The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-07-16
WAYSIDE SIGNS.
SOME ADVENTURES OF A PERI
PATETIC PAINTER.
kHe Goes About the Country Paint
ing Advertisements on Rocks,
Fences. Barns, Etc
Warm Receptions.


A sign painter who has made it his
! business for years to wander around the
country, painting advertisements in con-
kspicuous places, has been giving his ex-
periences in the New York Sun. We
Iuote as follows:
81 struck one man, up the country,
bo was up to snuff and wasn't going
have any fancy decorations on his
= rounds if he could help it. had heard
previously that he was bad customer to
Eeackle, and that it would be impossible
to get his consent. But his fence ran
right along the road in very excellent
spot where all the farmers had to pass on
their way to town, and I was bound to
get sign on it. So took my pot and
Just sauntered out early one morning up
to corner of his place removed from
the house and barns, where my sign
would stand out in bold relief.
81 put down my pot and began to
work away. His land was up some dis
tance above the road, and I had to climb
up little hill to get to it. Everything
was quiet ard serene, and began my
work with prospect of finishing it be-
fore there would be anybody around. l
had gotten the letters Hem down, and
was humming away to myself, when I
heard gruff voice yelling: 'Look-a-here,
young man, who told you that you could
paint on my fence7' is this your fenceT
said I, in apparent great surprise.
why, don't know; kind O. thought
it would make the fence look little
better to have nice fancy sign on it. ,
The old fellow lifted up his pitchfork in
an easy sort of way, and says: well,
young man, I'll give you about two min
utes to get down out of here I didn't
care to argue the point, seeing he was so
near me, so I picked up my pot and
skunk out.
"The more thought of it, the less I
liked the idea of leaving my work un-
finished, so I hung around until I thought
the farmer had gone, and then I again
sneaked up. I had gotten two more
letters down when again heard the old
fellow yell. Didn't tell you to get
out of here2' looked up and there he
was with his pitchtork again. well,
YOU see, said I, Il didn't think it would
be just the right thing to let this sign
stay unfinished this way, so thought
I'd Just come up and round it out nicely
and make complete job of it, well,
I'll get you out of here said the old
fellow, and the first thing I knew the
handle of his pitchfork began moving
around in curious sort of way. He
didn't make any attempt to strike me,
and he looked so funny that I thought
he was loony. Strengthened up to see
what he was doing, and to my horror I
found he was poking up lot of bees in
some beehives that l hadn't seen. Before
could say Jack Robinson the bees came
out. They didn't seem to have any
grudge against the farmer, but they
took to me with wonderful lovingness.
Ididn't stop to say good day or take my
paint brush or anything else, but near
!, ly broke my neck the way went down
that hill. Some of the fellows were
bound, however, to escort me back to
the village, aud I got there with about a
dozen of them clinging to my neck and
face. 1t took me about four days to re-
cover.
"After the war was over went down
to Charleston, and, after doing some
painting there,I thought I would 60 over
to Fort Sumter to sec if couldn't do
some there. I got some of my pots no
gether and hired one of the little fat
bottomed boats that you can find all
over Charleston harbor, and rode over to
the fort. 1t was an off-day for visitors,
and found only the United States Army
in charge. The army consisted of one
Irish Sergeant and his wife. Of course I
could tell his rank by the stripes on his
sleeve, but I thought he might be suscep-
tible to taffy, and so saluted him with
q great deal of politeness and said {:
Good morning, Lieutenant He straight
ened up like an arrow, and seemed to
take iu about three inches more air than
usual. Good mornin', sor,' he said. I
told him had come over to look around,
and asked him if he wouldn't show me
some parts of the fort. He took me all
over it, showing me the gun-room and
places where the shells had struck, ex-
planning everything with great care.
Every time I addressed him put him one
rank higher, and when we had got
through walking around I said to him
Colonel, am just painting signs around
the country, and thought maybe might
Just put up one on the walls of the fort
here The old fellow was intoxicated by
the honors had done him, and he said ::
sShure, av coorse, so right ahid.' In
about two hours I had Helmbold's Buchu
spread over all the walls of Fort Sumter.
I had a bottle of whisky with which l
added to his elation, and he was ready to
swear me the best fellow in the world by
the time I had got through. I didn't
stay around there long enough to see any
of the other officers who might come
over, for had kind of notion that
didn't want to have my hide filled with
bullets. Inever heard what happened
to the Sergeant, but my signs stayed
there long enough to get in their fine
work on some of the visitors.
"The most interesting experience that
I had was at Lookout Mountain. That
was great centre of attraction after the
war, and the crowds used to climb up
to where the battle had taken place. !
found ledge of rock which was in bold
relief from all points Of view, and 1