Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1885-04-03
STRANGE SIGNS.

yarfous Manifestations ofthe Art OF
Adyertisins-Sorre of the Old Tav-
erns-The origin of TobaecOnIsIs'
Images and other Queer Institu-
tions.
i Philadelphia Times.
The democr attic rooster" lately so
prominent, was an old Dutch emblem
| formerly much used as weathercock
in New Amsterdam. Signs aud en-
blems in all countries are a curious
study, and one who has travelled nauch
can ALWAYS recall curiosities in this
line, found more especially in old
country towns and out-of the way
| places. Advertising is now so gener-
al and run to such an extent that few
of the o1d-fashioned signs remain in
the large cities except the tobscconists'
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 saloon signs
/ King Gambrinus and others-are
modern conceits. I am inclined to
think this divinity is a sort of modifi-
cation OF Bacchus, a nineteenth CEN
tury creation for presiding over malt
and hops instead of the juice of the
grape, and as is fit more warmly
clothed than his youthful originator.
In the small towns a 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 equally in
! applicable emblems on battered boards
Ia washed-out colors. Not very long
ago sign painter was an important
person and regarded as no mean ar.
| tist, being Hospitality entertained as
he travelled through the country with
his materials of trade. Many impe-
cunious portrait-painters decorated
| sign! cards with heads of Washington
| FraMklin, o., d other distinguished
heroes. Much ingenuity was spent
on emblemahc signs, fguIehesds, and
weathercocks, almost equal to that
now expended in painting rocks and
covering walls and fences with puffs
of trade medicine cure alls. 1t is a
wonder shopkeepers and tradesmen
have not adopted armonal bearings,
Labor esS Nobills" Each might
have on his escutcheon some emblem
or devise signifying his trade or occu
patton.
England was famous for her signs,
some of which, the Boar's Head, the
Star and Garter, have historical fame.
In Nuremburg and cd continental
cities it is interesting to decipher the
weather beaten signs and emblems
still hanging in the narrow, crowded
| streets and alleys, and in our own
tnrr h
worth tracing. In the historical
museum of the old South church, in
Boston, is preserved a colonial sign of
flowing punch bowl, once much
admired as work of art New Eng
land discouraged all such worldly
emblems and an old traveller com
plains, after a journey in a stage
coach, that "the passengers were a
thirsty set. who got out atevery sign
board, thus showing that there were
considerable number IL spite of
Puritan sGruples and denunciations.
Philadelphia signs are early spoken of
as being remarkably well painted A
sign painter named Matthew Pratt
earned distinction for hlmself in his
calling. He painted the sign for the
federal convention IN 178S put up first
on the corner of Fourth and Chestnut
streets. Pratt was schoolmate of
Benjamin West, but found his art of
| painting portraits insufficient to sup
port an increasing family, and took
to the more lucrative calling of sign
decorator. Several of his signs were
quite famous in Philadelphia. One,
a game cock On beer-houSe in Spruce
OF f,Nx
were quite artistic pictures. He s8me-
times put poetical couplets at the bot
tom of his signs.
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 latter the long wagon
trains of western travellers. To these
a ''Rising Sun" painted ip avish
colors, ''hen and Chickens" or the
head of the "father of his country"
were joyfully greeted as notices of
refreshments for weary men and
| beasts. On the stage route from
Philadelphia and Baltimore some per-
sons now remember the Heart in
Hand, expressing a welcome; "The
- u
ty; also a tavern with a full length
portrait OF Mad" Anthony Wayne
on swinging sign in on iron frame.
Only few years ago this was still
hanging, battered and weatherbeaten,
among cars and locomotives The
old "Wheatfeld Inn" has been de
nuded of its field of waving grain
overrun by hungry rats and is now a
modern hotel. The" Indian Queen"was
a noted hotel on this route, said to ac-
commodate two hundred guests and
have bells in every room"
The Fountain Inn, where Washing
ton always stayed on his way north
from Virginia, was built round a
court. in which was fountain, and
had shady galleries On each floor. The
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 pat
rons.
At Baltimore inn, the Seven Stars,
the first American lodge of Odd Eel
lows was instituted and grew into
Importance. These Seven Stars were
gorgeously gilt upon a bright blue
| armament. At the Three Loggerheads,
dingy old inn near the docks, was
received the first warrant ever grant
ed the United States lodge from Great
Britain. This was a curious sign
swupg on an iron pole. On each side
were painted two very ugly faces,
with the words: I'VE three logger
heads be-"
In Annapolis, until very lately,
there were some curious signs of the
Old Dominion, the Kings Head, the
Raleigh tavern, and the Duke of
Cumberland. On a livery stable
around an awning was procession of
small wooden horses, prancing, run
ming, and trotting, signifying all were
to be procured there, sort of toy
stable. Excepting the Growing
rooster, " the favorite cid Dutch wealth
ereock, there are few signs left in New
York of the old Knickerbeckers. The
Oldest inhabitants remember the Pew
ter Mug. the resort of the old Tam.
many; the Bulls Head, in the Bow
erie" /" and the River God of the Man
| hatran waterworks. An old coffee.