A Few Memories Extending over ' f l )'<<tis in British Guiana. 05 



building was a billiard and sitting room and at the other end, the 

 resident partner's quarters. 



There were 6 or 8 of us Home hands, amongst them being A. K. F. 

 Duncan, James Stuart and Peter Stewart. When Mr. Currie left the 

 tirm to start his own business near the market, known as Donald Currie 

 A: Co., he took the two Stuarts with him. A. K. F. Duncan left and 

 later on joined Smith Bros. & Co. Messrs. Smith & Gibson, who made 

 Smith Bros, k Co.. were also with Playfair & Co.. but before my time, 

 commencing business where Donald Currie Sz Co. is now. They had to 

 give way for Mr. Currie to open his own business, in course of time 

 acquiring the premises and business for themselves. 



In 1877 I went Home to get married. During my absence Mr. 

 Fairbairn lost his brother, consequently shortly after my return. I was 

 made Chief Clerk of the main business. Mr. Duncan having left, it was 

 thought advisable to close down the branch known as the Granite Ware- 

 house, now the Bon Marche, of which I was in charge, it being too near 

 the chief store. Later on, when Mr. Fairbairn severed his connection 

 with the firm and it was necessary to cut down expenses, I had to find 

 other quarters also. In the following year, and up to the present, a 

 peculiar degree of unfavourable circumstances seemed to dog my 

 footsteps. 



In the earlier years of my experience several firms, amongst them 

 being Paisley, Templeton & Co.. Playfair Sz Co.. and Booker Bros. & Co., 

 boarded their Home hands and it can be well imagined what lively rollick- 

 ing times there must have been, with so many hale, hearty young men 

 about the streets after dinner. In those days it was a rare exception to 

 meet non-drinkers, even those who cauie out as such very soon followed 

 the custom, generally having a pretty hard time of it until they fell in 

 line ; so that what with natural and unnatural spirits, it can easily be 

 seen what would happen. Then Mr. Bobby (who at that time was a 

 policeman, not a semi-military creature) very discreetly was non est when 

 a band of these young sparks made their appearance, and if by any 

 chance at all, one of them, more venturesome than usual did show up, he 

 was promptly turned upside down. No Police Court case followed next day. 



Mr. Bobby in his generation was by far too wise, knowing full 

 well which side his bread would be buttered on. As for stray hand-carts. 

 etc., seen at the roadside after dark, it was deemed that they needed a 

 washing, so forthwith into a trench they went and woe betide the owner, 

 if he dared to protest for in he went also a sadder but wiser man. All this 

 has passed away and now young men either club together and go into 

 diggings or into one of the now numerous Boarding Houses. So changes 

 take place, the old giving away to the new, not always, one is very much 

 inclined to think, for the better. I could many a tale unfold of eccen- 

 tricities of employes, clerks, etc. It may be as well, however, to drop the 

 curtain on them with one exception. History always repeat itself, and just 



