SHABBY GLORY

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2144, 9 May 1914, Page 15

SHABBY GLORY

The little shop off Houndsditch was dingy, even below the degreo of "Ole Clo'." Yet that is what it sold. But ' tho oast raiment was tho shabby glory 1 of British uniforms of all kinds. A van was beforo.tho (loov with several export bales just moying off to the docks. "Arc these uniform's' for sale." ask- [ cd a Press representative. ■ "Ah, what do you think?" asked the Jewish proprietor. • "I will sell you ] cheap any uniform complete—except the ' trousors." Tho bargain fell through. II ! was explained that liis customers usual I ly required nothing but the tunic. Tho proprietor tnerefoifo away— ! a sale being impossible—somo interest' ing information. There is a largo exI port business in these discarded uni forms. Some of tho rebel forces in Mexice are delivering lead into tho tunic; ' of British postmen. Pnnitivo expedi ; tions —in Vest Africa particularly—hav* . been surprised to find tlie'y were nglu- " ing men 111 British Army tunics. A traveller roturned from the Uppei Niger recently told in a London sporti club a story of a very influential modi- , cine man lie met whose influence soemec ' to depend on eomo mystic letters h< I wore on the collar of an old uniforn jacket which the traveller did not recognise. The letters were formed into r quaint monogram, and the traveller hai F since found tho tunic was once worn b;\ a nuisance inspector of an obscuio urbai j, district council. —London "Daily J»ews.