My Wonderful Year | Page 8

or attached to a post if on
stationary duty. Most of the policemen seem to be very young.
The English Post Office is a source of interest. The main office, King
Edward Post Office, is located in High Holborn, but there is a branch
office in every two or three squares, so it seems. The mailing boxes
look like our fire alarm boxes as they are painted red and stand about
six feet high from the pavement, resembling our storage mail boxes
rather than our mail boxes. At the post office the letters are posted on
the outside of the building, and no provision is made for inside posting,

which seemed rather strange to me since one goes inside to purchase
the stamps. The stamps are all of the same design, carrying the head of
the king, only varying the position of the head from right to left with
each succeeding monarch. The postmen wear navy blue uniforms piped
in red braid with the insignia of the king on the lapels. The mail trucks
are red and had on them while I was there, GV Rex, (George V, King).
The postmen's bags are like gunny sacks. They give them a twist and
throw them over their shoulders. At College Hall mail was delivered
four times daily. Four times every day did I go to my mailbox. I did not
have many disappointments. However I had many friends who did not
find out the cost of the postage to England, for I spent about $7.50 on
due postage. Post cards are very expensive in London, the ordinary
picture card costs two cents, many of them are much higher. I spent
around $75.00 for cards and stamps. The routine of securing a money
order is much simpler than ours. You simply ask for a money order for
a certain sum of money, pay the sum and the fee, and fill out the order
yourself. You keep the memorandum or receipt. The postoffice does
not seem to have any record of the money-orders issued, certainly not
to the persons to whom they are issued. There is no long standing in
line at this window at the postoffice.
All packages that come into the country are subject to the scrutiny of
the custom inspectors. My family and friends sent me one large box at
Christmas. The custom inspector in his haste did not attach all of the
cards to the proper gifts and it was not until I returned home that I
could thank my friends for their individual gifts. I received a graduation
invitation in the usual collegiate book form and the double envelopes,
which made a rather bulky package. The inspector must have thought it
contained handkerchiefs or some small article for which payment of
duty was being evaded, for the invitation had been opened. After all he
was only doing his duty in the highly efficient English manner. Tax is
very high, especially on those articles that can be purchased in England.
I paid duty of $2.50 on a gift package of Helena Rubenstein toilet
articles, but I did not mind this as it would have cost me that much
money anyway, and I was glad to be remembered by my friend.
The Englishman does not understand our drug store. He cannot

conceive of such a place. England has a highly specialized business
organization. One gets medicine and drugs from the chemist, ice cream
and candies from the confectioner, meat from the butcher, vegetables
and fruit from the greengrocer, butter, cheese, and eggs from the dairy,
and staples and canned goods from the grocer. Chewing gum was
available only at Woolworth's and then I saw only two or three
packages. English people do not chew gum. Many stage jokes are
centered around the American's habit of chewing gum. The Army and
Navy Store is the only store that keeps everything to eat, wear, and use
that a person might need.
"By appointment" is the one goal for which the stores vie with one
another. Stores that receive royal patronage are allowed to advertise in
this manner By Appointment to His Majesty the King, or Her Majesty
the Queen, or Their Majesties, and for members of the Royal Family, to
H. R. H. the Duke of Kent. I made several purchases at stores that so
advertised, one such purchase, a dress from Marshall and Snelgrove.
The stores do not advertise profusely, perhaps a costume or an
ensemble might be featured in the paper, but never such articles as ties,
hose, sweaters, handkerchiefs, and the like. I was told that the
Englishman knows what stock the store carries and if he wishes a tie or
a sweater he simply goes purchase it. The store that has an American
atmosphere is Gordon Self ridge's; I learned