Shopping In London

One of tbeerroneous impressions that Americans have before they try shopping in London is that things are remarkably cheap there, and when they are set right by actual experienoe with the fashionable dressmakers and haberdashers tbey get a second mistaken idea that English tradusmen are extraordinarily uucivil. Tliis all arises from the different customs that goveru retail business in the two countries. In America we pay casli for goods or settle our accounts inonthly. In England, however, accounts are supposed to be rendered quarterly, and it has frequently happened that becatise some patrons have a social prornineuce that gives their trade value as an advertisement the shopkeeper has allowed their accounts to run tor three aud four years. Other patruns have demanded the same privileges and have abused them, and the result is that to compénsate for interest on money owiug by solvent debtors aud for the surtís lost through those who never pay the tradesman charges a goodly profit on all liis goods, aud the prices are accordingly high. Ün the other hand, American women shoppiugabroad seem to be bargaiu mad, and their efforts to beat down prices inspire the tradesman with rnuch the same feeling that a well traiued butler experiences when bis nouveau riche master economizes on his wines. In fact, looking ior