The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-06-18
AG4INST T.IND4L ADVERTISING.
Great BrItaIn's Society to Deal With the
Offensive Poster and Pa,nt-pot Man.


Offensive Poster and Paint.pot Man.
A determined attack on what is defined as
tho advertising horror" has begun in Great
Britain under the leadership OF many people
OF eminent artistic literary, or social repute.
William Black. w. Z. II. Lecky. Alfred Austin.
A. Warehouse, W. W. Hunter. and W. II.
Flower being especially prominent in the
matter. A society has been formed. whose
memb ers are to work individually and CO.
operatively to combat and check the evil OF dis
figuring advertisements, the end being Tho
protecting and prom citing Of the picturesque
simplicity Of rural and river scenes. and the
dignity and propriety OF our large towns"
The societys aims are not extravagant. 1t
chiefly advocates sort OF local option IN the
matter OF ugly posters. No person joining tho
society is committed to every feature Of the
general scheme but all are to work together
to promote general lovellness and to conserve
the beauties OF nature and art.
Tho disfguring effect OF certain forms OF
advertising. and the rapid growth Of the evil.
have been much discussed in British newspa-
pers OF late The patent medicine advertise
ment lend has become pest throughout tho
land. and the meadows cliffs. dales. and river
banks OF England. the rocky Glens and hill
sides OF Scotland and Wales. and even the
lake sides OF Ireland. arc boplastered with
horrible prints and daubs and worded
apnounceme nts OF medicines and mustards.
corn pasters and corsets. Scenery the most
fam GUS and romantic is made an eyesore and
q heartache by disnguring advertisements.
America is familiar with this sort OF thing. and
illustration OF the evil for which n remedy is
The society recognizes the wide range OF
legitimate advertising. and 1t does n0t seek
the abolition Of the pictorial poster: rather be;
leves that In its place 1t Is an excellent and
not unlovely thing. 1t seeks to abolish the
atrocious posters and paintings and to edu-
cate the public mind to abhor them: but espc-
cially 1t seeks to preserve naturh and arch-
tectural beauties. to keep pill placards from
St. Paul's dome and floating signboards from
It's programme Is to secure lcGislatIon'con-
ferr ne on local representative bodies eIectiSo
control over all forms OF painted or printed an
nouncements visible. from the thoro1ghlares
or public places, and directing them TO- frame ne
on S sss SC %
possible" say the promoters: TO lay down
"a n don az WouS
be easy in many localities to secure veto on
sky signs, advertisements on chlmneys and
fields, struggling posters and tablets on walls.
gigantic honrdings. the more glarng delace-
architectural Interest. or at picturesque rural
snots: tho sort Of iniruson.. in short, which ,l
sy Tha M the 6nny BY the de-
lacer Is fslt by nearly every one To- bf an out
aES ara to rGpS i would imTnv %f tG H
The society will also endcavOr 70 secure tho
insertion In all bills giving Legislative authority
for the acquisition Of land or construction OF
works. VI provisions either prohibiting. or. as
the ease may require. suhJcctinE to appropTi-
ate regulation the use Of any portion OF the
fabrics for advertising purposes. Further, i Is
considering the policy Of imposing special tax
on all posters as Il form Of revenue.
Tho boycott is to be tho chief indiyldual
weapon OF tho members Of the society, who
will, each at his own discretion; abstain as far
as possible from using commodities which ne
personally feels are advertised IN an offensive
way. or patronizing establishments which ho
regards as. exceptionally INSCRIPTIONS in adj
ycrtisiug display.
Because Of It's reasonablcucss and moro cs-
peciQlly, perhaps. from the character 81 It's
leading supporters. the society Is rcrfflylns
much commentator from the press and sup
port from the public. II is not proposing
gqiXoti' crusad" against advertising, Dut 4
fair Hght against the too utilitlrlan zeal AMI
the vandalism Of the ndyertscrs agents. II
has. wide field. and most l9oIl" would Wish
and do work in other countries than Great Bri-
tain. not least, perhaps in the United states.