IN BYGONE DAYS

Hawera Star, Volume L, 14 February 1931, Page 9

IN BYGONE DAYS

XTERE in a letter to the Editor of the ■ n “Sunday Express/’ a country storekeeper —Augustus C. Edwards, of the general drapers of that name in Hereford —draws a graceful picture of the amenities that attended shopping expeditions “iri the old days”; how customers came to the county town in wonderful carriages attended by ladies’ maids and footmen, and were entertained to luncheon by the proprietor of the store. He says:— You can understand that in the early ’sixties trading conditions were altogether different from those prevailing to-day, and that personality played a great part in the success or failure of a business. In those times the “family draper” was really the draper of the family. From the lady of title downwards the trader knew every member of the family personally, and a fine old-world business friendship prevailed. Those customers shopped only two or three times a year, for a road journey of twenty to thirty miles each way was then no light undertaking. Those country customers' would make a full day of shopping, and buy clothes for the whole family. As a sort of bond of friendship existed, it naturally followed that such < visitors would be welcomed and entertained to dinner —lunch* we call it now —or high tea by the proprietor or

his -wife. Perhaps the most impressive visitor of all was the Right Hon. the Lady Emily Foley, of Stoke Edith Park.

When Shoppers Lunched With Drapers

A few days before her visit, the house steward would call to give us notice that slie was coming to shop at a certain time on a certain day.

To the minute, a wonderful carriage, something like a Lord Mayor’s coach, would draw up. It was drawn by four perfectly matched grey horses. A postillion rode on the leader. The coachman and footman had liveries of salmon-pink broadcloth.

The lady herself usually wore ivonicrful dresses of Victorian design, in the lightest shades of mauve or lavender, trimmed with priceless old lace and a marvellous bonnet to match. Immediately the carriage appeared at the end of the street a crimson carpet was rolled from the shop down to the carriage, and if at all wet a very large “red gingham” was provided to ward off rain drops. She was then escorted by-her French and English maids to the shop, where, in privacy, she made her selections of silks, dresses and linens. She was, of course, waited on by the proprietor, Mr Edwards, or his son (the present writer). i Your contributor’s statement that our firm “still exists, but only as one of a chain of provincial stares, subordinate to one of tKo big London drapery concerns,” is incorrect. The business certainly still exists, but as a private limited company, the shares being held exclusively by sons and grandsons of the late Mr Augustus C. Edwards (formerly White and Edwards) .