The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-02-08
BARGAIN SALES IN LONDON.
New Features of AmericanixatiOn of
Correspondence Washington Post.

London.
Correspondence Washington Post
Just now every American in London is
getting little paper to fill out with name
private address, reception day, business
address. cable address. and all about one
self, In so far ii may be thought that
the public may be interested. The little
paper is sent out by the American Direc-
tory Publishing Company, and, when filled
up and returned, the information it con-
tains will be inserted in the directory of
Americans in London, a bright red book.
which now appears every year with numer-
Gus additions and improvements. L sup
pose that most Americans IN London buy
1t, and all Americans coming to London
ought to buy 1t, If they have any desire
to hunt I'D their old friends this side
old friends of ten, fifteen, twenty or twen-
ty-hve years ago, for the addresses of these
old friends are quite sure TO be found in
the little red book. Having been given
one OF these papers to fill up my mind turns
TO the fact of the rapid Americanization
of London-so rapid that it is necessary
for the Americans to have a whole drec-
tory to themselves, and so rapid that two
OF the shops are now batting customers
with this sign suspended from some Won
derfully beautiful and reliable looking
gloves:
''Forty-nine cents a pair.'
Mind you. Not two shillings and a half
penny. but 40 cents! saw a little American
woman yesterday running toward the
counter wherein hung this legend with
outstretched hands, exclaiming:
Il never thought to live to see that in
London! 1t fairly takes away my homesick-
ness,
But gloves at 40 cents and American di-
rectories are not the only signs of the
Americanization of London. At the res
taurants they tell you they will make you
flannel cakes and George X. Sims has
discovered place where he gets baked
beans An American grocery store in Pic
cadilly sells American fiatironS with re-
movable handles, ironing boards with ad-
Unstable and folding legs, zinc washboards
for Londons tired laundresses, and Amer
lean brooms.
You in America will perhaps not realize
how great a boon is the American broom,
since you have never been deprived of it.
American women keeping house in London
do appreciate it after they have had their
floors and stairs brushed with the old-fash-
Toned English broom of the short and long
handled variety, which, as far as l can
explain il, is more like the shoe blacking
brush than anything else. You sweep the
floor with it and the wooden top bangs
against the surbase and the furniture. You
are Weakened at ungodly hours in the morn
ing by the housemaid's knocketty- knock
on either side of the stairs. An American
woman / know only heard this banging
of the stair brush one morning before she
substituted bonnet whisk to the round
eyed wonder OF the servant and the mock
cry of the servants relatives, who were
lhlnieOldlely informed OF the Idct. NOW,
however, the American stair brooms with
their pointed corners, are 10 be bought i'll
Piccadilly.
Throughout London, too, Americans are
now receiving large placards through the
post, announcing that a certain firm will
supply Blue Point oysters A firm sold
American Christmas plum puddings at the
In )liday season. In many London kitchens
what is known American oilcloth is Used
in preference to the regular lineoleum, aud
/ went to a reception at an artists studio
last Sunday where the room was heated
yes, actually heated-with an American
ccai stove, burning anthracite coal. 1t
was one OF the few really warm rooms
have been in this winter, with the exception
of those in my own house and the conserva
tories OF the people l visited. The typical
Ii ndon conservatory is truly thing OF
beauty and well heated in the winter t.ne,
and one is continually coming across these
Conservatives in houses OF the humblest OF
ones acquaintance.
Every week l receive a circular from
new American druggist. or chemist, as
the English call il, who has set up bust
ness here, and the letter box Of the front
coor is generally stuffed tightly with adj
vertisements Of new American dentists. In
America these same dentists would not
think OF sending out advertisement circu-