DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70302#0344
306
THE POLITE GROCERS.
449, on the north side of the Strand, nearly opposite
Villiers Street. They were born in the house in which
they have lived ever since, and where their father, who
had carried on the business before them, died some years
ago, leaving considerable property. Though there are
many shops of the same description in that neighbour-
hood, yet we are well informed, that none of them is so
much frequented as that of Messrs. A. and J. Trim,
which is thronged with customers from morning till
night. This circumstance will not be wondered at, when
it is known that these gentlemen on all occasions display
so much attention, good-humour, and urbanity, as to
have acquired the characteristic appellation of the Polite
Grocers. These qualities alone might, perhaps, have
been sufficient to secure them an extensive custom, were
not a still more substantial advantage obtained by dealing
at their shop; we allude to the excellent quality of all
their articles, and the very reasonable price with which
they are always satisfied.
It is not improbable that curiosity, ever in quest of
food for its insatiable appetite, may likewise have contri-
buted to crowd the shop, and to augment the celebrity of
the “ Polite Grocers.” There, indeed, it would not be
entirely disappointed of the expected gratification. In-
dependent of the singular personal appearance of the
gentlemen behind the counter, one of whom is so short
as to be frequently under the necessity of mounting the
steps to serve his customers, the shop itself exhibits no
common spectacle. The counter is strewed from one end
to the other with above a dozen pair of scales, inter-
mingled with large lumps of sugar and other articles.
The floor is almost entirely covered with goods, piled
upon each other, which leave a passage so narrow as to
admit only one person at a time. This is no ostentatious
display of fictitious wares, like those of Dicky Dart, (of
whom
THE POLITE GROCERS.
449, on the north side of the Strand, nearly opposite
Villiers Street. They were born in the house in which
they have lived ever since, and where their father, who
had carried on the business before them, died some years
ago, leaving considerable property. Though there are
many shops of the same description in that neighbour-
hood, yet we are well informed, that none of them is so
much frequented as that of Messrs. A. and J. Trim,
which is thronged with customers from morning till
night. This circumstance will not be wondered at, when
it is known that these gentlemen on all occasions display
so much attention, good-humour, and urbanity, as to
have acquired the characteristic appellation of the Polite
Grocers. These qualities alone might, perhaps, have
been sufficient to secure them an extensive custom, were
not a still more substantial advantage obtained by dealing
at their shop; we allude to the excellent quality of all
their articles, and the very reasonable price with which
they are always satisfied.
It is not improbable that curiosity, ever in quest of
food for its insatiable appetite, may likewise have contri-
buted to crowd the shop, and to augment the celebrity of
the “ Polite Grocers.” There, indeed, it would not be
entirely disappointed of the expected gratification. In-
dependent of the singular personal appearance of the
gentlemen behind the counter, one of whom is so short
as to be frequently under the necessity of mounting the
steps to serve his customers, the shop itself exhibits no
common spectacle. The counter is strewed from one end
to the other with above a dozen pair of scales, inter-
mingled with large lumps of sugar and other articles.
The floor is almost entirely covered with goods, piled
upon each other, which leave a passage so narrow as to
admit only one person at a time. This is no ostentatious
display of fictitious wares, like those of Dicky Dart, (of
whom