Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1869-10-21

why don't some one OF our many mhgazRists
write paper on tho odd, and illiterate, and fun
ny signs" of the times7
This is not conundrum-to "give up"-nor
do propose to answer the question here.
A person OF lively Imagination and extended
observation could. undoubtedly, furnish a very
readable article on business signs, notices, &c.
1t Is a Geld comparative uncxplored, aud one that
will admit of working up"
Sign palnters--" sign WRITER'S" some call them
selves-shoud be, like printers, and q certain
breed of dogs-gooi "pointers." That is, they
should have punctuation at their brushs end.
Too few letter painters are proficient In this i'm
portant branch of the art. How many signs,
otherwise perfect, are marred by ignorant puuc-
tuatioa The letters themselves may indicate
"masier hand" curve pleasing to the eye,
the shading admirably effective. and the pune
tuatioI marks-scattered promiscuously, with.
out the least regard to sense or place.
How often do we see q sign punctuated like
ths -
JOHN. SMITH
DKAnKR, IN Day. GooDs. AND GRocERIKs.
This is emphatically one Of the signs of the
period. Then, again, the apostrophe Is omitted,
or unnecessarily inBertcu-tnus.
BROWNS
DRr Goop's STORE.
BONE years ngo accompanied an excursion to
city in Pennsylvania--a city where found The
chief occupation Of Its young men to consist In
drinking "becr" in the forenoon, imbibing
"lager" in the afternoon, and In the evening, for
nvariety, slipping lager beer. The excursionists'
remaiaing over night, put up at the various
hotels in the place. The next day, meeting n
friend on the street, l asked him where he was
stopping.
"At the Knapp shotcl," was the reply.
"At the Knapp Shoteli l never heard of the
house."
"Never heard of Knapp shotel It's just above
here-come along" / accompanied him, and on
reaching the house ! glanced at the sign, and
there, in al the glory ot red and white paint, and
letters nearly as large as velocipedo wheels,
read
KNAPP 'suorRL.
Manifestly the "artist" intended to paint
"Knapp's Hotel hut the 50 AID diminutivs
apostrophe had seeded from Knapp and Joined
their fortunes with Hotel; and Knapp Shote
It was called by all those who ever took th'
trouble 10 call II at oil.
"Cnkes and Bear Solcd Hear" Is very com
mon sign; II pertains mostly to the country, ant
is, like the " Cakes and Bear, home made,
The man who put up on bis premises "Thii
Property for Sail was not 30 sharp as his wife
but he give her an opportunity to get of very
good thing. A gentleman passing the hous.
asked her when the property was going to "sail,
a. AS soon as person comes along who cnI
raise the nind" was the apt reply.
Some signs invite more than ono construction
Entering cigar store one day, my eye caught ,
placard labelled thus: "a Boy Wanted to Strip
Feeling in fa.etious mood, said to the perso'
Whose boy wanted to strip 2"-pointing I,
the notice. why did he want to strip An
why didn't you let him strip"
All this was lost on the fellow, howcver,-h
couldn't zee the joke; but Mt once entered into
lengthy explanation. l don't believe he coul
see joke In Wrbster's unabridged dictionary.
1t would be Joke If he could
Denver iobucconist has the champion sign
which. II constructed at all. Is not liable TO NOR
than ono Interpretation. Over his door be ha
"FyNe KUt 2 bak Oh" The 'artist' was evl
dently an economical chap, and wished to saw
paint. Or perhaps he Is getting up a new systeI
of stenogrnphy, adapted to the wants OF sig
pninters-and as such we recommend 1t.
The Denver sign writer has left his imprint
Missouri, for on u crossroads store In that Stat
Is posted this information -
'sNotice to all hoo Is In deter-sr in vited to col
ford s ,ss up sns' h' last of this month
A Chicago painter falls below the mark In tn
'Kash paid for olde Brass an Roper"
TOT pupil of Josh Billings we attribute the 70
lowing
NoTTissE.
strad or stold. large red steer OK with whi
speks on lett eide made with A Swsler fork In eat
year q too underbits in the Kite Year ABOUT vev'
or ate ears old belongs 10 a widaer ladie with
Short tail
July 20, 1sooes
While Sabbath School convention was In SO
sion at Sapdusky, Ohio, blasphemous oyste
man, whose education has been sadly neglecte'
had the temerity To announce; 'Oisters ih eve
stile, coked to order. Friends Of the Redems
will please caul."
An uniiIial son Is the person who In Westel
town, ordered this egD painted md placed on b
shop :-"Bstta, Jr., slaughters hogs like b
father" Very rough, indeed, is this on the
mani
In the window of New York restaurant, n
long ago, this cannibalistic sign appeared "Y
ais Cookt Here" 1t is of vital importance
know that Tictuais and not 'vitals were "cookt
The omission OF an apostrophe caused eigu
Modists's establishment to make sweeping
sertion, viz :--"Ail kinds of Ladies' stays here
on reading this announcement the question nj
urally aiises-Why do all kinds OF ladlss 81
there 7-and learn that Ladies' stdys are kept
sale. Only this, and nothing more.
In a thinly-settled district Of Western Pcnns
vnnia there Is an old tumble down log cottage
the roadside, where the travellers attention is
tracted by long rougn plne Doaro, nhlieu up
the fashion of a sign, and bearing, in letters
very primitive fashion, this inscription:
INV wyf QUERIES A Goose,
and Qasres the danders.'
This perplexing riddle, which would puzzle
expert In the dead letter office TO decipher, is
plained by the old gentleman who lives In
cabin, who informs you that my old woman
me are kind o. doctors like; she cures fey
nagurs, and cures yaller janders."
Here Is a sign 1 once noticed at the door o
- l.V al. Nat all. ham
Pennsylvania Dutch apparently, aud would
the brain of compositors familiar with Mr.. 81
ley's chirography to translate, How many G
toners would such sign entlce into stor
purchase Ladies' CATERS" because they v
''selling cheapf"
But have written enough on signs, whic
q sign that had better sign my sign-man
and will now do SO.
Yours, B DAD
al Lad In, nhi.a didr,f Z