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PEERS' SOAP;
COMPLIMENTARY BANQUET AND PRESENTATION
BY, ,
THE PRESS 'OF THE WORLD
TO
HUCv 3D. ^T. B^LJK JEK^L'V OP.
GIFT OF ONE THOUSAND GUINEAS TO THE NEWSPAPER PRESS FUND; ,
A Grand Banquet was given at the
Whitehall Rooms, Hotel Metropole, by the
Press of the World, to Mr T. J. Barratt, the
managing partner of tha firm' of Messrs. A.
and IT. Pears, in recognition of the great
services he has rendered to printing,
artistic, and kindred enterprises, by the
active part he has taken in the development
of advertising iu all its branches.
The chairman for the occasion was Sir
Algernon Borthwlck, Bart., M.P., and the
company included, amongst other distin
guished guests, Mr Ashmead Bartlett, M.P.,
Mr Frank Lockwood, Q.C., M.P., Mr T. P.
O'Connor, M.P., Mr J. W. Moclure, M.P., Mr
G. Newnes, M.P., Colonel North, Mr Sheriff
Harris, Mr Alderman Spark, Mr Andrew
Pears, Mr Under-Sheriff Beard, Mr Clement
Scott, Mr W L Thomas, Mr E. Marston, Mr
G. E. Sims, Mr H. W. Lucy, and others, the
London and provincial press being very
strongly represented. Over 200 guests sat
down to the banquet.
The proceedings were throughout charac
terised by the greatest enthusiasm, and the
testimonial plate, which occupied a prom
inent position on the principal table, was
freatly admired. This haudspme service
as been manufactured by the Goldsmiths'
and Silversmiths' Company, of 112, Regent
St., London, and comprises — a Solid Silver
Dessert Service, consisting, of 2 large Jar
dinieres for fruit or flowers, and 4 small
Dishes for fruit.
The .Illuminated Address, which was
executed in the most artistic manner, set
forth the good wishes of the Subscribers
to Mr Barratt, and their cordial recognition {
of the great public services he had rendered
by his well-directed enterprise. It com
prised over fifty pages, and was tastefully
bound in ruby morocco, the monogram of
the recipient, worked in gold, being in
scribed on the front cover.
Sir Algernon Bortawick took the chair
shortly after 8 o'clock, and the banquet
was at once proceeded with, the string
band of the Royal Artillery, under the dir
ection of Cavaliere Zavertal, playing a'
choice selection of music at intervals. The
vocalists engaged were Madame Clara
Samuel, Miss Marion McKenzie, Mr William
Coates, and Mr Adams Owen.
After the toast of 'The Queen,' the
' The Houses of Parliament' was happily
proposed by Mr Charles Cross, and res
ponded to by Mr Frank Lockwood, Q.C.,
M.P., Mr J. W. Maclure, M.P., and Mr T. P.
O'Connor, M.P.
Sir Algernon Borthwick, after facetiously
alluding to the uses and the non-uses of
soap among ancient races, ranked it as one
of our chief articles of commerce. It came
before the public in many forms, but the
most familiar was the special one brought
before the public by the firm whose centen
ary they had met to celebrate that night —
the one-hundredth year of Messrs. Pears
as a firm. He said it was unnecessary to
dilate on the merits of a commodity which
the testimony of Patti and other celeb
rities had already rendered so famous ; but
he could not forbear to congratulate the
firm on their enlistment of the services of
Royal Academicians and other votaries of
art in commending its virtues to the public.
They were assembled there in great num
bers, including the Press of England, the
Press of America, the Colonial Press, and,
in fact, the Press of the World.' The
Houses of Parliament were also represented
by Members who were actually among
them. Sir Algernon alluded to the modest
beginnings of the present eminent firm of
Puars; how the original 'Pears' by hard
work and assiduity, went on and prospered,
and the present establishment was the
ultimate reward. About twenty-ftv£ years
ago, Mr Barratt entered the firm, introdu
cing further enterprise and developments,
particularly in connection with the adver
tising department of the great house. He
alluded to the many advantages that had
been giving to newspapers and the press
generally in the way of advertising and
printing. The real business of the evening
was of course to come down to the indivi
dual, and they had to heartily congratulate
the firm on their hundredth year, and Mr
Barratt in particular, upon bis masterly
development of the powers and' resources
of the firm.' The record ? 'during their hun
dred years was one to be proud of, and the
speaker thought that the man who had
achieved what Mr Barratt had acheived
ought to be proud of such a presentation
as the press had bestowed upon him that
night.
Mr T. J. Barratt, atteri afew preliminary
remarks said he would have occasion to
refer both to his firm and himself iu con
nection with the art of advertising, and
he would endeavor to do so with as little
egotism as possible. So far as their firm
was concerned, it dated buck one hundred
years from the present time. It started
with only a small Barber's shop, and al
though it was all those years ago, he would
say that the proprietor conducted his busi
ness on the strictest principles of integrity,
and they as a firm had endeavored to main
tain the tradition. For the last 25 years he
had been associated with his present firm,
and he wished to take that opportunity
of paying that during the whole of that
time he and his partner never |had one ill
word, and it was very gratifying to be able
to say that the partnership between them,
having now nearly expired, they had agreed
to enter upon another term of 21 years
(Cheers). There was one question in par
ticular which they were all now particu
larly interested in— viz, the question of
advertising. This was a matter in which
they were all mutually interested. He was
perfectly certain that without the press,
which the gentlemen present so worthily
represented, they should never have been
able to render so satisfactory an account at
Somerset House as they were able to do to
day. As to the advertising in connection
with their business, he might tell them
they had always been increasing in that
direction, and he hoped they always would.
They had now, attained the expenditure of
upwards of one hundred thousand pounds
per annum; and he, thought that might be
considered a'fair contribution on the part
of one firm towards the support of the press
of- this country. Moreover, by these exten
sive operations they had stimulated
activity on the part of other Houses; ; not
only here but in America and in 'Australia,
He noted each year a' large accession to tha
army^-of Advertisers. For one hundred
thousand pounds he would tell them what
they_ got — They got a circulation of twenty
millions per day, going into the house of
everybody in England, America, 'and- Aus
tralia, where they had Branch Houses, com
pelling the' firm to keep their : Stores open
day and night in order to. keep pace with
the Trade. For their : One Hundred Thou
sand Pounds a year they attracted the
attention of a hundred millions of English
speaking people. There was one very, impor
tant point to which he wished to draw
attention. It was commonly supposed that
advertising increased the cost of the article
to the public, and a fcreat many people
declared they would not buy an advertised
article because it made it expensive, but
experience proved quite the contrary— for
in spite of their own vast expenditure,
they were able to sell their goods more
cheaply, than' ever. The speaker alluded1 to
the thousands of Artists, ChromoLitho
graphers; Printers, Bill Posters, and others,
who were employed in connection with the
business, but still in the end the public
received the benefit. This was a point he
particularly wished to impress upon them.
In conclusion Mr Barratt thanked his
hearers most; heartily for the very hand
some present they had been kind enough to
make him. This magnificent work of art
he Bhould always preserve— it would be to
him a joy for ever— and he could only hope
that the very pleasant relations the firm
had always had with the press would lone
be maintained in the future to their mutual
advantage.
The Chairman then announced that ha
had received a donation from Messrs A. and
F. Pears of the sum of 1000 guineas to the
Newspaper Press Funds, a statement that
was received with deafening and long
continued cheers. The surprise evoked
by this announcement was very great,
it being remarked that the donation
was nearly double that of any previous
single contribution to the same fuid.
The toast of ' The Press' was proposed
by Mr Brown, of the New York Serald, and
responded to by several leading Press'meri,
the interesting proceedings being brought
to a close by the usual vote of thanks to
the chairman,' proposed in a capital-speech
by Mir Edmund Routledge, and warmly
responded to by Sir Algernon Borthwick..
Mb T. J. BARRATT. (Managing Partner, Messrs. A. and F. Pears.) Help
Mb T. J. BARRATT.
(Managing Partner, Messrs. A. and F. Pears.)
This Splendid Silver Dessert Service was presented by the Newspapers of the World to Mr T. J. Barratt, the managing partner in the famous business of Peabs Soap, in recognition of his great services to News paper, Printing. Artistic, and kindred enterprises, by the leading part he has taken in the development : ^^rtising in all its branches. This beautiful Service of Plate cost One Thousand Guineas It is modelled in the highest style of the Silversmiths' art, and has been designed aud manufactured bv the Goldsmiths' and Silversmiths' Company, 112, Regent-street, London, W : Help
This Splendid Silver Dessert Service was presented by the Newspapers of the World to Mr T. J. Barratt, the
managing partner in the famous business of Peabs Soap, in recognition of his great services to News
paper, Printing. Artistic, and kindred enterprises, by the leading part he has taken in the development
: ^^rtising in all its branches. This beautiful Service of Plate cost One Thousand Guineas It is
modelled in the highest style of the Silversmiths' art, and has been designed aud manufactured bv the
Goldsmiths' and Silversmiths' Company, 112, Regent-street, London, W :
$