One of L.M. Montgomery’s writing assignments for the Halifax Daily Echo involved writing about the Christmas specials at Halifax stores.
Contents
Preamble
W.H. Johnson Co.
Halifax Coal Co.
M.M. Jacques
Anderson’s Grocery
J.K. Munnis
T. Larsen & Co.
H.L. Williston
Woolnough’s Restaurant
David Roche
Conclusion
Bibliography
Image Credit
Preamble
When L.M. Montgomery worked for the Halifax Daily Echo in 1901–1902, she was given a wide range of occasional writing assignments. Most of which she never discussed, let alone saved in her scrapbooks, meaning that they cannot be identified now. One writing assignment she did mention in her journals and in her celebrity memoir, “The Alpine Path,” consisted of writing up the holiday specials of Halifax stores that were regular advertisers in the paper. But what she never revealed was the sheer scope of the assignment: she wrote advertising copy for ninety stores, for a total of 13,000 words. To put this in perspective, that’s more than half the length of “The Alpine Path.”
These write-ups appeared as “Christmas Shopping in Halifax Stores” in the Halifax Daily Echo and in its sister paper, the Morning Chronicle, between 9 and 19 December 1901. Here’s how Montgomery introduced the first batch:
Again Christmas tide approaches and the wide-awake shopkeepers have made preparations for a good season’s trade. All branches of trade feel the effect of Christmas buying, and the consumer feels it perhaps most than all, but he grows reckless with his money in preparing for the season of peace and goodwill. At times he is bothered in the selection of goods and articles which he may deem suitable and worthy of the occasion, and in order to assist readers who might possibly find themselves in such a dilemma the Echo will take the liberty of calling attention to stores and shops where Christmas purchases may be made to advantage. (NH, 203–4)
In A Name for Herself: Selected Writings, 1891–1917, I included twenty samples from this assignment, about a quarter of the total number of write-ups. As an online exclusive, I offer ten more.
W.H. Johnson Co.
What finer gift could one wish than a real good organ or piano? The W.H. Johnson Company, Limited, are just now showing at their warerooms one of the finest collections of pianos and organs ever seen here. The firm are agents for the Chickering, Newcombe, Mason and Risch, Bell, Gerhard, Heintzman, and Palmer pianos, and sample instruments of all these first-class makes are on view at the warerooms. They [are] finished in various woods and vary in price. All are offered cheap for cash, or on easy instalments. The stock contains many of cases in handsomely figured woods, made especially for the holiday trade; and, therefore, not to be duplicated later in the season. The collection represents all high art in music, modern in design and faultless in construction. Beside pianos and musical instruments of all kinds, including wired and string, of the very best the Johnson Co. handle music furniture makes.
Halifax Coal Co.
The Halifax Coal Co., with headquarters at Commercial wharf and branches at the foot of Morris street and at Dartmouth, are handling immense quantities of coal just now and are prepared to handle twice as much. They sell soft coals from all the best known mines and hard coal as well. Nothing would be more welcome as a Christmas gift in hundreds of poor households in the city than a load or chaldron of coal and the Halifax Coal Company are prepared to quote the best rates to all who wish to make the homes of the poor warm and comfortable. The company gives prices delivered on the sidewalk or in the cellar if required and their branches enable them to fill orders quickly for any part of the city or Dartmouth. Householders who have not yet laid in their winter supplies will find the Halifax Company ready to supply them. Telephones 1,165 (Commercial wharf), 209 (South branch) and 76 (Dartmouth).
M.M. Jacques
There is a heavy rush on at M. Jacques’ clothing store at 163 Barrington street and when an Echo reporter called yesterday he found the proprietor and staff so busily engaged that they had no time to enumerate the bargains offered. The sale is a bankrupt one, and this fact in itself is sufficient to attract all looking for bargains in the clothing line, but Mr. Jacques announces, in addition to this, that he will positively close out by the end of the year, and everything must go. His Quebec and Toronto branches will require his attention after Jan. 1st, and hence his decision to sell off here. The goods are well made and finished, and were never made to sell at the low figures at which they are being disposed of now. The stock includes men’s and boys’ clothing of all kinds and at figures which, it is claimed, are unprecedented sacrifices.
Anderson’s Grocery
Few in the grocery business in Halifax know what the people of the city want in the grocery line better than W. Charles Anderson, and as the result of his lengthy experience in the trade his store, at 101 Granville street, is well stocked with the goods that everybody wants or will want shortly. Anderson has a reputation that will not allow him to handle any but first-class goods and patrons can always depend on what comes from his establishment. His stock of groceries is complete in every respect and the canned goods department is equally well equipped. He receives fresh oysters in tins and bulk every Monday. He has just received his Christmas stock of fruits, nuts, peels, extracts and spices. The extracts and spices include the best makes. The raisin and currant stock is very fine. Anderson is also offering a splendid assortment of confectionery, and the prices for all are right.
J.K. Munnis
Mr. Munnis’ store, “The Beehive,” at the corner of Water and Jacob streets, is one of the landmarks of Upper Water street and is known all over Nova Scotia. But it is a landmark that is thoroughly up-to-date and when the bargains now offered there are looked at it is plain that Munnis is in the lead. He is showing a splendid stock of cloths, Meltons, Beavers, etc., for overcoats, and tweed and other suitings, all of the latest patterns. These goods are made up at prices that cannot be beat and the workmanship is guaranteed, while the style is of the latest. Top coats to measure can be had at prices ranging from $14.50 to $22.50 and suits at equally reasonable figures. Beside clothing Mr. Munnis shows a good line of gentlemen’s furnishings.
T. Larsen & Co.
Larsen & Co., 168 Granville street, are offering bargains right and left for the holidays. The firm keeps one of the most complete stocks of boots and shoes in the city, and it is always kept fresh and up-to-date. They are now showing a splendid lot of hockey goods. Larsen & Co. keep the best makes of ladies’ gentlemen’s and children’s boots and shoes, some rubber soled and heeled, and their prices are away down. They are now showing a fine line of slipper for ladies and gentlemen. The goods are in kid, cloth and worked patterns. They have also a complete line of rubber goods, snowshoes, moccasins, larrigans, etc.
H.L. Williston
Mr. Williston does business in the Parker Market Building, Barrington street. Of course Mr. Williston cannot show his Christmas stock just yet, but the birds and beef are selected and ordered and they are being fed for killing. But Mr. Williston is showing just now a stock that is good enough for Christmas. He received yesterday a large consignment of young turkeys, chickens and geese, and they are now on view. Williston is noted for his meats and game, a seasonable supply of which is always arranged for.
J. Cornelius
Cornelius’ jewelry house, 99 Granville street, was established in 1855, and Mr. Cornelius is the only jeweller in the city who was in business when he opened. The house has always been recognized as one whose good value for the money could be depended on and by paying attention to this policy the stock is kept thoroughly up to date, and the latest novelties are imported as well as all the standard articles in silver and gold. The display of watches and jewelry is immense, and precious stones are to be seen in all styles of settings. Clocks are shown in variety, and there is a splendid line of silverware and nicnacks. Yesterday Mr. Cornelius opened a cask of Royal Worcester ware, and also importations of English silver novelties and gun metal wares, consisting of watches, cigar and cigarette cases, pencils, etc.
Woolnough’s Restaurant
There are now being served at Woolnough’s, 153 and 155 Hollis street, some of the finest oysters that ever came from P.E. Island and there is a great demand for them. Lunching and dining together is one of the most joyful features that old friends find at this season of the year and the better they dine the better they are pleased. Woolnough’s is just the place to dine as it is one of the best equipped restaurants in Canada. All the game of the season is to be had there and all the delicacies of the year.
David Roche
The well known house painter and decorator, and wall paper importer, at 236–238 Argyle street, is now in the midst of his Christmas trade, and his men are in all directions throughout the city decorating houses where the festive season will see happy homes. But Mr. Roche has a large staff of decorators, and is prepared to attend to all orders at short notice. His line of business does not call for the laying in of any particular line of Christmas goods, but he says that all the stock will be offered at lower figures during the holidays than ever. Gold paint he is selling at 23 cents per bottle and blue enamel at 7 cents. He has cut the prices of artists’ materials and wall papers.
Conclusion
And on 23 December 1901, Montgomery—or, rather, “Cynthia”—wrote in her column “Around the Table” about a late snowfall that was apparently a rarity in Halifax at the time:
I believe we are going to have a white Christmas after all. I’m so glad. I hate a “green” Christmas. You know, when a Christmas is a dirty-grayey-browney affair, looking as if it had been left over about a hundred years ago, and had been in soak ever since it is called a green Christmas. Don’t ask me why! As Lord Dundreary says, “There are thome thingth no fellow can underthtand.”
We don’t get a white Christmas oftener than once in a blue moon, so it is something to be duly thankful for. It is the only real, guaranteed Christmas. Any other kind is a fraud and imitation. Always ask your dealer for a white Christmas and insist on having it.
Lots of snow, making the world look like a magnified Christmas card, crisp, exhilarating air and jingles of sleigh bells everywhere—that’s as it should be. No “green” Christmas for me, an it please ye. (NH, 117)
It’s an apt sentiment, since this year, here in Kitchener, Ontario, it also looked like it was going to be a “green” Christmas. But then it snowed overnight—just enough of a dusting to cover the dead lawn but not nearly enough to warrant a lot of shovelling, which is a bonus.
I wish everyone who reads this website a safe and happy holiday season, and I look forward to continuing the conversation about L.M. Montgomery’s life, work, and legacy in 2019.
Bibliography
Halifax Daily Echo. “Christmas Shopping in Halifax Stores.” 9 December 1901, 1; 10 December 1901, 1; 11 December 1901, 6; 12 December 1901, 1; 13 December 1901, 1; 16 December 1901, 8; 17 December 1907, 8; 18 December 1901, 10; 19 December 1901, 10.
Also, in substantially abridged form, in Morning Chronicle (Halifax), 10 December 1901, 6; 11 December 1901, 6; 13 December 1901, 3; 14 December 1901, 8; 19 December 1901, 6.
Montgomery, L.M. A Name for Herself: Selected Writings, 1891–1917. Edited by Benjamin Lefebvre. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2018. The L.M. Montgomery Library.
Image Credit
Banner made from an illustrated header that accompanied the unsigned work “Christmas Shopping in Halifax Stores” in the Halifax Daily Echo on 9 December 1901, 1.
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