In 1898, a suit of clothes cost $5; a cart-Ioad of coal went for $2.54 and a journeyman tailor received $20 a month.

These touch-stones to the past were brought to present-day recollection and memory when the men's shop in Souris, Prince Edward Island, recently celebrated its diamond jubilee.

The store, known as Estate W. B. Leard Reg'd and unofficially as Leards of Souris, recently gave their fellow townfolk a chance to cluck over the "good old days" in an energetic anniversary promotion. One window for six weeks was the centre of attention as it showed period photographs of school classes, local stores and merchants, dramatic groups, harbour scenes, old maps and other nostalgic milieu.

Using the slogan, "Souris 60 Years Ago," throughout the promotion, the store reminded customers of the fact that it is the province's oldest men's shop

Founder of the store was Waldron B. Leard who opened a tailoring shop in 1898. The business developed and has continued on under family control following his death in 1927. The sons J. Russell Leard and Ray A. Leard now manage the store which today handles men's made-to-measure and ready-to-wear clothing as well as boys.

The historical theme of the store's diamond jubilee promotion was carried off inside as well. Among the antiques which attracted interest were a spinning wheel, a quill winder and a beautifully carved figurehead from the bow of an old square-rigger which made Souris a port-of-call. Another important part of the six-weeks' promotion was a column in the local paper, appropriately headed, "Souris 60 Years Ago." This ran for three consecutive days in the local paper.

These newspaper columns, compiled by George Leard, one of the partners, recalled the days of the custom tailor when so much of men's clothing was made to order. And when the small boot-makers looked after the footgear of men and the neighborhood smithy shod the animals that carried him about the roads. Suits, because of their heavy cloth, practically lasted a lifetime.

Recalling the economics of the time, we learn that heating a store in 1898 was cheap: A cart-Ioad of coal was $2.54; 35 cents bought a load of of split kindling. Little wonder that the tailor charged only $5.00 for making a suit for the then old-fashioned customer who brought in his own cloth and trimmings.

Room and board for the previously mentioned journeyman, earning $20 a month was $2.25. Yes, board was cheap, but already some housewives from the then one thousand population were getting "wised-up." The first baker's bread imported to the town sold at the rate of a dozen loaves a week in the summer. In the winter, it wasn't available because it was agreed that at this season, women, had nothing to do.

Bicycles were the sport cars of 1898. It is on record that the manager of a men's store had a $35 model. His bicycle customer, a picture of which appeared in the Leard window, consisted of pedal pushers, double breasted sac coat, kid boots, long stockings and a derby!

Copyright
Waldron H. Leard