A CHANGED LONDON.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 April 1918, Page 3

A CHANGED LONDON.

j SHOP WINDOW MAGNETS. j LONDON, Feb. a. There is no mistake about it. It is the 1 butcher’s shop. On© can tell it from the cud of the street, for the thoroughfare is 'blocked by a motley

queue, four-deep, armed with roomy baskets. The shop is closely shuttered and the door is locked. But the people are there. After a few moments a little opening is furtively made—threo happy-faced women cojme -out—they have got some meat and they hurry olf to another queue, possibly for tea or fat. Three more of the waiting multitude push in, and again the door j shuts. For each trio that enters the

queue lengthens . many times tnree. This performance goes on as long as the half-dozen sheep are able to supply a modicum of the demand. Then appears a mysterious hand, which hangs out a iarge placard, making sad reading—“ All Sold Out.” The disappointed myriad disperse by degrees, hardly at first being able to grasp the fact that a long waif in the chill street has yielded them nothing. To this condition has the butcher’s business been reduced. His benches and hooks are bare and his shutters are always up. vet there is never any doubt that it is the butcher’s shop. .1- ...L nk *1 AvF 0 In An /I A til till--

Hue what is nextr instead smutersi and gloom, here arc dainty curtied with ribbon hows, an attractive vase or two holds artificial flowers, and “a few Teddy hears, and ! kindred toys occupy space behind the ( glass. The swcller the place the fow:or the window Ornaments. Curiosity, I or perhaps it is the Teddy Bear who

cynically appeals “what you do not see , in the window, ask for inside” —takes you within. But even then there is i no in-mediate solution. There are rows !of glass bottles on every shelf. ' they contain only shavings of coloured paper—-pretty, but not exphinntorv. On the counter, half-a-dozen caramels spread themselves over a g'“ " ! stand, six gay jujubes strike the eye. | ---'(l a careful display of. a few ehoc.lnins at 4s. a pound—each one looking like a monarch in ' its in'-hvidn" i dignity. "Presently it is borne in noon -fie enquiring bjain that tin's is a London swept shop. What- a contrast! In normal times when every window was filled every counter was overborne hv thp immense trays of temnting sweets and every jar snoke loudly of nlentv in reserve for all comers. "Wholesome toffees for 'the youngsters, oner, 3d. per lb. are now 8d uer quarter of that quantity, if they'are still in stork, hut usually they are not. Yes. J nndoo has undergone many remarkable changes in the nast- year, and though some threatened long ago, their development Ims been deliberate. Out. wardl'-. the London '•weet. shop is improved but i.nwardly its plight is sorry., ‘-1,,, climax has not rmrirod. '