A History of Advertising from the Earliest Times.Sampson, Henry
History
A History of Advertising from the Earliest Times.
Sampson, Henry
Advertising -- History
A COOK-HOUSEMAID, or HOUSEMAID-COOK is wanted, for the service of a
single gentleman, where only one other, a manservant is kept. The age
of the woman wanted must not be less than 25, nor more than 40 years;
and it is requisite that she should be equally excellent in the two
capacities of Cook and Housemaid. Her character must be
unexceptionable for sobriety, honesty and cleanliness. The sobriety,
however, which consists in drinking deep without staggering will not
do; nor will the honesty suffice which would make up for the possible
absence of pilfering by waste. Neither will the cleanliness answer
which is content with bustling only before the employer’s eyes--a sure
symptom of a slattern. The servant advertised for, must be thoroughly
and truly cleanly, honest and sober. As it is probable that not a drab
out of place who reads this advertisement but will be for imposing
herself, though, perhaps, incapable of cooking a sprat, and about as
nice as a Hottentot, all such are warned not to give themselves
useless trouble. On the other hand, a steady, clean woman, really
answering the above description, will, by applying as below, hear of a
place not easy equalled in comfort; where the wages are good and
constantly increasing, and where servants are treated as
fellow-creatures, and with a kindness, which, to the discredit of
their class, is seldom merited. Personal application to be made, from
one to three o’clock, to Mr Danvers, perfumer, No. 16, Craven Street,
Strand.
Here we have the crotchety old bachelor of the novels to the life. This
advertiser was evidently a judge of character, and doubtless one of the
kindest-hearted of men, but irascible and touchy, subject to twinges of
gout, and possessed of a horror of east winds. A man who would scorn to
be affected by the most pitiful story, yet whose hand was always in his
pocket, and whose sympathy always meant relief as well. Where are all
these good old creatures gone? Are they all dead, and is the race
extinct? Frankly we must admit that we never met with any one of them,
though we should very much like to, as we could in our own person find
plenty of opportunity for the disposition of extra benevolence. It is
said that the brothers Cheeryble had an actual existence, and perhaps
they had, but if so, they managed to conceal their identity extremely
successfully. We remember once meeting two brothers in business, who in
appearance and manner were exactly like Nickleby’s benefactors; but two
more astute individuals were not to be found in the three kingdoms. And
on the strength of this likeness they possessed a great reputation for a
benevolence which never had even a symptom of real being. Apropos of
those imaginary philanthropists the Cheerybles, we present one of the
advertisements which were called forth by their appearance in the story.
It is from the _Times_, and was published February 7, 1844:--
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account