WHEN MY LADY WENT SHOPPING

Waikato Independent, Volume XXXI, Issue 2449, 7 March 1931, Page 3

WHEN MY LADY WENT SHOPPING

j CEREMONY OF BYGONE DAYS. LUNCH WITH FAMILY DRAPER. j A graceful picture of the amenities I that attended shopping expeditions “in the old days, ’ ’ when customers came to the county town, in wonderful carriages attended by ladies’ maids and footmen, and were entertained at luncheon by the proprietor of the store, is given in a letter to the editor of the Sunday Express, by Mr Augustus C. Edwards, of Hereford. He says: — i You can understand that in the early ’sixties trading conditions were altogether different from those prevailing to-day, aid 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 line 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. A few days before her visit the house steward would call to give us notice that she 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 postilion rode on the leader. The coachman and footman had liveries of salmon-pink broadcloth. The lady herself usually wore wonderful 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 drsps. 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 proprie- • tor, Mr Edwards, or his son (the pres- ■ cut writer). The business 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).