With my Wife this Day to Westminster, and walking thereabouts in
Regent-Street and Oxford-Street, and the principal Streets, though
contrary to my Resolution to walk with her only in the Fields, but did
it to please her, and keep her in good Humour, but in mighty Fear of
what it might cost me, trembling to observe her continually looking
askance at the Shop-Windows. But I cannot wonder that they did catch her
Eye; particularly the Haberdashers, and Drapers, and Mercers, whereof
many were full of Bills, stuck in all Manner of Ways across the Panes,
and printed in Letters of from two Inches to a Span long, and staring
Dashes of Admiration two and three together. In one Window posted a
"Tremendous Sacrifice!" in another an "Alarming Failure!!" in a third a
"Ruinous Bankruptcy!!!", by reason whereof, the Goods within were
a-selling off at 50, 60, or 70 per Cent. under prime Cost, but at any
Rate the Owners must raise Money. Good Lack! to think of the dreadful
Pass the Drapery Trade must have come to; so many Master-Mercers and
Haberdashers on the Threshold of the Prison or the Workhouse, and their
Wives and Families becoming Paupers on the Parish, or Beggars, and their
People out of Employ starving; if their notices do tell true. But my
Wife did say, very serious, that we were not to judge, or to know of
their Tricks and Cozenage, and, that it was no Matter to us if they did
cheat their Creditors, provided we could buy their Wares at a Bargain,
and besides, if we did not, others would. So going by RAGGE, RIP & CO.,
their Establishment, as they do call their Shop, she would needs stop in
Front of it to look in; which did trouble me. I to read the Posters in
the Window, which were the worst and most pitiful of any, and by their
showing MR. RAGGE and MR. RIP, and their CO. were going altogether to
the Dogs. My Wife did presently, as I expected, find somewhat she had a
Mind to: a Muslin she did say was Dirt-cheap, and I knew was Dirt-worth.
I plainly refused to let her buy it, or anything else at RAGGE and
RIP'S, who have been, to my knowledge, making a Tremendous Sacrifice any
Time the last two Years; but the Simpletons their Customers the only
Victims. But I pity not a Whit such Gudgeons as are caught by these
Tricks of the Drapery Trade; rightly served by being cheated in seeking
to profit, as they think, by Fraud and dishonest Bankruptcy. I told my
Wife that RAGGE and RIP do sell off at a Loss to none but those that
deal with them, and were like at that Moment, instead of being
Bankrupts, to be making merry at the Expense of their Dupes. But she
being sullen at my Denial of her Muslin, I did quiet her by the Promise
of a better Piece at FAIRCLOTH and PRYCE'S, who do carry on Business
without rogueish Puffery, and after the old Fashion of English Traders,
according to the Maxim, that "Good Wine needs no Bush," which my Wife,
poor silly Wretch, not understanding, I explained to her did mean, that
stuffs worth the buying, to find a Sale, do stand in no need of
Haberdashers' trickish Advertisements.
[Illustration: _MADAME TUSSAUD HER WAX WERKES. YE CHAMBER OF HORRORS!!_