17 FEBRUARY 1933, Page 16

THE DISAPPEARING INDUSTRY

[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.] SIR,—The note that appears in your issue of lath inst. about the disappearing industry of the shoeblack in this country, and the curious method that is adopted in America, reminds me of an incident I shall never forget, which you may, or may not, think worth recording. I was acting as Chaplain at Lugano twenty-five years ago, and was amused to see outside the station a shoeblack with the notice in bold lettering on his box : "English spoken, American under-