LETTER FROM STRATFORD

Taranaki Daily News, 20 July 1935, Page 2 (Supplement)

LETTER FROM STRATFORD

' Dear. Cynthia—Such -a. thrilling -ex.perience. '.’happened to -me yesterday. You know that big store in Stratford Geo. Syme and Co. used to have,. well,, for days past there has. been .quite.- a to-do. about it. Carpenters have been hammering and sawing and- making such, a, parade with ladders and- screw. drivers that I often u?ed to . stop and try to peer through the closely curtained doors. Do ,you know, I .was never able to see a thing. Usually, when people are about to open a shop they, only too glad to tell one all. about . it,, but never a cheep could I ’get out ,of any ,of the. workmen, though one of the painters—; but that’s a different ..rnatter. Anyway, nobody \in Stratford seemed to know what sort .of business it was going to be. All frightfully mysterious, my dear, and so, thrilling trying to find out. I. ask&d everybody ■ I knew, in town, and on Tuesday, up at the.golf house, every--body kept on talking about it. Of there were plenty,- of, rumours, but, -then,you remember how untrue rumours; generally are,, . \ . , '-7 > Well, things went on like this for' over a-month,,and then ,I ,saw in yestqri’t, day’s Daily, News that they .werq going/, to. call the. shop Peggy Page~-such.'-.a delightful name, db'p’.t you think?—:aridwere to open .this Saturday.. After reading the announcement, I rushed off to do my shopping with little Alice. Then, what a thrill. - I was just passing. this, mystery shop when the new manageress, came out, and, seeing I was- so interested, actually asked if I would like to see. inside. Would I.like to see! My dear, I.simply parked the pram in the big window bay and alrriost fell over the., door step. : , ~

Do you know, the • inside is all dorie in grey, such a nice restful shade. with hangings to tone and. carpets just like the One I have set my heart on and Jim says is too expensive. I took that much in at a gasp, and . then I realised the splendid idea of . the store. It is to be a speciality shop with everything for babies, small children and maids, sb perfectly arranged and displayed. On the most wonderful fittings imaginable, either sparkling silver or subdued grey, the daintiest wee garments were arranged. The manageress told me that everything was absolutely new and of the very .latest style. Oh! it was really thrilling for a young mother like me to examine all those lovely things. ■ Guess, Cynthia, what they’ve got to amuse the kiddies while the mothers are shopping. Why! the lovliest little rocking, horses, so safe yet So/exciting to a child, and then there is the zoo—great big stuffed animals so soft and playful. They are there for the kiddies to play With on the carpeted floors. I guess they will have some trouble getting youngsters out of that shop. At the rear, a happy thought made them build a jolly nice retiring room for women and at the other side are a couple of the cutest little cubicles for fitting. Here and there about the fascinating counters are the daintiest things in lounge chairs and smaller ones for the children grown tired of riding great big horses like Daddy. The store is really in two sections. I could hardly tear myself away from the babies things, but I simply had to see all that was to be seen. The other department simply thrilled me. It’s all ladies underwear and hosiery. 1 saw sets and nighties that were perfectly gorgeous, and the prices! My dear, how can they sell these beautiful things so cheap.. After a while I felt I simply had to tear myself away,- but, before going, the manageress showed me how the whole store was heated by a most amazing system of electric’ pipes. I .mean the pipes Were piping hot because the water inside them was kept at boiling point by big electrical'‘elements. It was so warm rind cosy, and so well lighted that very loth was to go out into the coldstreet.

There now, Cynthia, I’ve tried to tell you all about this marvellous shop and its thrilling contents, but you will, really have to come to Stratford an see , it for yourself. Don’t forget its cute, name is Peggy Page.