INCONGRUOUS DISPLAY OF GOODS.
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sauterne, Rhenish wines, bottled stout, pale ale, glasses to drink all these good articles out of, and I know not what besides. Loaves of sugar dangling by the side of zephyr scarfs, or candle-boxes vis-à -vis with ostrich feathers. Oh ! ye tradesmen of Regent-street, so polite and perfumed, and such calibre, who stand behind your glossy counters with the air of " my lord duke," or glide with noiseless steps and mincing airs over your Persian carpeted floor, —what, what would you think of our Antiguan shops? Or how would those over-fashionable gentlemen at Storrand Mortimer's be astounded, when tendering for approval to " beauty bright" those costly gems which carry us back to the days of the Arabian nights, if they came in contact with a brass kettle or an iron pot ! I often wonder how the pale-faced, straight-haired clerks (for they are not termed shopmen in this part of the world) manage to get on among such a multiplicity of dissimilar articles ; or that from being asked for so many contrary goods during the day, they do not make many and greater mistakes. A lady drives up in her carriage to the door of one of these labyrinthan depots of vanity, and in that " low soft voice so sweet in woman," asks to be shewn some orange flower chaplets, and essence of Frangipanier. The poor clerk, his brains turning round like a revolving light, flies to obey her commands ; but lo ! in his hurry and confusion, he catches up a, frying-pan, and with streaming brow, presents the inelegant article to the lady's astounded and horrified gaze, instead of the delicate perfume. The master of these gay and changeful stores, is as diversiformed as his goods are various. In the morning he stands behind his counter, and "bows to" and " ma'am's" any black member of the canaille that condescends to purchase a few yards of "half-a-bit" (2d. sterling) ribbon to sandal her millpost ankle ; while in the evening, in all the glories of white pantaloons, new coat, smart buttons and embroidered stock, he figures away at an aristocratic dinner party.