The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-08-05
UNIQUE CIRCUS ADVERTISING.
John Robinson's Experience With n Sal
walton Army Bill Poster.
(niea~n Mail

walton Army Bill Poster.
Chicago Mail
John Rohinson's show is in the midst of
an advertising experience that has never
been equailed in the history OF the circus
business. A few weeks ago the proprietors
OF the show hired man in a southern
Indiana town to serve as advance adYer-
fislng agent-to herald the approach Of
the gigantic aggregation" by flaming bill
boards and gay coiored posters. The new
man was an active member Of the latter
day church miiitant-the Salvation Army
and one night after a faithful days
work, he was aroused by the old, familiar
beating Of drums, the clash of cymbals
and the jingle of the tambourines,
and yielding TO his first impulse fell into
the line again as q full-dedged Salvationist
in active service The next day his bill
posting duties called him hence and be
was compelled 70 choose between the cir
Gus business and the salvation soldiers
life. He had decided TO throw the circus
overheard and enlist for the war against
the world, the flesh and the devil, when
happy thought struck him. Why not
combine the two lines Of work. Why not
carry forward the Salvation Army work in
connection with the circus advertising?
IT advertising helped the circus. why
would 1t not also aid the Salvation cause?
From that point forward he advertised
the glories of John Robinson's show dur
ing the day and advertised the Salvation
Army at night. After supper he would
go forth provided with number of small
printed notices which ne pasted over the
circus posters. The effect of his work
was indescribably startling The daring
~Hs
falling from 8 balloon in diminutiye
Parachute, bore across his breast the oues-
ton: Where Will You Spend Eternity 20
The little darkey boy who vas shown gaz-
ing IN great terror into the red ex-
panse of hippopotamus's gull
read the solemn warning: Prepare to
Meet Thy God" The clown held paper
hoop before an equestrienne bearing the
legend, Death Awaits You; Repent
Now" The long neck of the giraffe was
ornamented with the wise but perhaps SUI
perIiuous statement that The Straight
and Narrow Path Is Best" The snake
constructor, held aloft one hand with
taper finger pointing TO the words, "No
Drunkard Can Enter Heaven" The
scantily attired legs of the trapeze artistes
were partially hidden by the apropos
statement, God Sees Everything" and
tAlc tlc FldHk UduA tie sOlItHiA1L
enigmatical words, Tomorrow May Be
Eternity for You and Me-
The effect of this unique advertising
upon the unsophistieated Hoosier young
sters may easily be imagined. The fact
that they failed 10 comprehend the mean
ing and the application of the religious
texts only served to increase the value of
the advertising itself. 1t is safe 10 say
that no circus posters ever attracted
more attention
The inventor of this double-headed
righteousness scheme was promptly dis
charged as soon as the circus manage
ment learned OF his enterprise; but he
had seen the marvellous results of combin-
ing his texts with the shows billboards,
and he therefore determined TO continue
the good work, not in the interest of the
circus. but for the advancement of the Sal
walton Army. Following few days in
the wake of his successor he tailed
the latter eastward throughout Ohio
and Western Pennsylvania redeco-
rating the billboards in most
artistic and thorough manner. And
he still is engaged in this work. He has
been arrested several times under the
Ohio statute prescribing penalty for
the malicious destruction of property"
bur the authorities have been unable TO
make out a case against him under the
loosely-worded law, and he has escaped
punishment. Today half-dozen Buck
eye tows and as many more across the
Pennsylvania border have the most re-
markaole displays of circus posters ever
seen in this country or auy other