The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1885-05-20
SOMETHING ABOUT SIGNS.
RELICS OF AN ANCIENT PORN or
ADVENTIST
UuriOsities of Sign BOards-EmbIem-
attic Signs OF old Inns-Origin of
the Wooden Figures.

UuriOsities of Sign ROards-Emblem
attic Signs of old InnS-Origin of
the Wooden Figures.
The rooster" so prominent was an
old Dutch emblem, formerly much used
us a weather-cock in New Amsterdam
Signs and emblems in all countries are a
curious study and one who has travelled
much can always recall curiosities in this
line, found more especially in old coun-
try towns and out-of- -the-way places.
Advertising is now so general and run to
such an extent that few of the old-fash-
ioned signs remain in the large cities ex-
cept the tobacconists' figures, the three
balls of "my uncle" the BARRIERS poles
and occasionally pestle and mortar at
druggists and a gilt hammer or some
implement of trade. The lager beer
signs-King Gambrinus and others-are
modern conceits. am inclined to think
this divinity is sort of modification of
Bacchus, nineteenth century creation
for presiding over malt and hops instead
of the juice of the grape, and more
warmly clothed than his youthful origi
nator.
In the small towns at the South many
of the inns and taverns have the old
signs of the colonial times, such as 1.-THE
White Swan" "The Golden Lamb" and
other emblcms on battered boards in
washedout colors. Not very long
ago q sign painter was an important
person and regarded as no mean
artist, being Hospitality entertained
as he travelled through the country with
his materials of trade. Many impecun-
ious portrait painters decorated sign
! hro 1o hoo NfI l.
lin and distinguished heroes. Much iu-
genuity was spent on emblematic signs,
| figure heads and weather cocks, almost
equal to that now expended in painting
rocks and covering walls and fences with
puffs of trade and medicinal cure-alls. 1t
is wonder shopkeepers and trades
men have not adopted armorial bearings,
Labor est Nobilis." Each might have
on his escutcheon some emblem or de-
vice signifying his trade or occupation.
England was famous for her signs,
some of which, the Boar's Head the Star
and Garter, have historical fame. In
Nuremburg and old continental cities it
is very interesting to decipher the
weather. beaten signs and emblems still
hanging in the narrow, crowded streets
and alleys and in our own country their
history is we'll worth tracing. In the his
torical museum of the old South church,
in Boston, is preserved a colonial sign
of flowing Punch Bowl, once much ad
mired as a work of art. New England
discouraged all such worldly emblems,
and an old traveller complains, after
journey in stage coach, that 1.-THE pas
sengers were a thirsty set, who got out
at every sign-board" thus showing that
there were a considerable number in
spite of Puritan scruples and denuncia-
tions. Philadelphia signs are early
spoken of as being remarkably well paint
ed. A sign painter named Matthew Pratt
earned distinction for himself in his
calling. He painted the sign for the
Federal convention in 1888, put up first
on the corner of Fourth and Chestnut
streets Pratt was schoolmate Of Ben
jamin West, but found his art of paint
ing portraits insufficient to support an
increasing family and took to the more
lucrative calling of sign decorator. Sew
eral of his signs were quite famous in
Philadelphia. One, game cock on a
beer house in Spruce street, and fox
chase on Arch street, were quite artistic
pictures. He sometimes put poetical
/
Many of the old Pennsylvania towns
were noticeable for their sign boards in
the days of turnpike roads, toll bridges
and numbering stage coaches, and later
the long wagon trains of western travel
ers; to these "Rising Sun" painted in
lavish colors, "Hen and Chickens" or
the head of the "Father of his Country"
were joyfully greeted as notices of re-
freshment for weary men and beasts. On
the stage route from Philadelphia to Bal
timore some persons now remember the
"Heart in Hand, expressing a welcome !;
1.-THE Three Tuns," promising great
joviality; also II tavern with full length
portrait OF "Mad" Anthony Wayne on a
swinging sign in an iron frame. Only a
few years ago this was still hanging, bat
tered and weatherbeaten, among cars
and locomotives. The old "Wheat-
field Inn" has been denuded of
its field of waving grain overrun by hun
CRY rats and is now modern hotel.
The 'Indian Queen" was noted hotel
on this route, said to accommodate 1.-TWO
hundred guests and have bells in every
room.n
The Fountain inn, where Washington
always stayed Oh his way north from Vir-
ginia, was built round a court, in which
was fountain, and had shady galleries
on each floor. This inn was constructed
after the pattern of those in England in
the time of Shakespeare, where he used
to act plays with his comedians for the
amusement of his friends and patrons.
At Baltimore inn, the Seven Stars,
the first American lodge of Odd Fellows
was instituted and grew into importance.
These Seven Stars were gorgeously gilt
upon bright blue armament. At the
Three Loggerheads, dingy old inn near
the docks, was received the first warrant
ever granted United States lodge from
Great Britain, This was a curious sign
swung on an iron pole. On each side was
painted two very ugly faces, with the
words, "We three loggerheads be.
TO our country belongs the honor Of