenue Building, and
only foot walk up the Avenue made of stone
chips from the public buildings. Even game,
we are told came up as far as Seventh street.
Indeed, the projectors showed much courage
whe nthey selected this site for their chief
market.
We can hardly realize the great change that
has taken place in this area in the past CEN
fury and third. 1t wac then almost wild
as the Indian had left it. To quote Hines
again. about 1896 or 1897 "after passing the
Presidents House our road lay along street
until we arrived at Eleventh street west. We
then passed I'm q Southeasterly direction to a
small creek that crossed e street north near
where DIR. Borrows now lives. We then con-
ttnued along this stream In the same direc-
ton until 1t crossed Pennsylvania avenue
where the Center Market House now stands,
and then we crossed the bridge. At that time
there was not a single house on the Avenue
from the Presidents House to the Capitol. On
the east side of the road there were, suppose,
several acres of elegant forest trees. On the
west side there were not many, there being
only q narrow strip. think part or perhaps
all, of them were on the Public Mall The
bridge well as I can remember, was con-
structed in this manner: There was q cause
way, or rather two small wharves, constructed
OF logs and filled In with earth, on each side
Of the creek. They were built so close 70 one
another that large scow could scarcely pass
between them. On these wharves or cause
ways, the bridge was erected. The hridse was
very low and not wide enough for two eay-
riages 70 pass over side by SIDE Close by TIE
end OF the bridge, on the left-J1and side ~
the marsh, grew some beautiful red berries,
something like cranberries. have often
stopped there with my bundle or basket and
have plucked and eaten them and thought