It started with a line from “The Perfect Summer” which chronicles what life was like in England in 1911. The passage told of how women of the upper class; in order to stave off boredom would, (among other things) go on shopping expeditions to the new “Department Store” Sheffield’s and Whiteley’s on Oxford street in London. ‘which boasted a staff of six thousand!
This led me to search the web for more information on the store. I found that it had been established in 1906
It offered amenities such as a post office, a library, rooms dedicated to foreign visitors, and a department dedicated to selling items for clergymen. Shoppers could at last purchase make-up and perfume easily, and the clothes department sold all manners of items – including those that were very hard to find. Women were encouraged to shop there with the slogan “Why Not Spend the Day at Selfridges?” The store quickly became a national institution.
Can you imagine such a store in this day and age?
It just makes me smile and sits on top of my mantle to keep me company.
It occurs to me after watching the unfolding disaster in the Gulf and the inadequacy of response of both Government and Industry response, how ill prepared we as a people are prepared for events of this nature and how collectively we are enamored of our technology and our relationship to it.