21.01.2014 Views

BRITISH CONSERVATISM AND THE PRIMROSE LEAGUE ... - ideals

BRITISH CONSERVATISM AND THE PRIMROSE LEAGUE ... - ideals

BRITISH CONSERVATISM AND THE PRIMROSE LEAGUE ... - ideals

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

263<br />

In addition to the activities, leaflets, songs, verses, and <br />

stories produced by the League, the newspapers The Primrose League <br />

Gazette and England contained advertisements from Conservative <br />

businessmen.<br />

Many of the products were marketed under the Primrose <br />

name, despite the fact that they were not directly affiliated with the <br />

League, receiving at best only an official endorsement.<br />

The items were <br />

diverse, although primroses sold by florists on Primrose Day <br />

undoubtedly received the largest volume of sales. <br />

The advertisements included "The Primrose Toothpaste.<br />

A Toilet <br />

Luxury! Every Constitutionalist Should Use." The Primrose Cigarette <br />

Company promoted its special "Disraeli" brand, every cigarette <br />

featuring "our Trade Mark--a Primrose and 'Peace with Honour'<br />

in Gold <br />

letters."66 A "Primrose Driving Apron"67 Was listed as well as the <br />

names of performers or their agencies willing to provide services for <br />

local entertainments.68 <br />

V <br />

During the period under study the Primrose League constituted a <br />

conservative subculture, providing a range of activities and functions <br />

which reached into the day-to-day lives of its participants. The <br />

66 Ibid., 13 August 1887, p. 1. <br />

67 The Primrose League Gazette, 1 January 1895, p. 1. <br />

68 See, for example, the advertisements featured in The <br />

Primrose League Record, 7 August 1886, p. iii and The Primrose League <br />

Gazette 6 February 1892, p. ii; 1 June 1895, p. ii; 1 January 1900, pp. <br />

1-2.

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!