It is doubtful whether he would have
consented to retire had not Alderman Holl died earlier in the
year, thus ending a long rivalry between the old men for the
patriarchate of the Square. Charles Critchlow was as free from
sentiment as any man, but no man is quite free from it, and the
ancient was in a position to indulge sentiment had he chosen. His
business was not a source of loss, and he could still trust his
skinny hands and peering eyes to make up a prescription. However,
the offer of the Midland Clothiers Company tempted him, and as the
undisputed 'father' of the Square he left the Square in triumph.
The Midland Clothiers Company had no sense of the proprieties of
trade. Their sole idea was to sell goods. Having possessed
themselves of one of the finest sites in a town which, after all
was said and done, comprised nearly forty thousand inhabitants,
they set about to make the best of that site. They threw the two
shops into one, and they caused to be constructed a sign compared
to which the spacious old 'Baines' sign was a postcard. They
covered the entire frontage with posters of a theatrical
description--coloured posters! They occupied the front page of the
Signal, and from that pulpit they announced that winter was
approaching, and that they meant to sell ten thousand overcoats at
their new shop in Bursley at the price of twelve and sixpence
each.
Pages:
965
966
967
968
969
970
971
972
973
974
975
976
977
978
979
980
981
982
983
984
985
986
987
988
989