The “Józef Hosiasson” department store was a respectable brand. While it started as a textile business, later on it specialized in beauty products. The company held exclusive distribution rights of Les parfums Chanel, as well as Bourjois cosmetics and a number of other French brands. Quality product must have been the focus of the business.

One day, one of their drugstore clients came over with a complaint that the teeth cleaning soaps delivered to him were of subpar quality. The Hosiasson shop notified the police, who, after a long investigation, uncovered a group of soap forgers. They managed to produce and sell a hundred dozens of fake tooth soaps – made in unhygienic from subpar ingredients. The whole band was arrested and the counterfeit products seized.

The whole story was reported on in a daily gazette, one of those early morning news outlets that did not shy away from the filthiest of stories. It was in January 1933.

5-ta Rano: bezpartyjny dziennik żydowski, 24.01.1933, link

What other sensational things were reported on that day in the “What is up in Warsaw” section?

A young bride tried to kill herself on her wedding day when the groom announced that he will only show up if the dowry is raised significantly. She jumped out of the window and put the whole neighborhood in distress.

A great fight on Dzielna street! A woman met the husband who abandoned her recently, taking with him a bunch of her own expensive jewelry. He was walking on the street with another woman. A big fight ensued, and the man is now under arrest for theft and – possibly – bigamy.

Finally, the sensational-sexual trial of Zośka “The Tomato” Kuzia was finally brought to an end. Zośka had choked a famous actor to death with (presumably his own) neck tie. She was found guilty of an accidental rather than intentional murder. The sentence – six months of arrest – is due to expire in a few days, as she had already spend the previous months locked up.

It’s not the most refined company for one’s family name to be in on a page of a newspaper, is it. But it seems that the reputation of the Hosiasson store was not tarnished in the slightest by the accident. As long as they are talking about you, no?