Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-09-15

The HORROR Of street Advertisement.
From the 81 James's Gazette.
The hideous spectacle which the boardings OF
London ofIer to the eye was happily caricatured
In Punch some months ago; but the result seems
only TO be an increase OF the evil The time has
come. therefore, when a more serious protest is
necessary, for II sense OF decency and OF consid-
GRAFTON for the feelings OF Others is not suicient
restraint upon the people who profit,-or hope TO
profii-by these exhibitions It will be necessary TO
discover some other means OF contro ling the
themselves. The most Or minsnt ofIender
now Is poster representing what looks
Ike peculiarly cold blooded murder.
act OF falling back, stabbed to the heart by man
who is walking leisurely away, still holding the
dripping dagger in his hand From the girls
breast there is a copious and realistic fow OF
blood. The object OF this ghastly picture Is TO
interest people In some story or other; but IL is
more likely TO send them shudderng away from
It. Then there are thu pictorial representations OF
DIR. Jekyll and Mr.. Hyde. Anything more hiaeous
than the vampre-llke thing here forced Def re our
care for such spectacles can go TO the Lyceum:
those who do not might surely be spared
the necessity Of gazing upon them at every
subject is an illustration OF a scene ~
1.-The Still Alarm" IL belongs TO that class OF
picture which represents violent action in progress
and which, In the nature OF things, is never COM
pleted. A fre engine, In full cry. seems bent on
running over you. The horses are being urged
fremen and the glare from the flames Judging
from the apparent nearness OF the latter, one
would suppose there was no need TO be in SO great
q hurry; so that altogether the picture Is very
trying 10 the judgment as well as 20 the nerves.
Not long ago Mr.. Terrfss was depicted In the haz-
ardous pei Torrance OF hauling young lady up a
clin, while several men, who presumably lad
thrown her into the water to drown, Were rowing
away In the distance. Then there was another
Mh an
directions. We remember also the agonizing
spectacle OF the Farewell TO Haslemere,s
pal incident In the story OF "Mr. Barnes OF New
York" Then. could anything be more ghastly
than the mystery OF a Hanson Cab with the
chloroformed STARE dimly seen by the light OF the
street lamps OF Melbourne? An atrocity In black
and white-we think it was something about a
"Death Shipn-has happily disappeared. IL was
vile enough as a drawing, but the subject made II
a verftabe nightmare. And, talking OF night
mares there is 10 be seen In the neighborhood OF
Bond street and Piccadilly poster OF which the
Legend is inscribed on a vampires wing, torn on
from the creature which gives Its character TO a
picture called "The Nightmare" Il is announced
that s.She" is In preparation for production at the
Gaiety; possibly the walls OF London Will soon
be plastered with somebody's conception OF the
deadly struggle that formed 50 thrilling an incl
dent In "Ben-my-Chree," or the finding OF a
drowned woman In some other drama about the
sam period, or the trap-door murder in "The
Pointsnan?" These were all exhibited without
charge by means OF posters after the style OF the
rat-eating wild man who ngures outside the coun-
try show-booJh as q sample OF the attractions
within. Enough OF instances; the broad fact that
the streets are made hideous by these displays is
snfscient for our burmese which Is 10 al Tns,has
IL is not possbl~ TO exercise some censorship over
the issue OF advertisements that can do no good 10
anybody but their authors and are undoubtedly
capable OF doing great deal OF harm. We are
aware OF cases In which the sudden and involun-
tary sight some horror OF the Kind has INFECTED
positive ply seal injury upon people in delicate
health; and there must be many others In which
the shock has told upon not over sensitive nerves.
The exhibition OF murderer, suicide a robbery.
or O fatality TO the promiscuous crowd which
throngs the streets OF London must ofUeu have O
mischievous elect, not only upon weak and trou-
IL is unple asant enough and 70 those who like it
II is only the qualification OF a morbid taste. The
disgraceful practice OF sending sandwichmen
about arrayed In cof1in-boards; and we trust they
are not powerless 10 prevent the almost equally
scandalous modes OF Establishments resorted 70 BY
those who trade upon sensauionalism-"