Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1894-12-27
FUN IN BILL POSTING.
HUMoR IN A BUSINESS WHERE YOU
WOULDN'T LOOK FOR 1T.

Picturesque and MirthfuI Effects Produced /
with Paste Pot and Brush-Devils and
Angels Are InconeruousIy Mixed Up.
sPost No Bills" Goes.
All trades have their droll aspects,
but that Of the billposter is one long
vista of fun. He may become an artist
comedian of the first order. 1t does not
require much brain weight either. An
old fence is his only arena, and his post
ers are his stock in trade.
His fun is but momentary, but 1t is
potent while it lasts. He accomplishes
il by means Of the combinations he is
forced to make when he posts new bills
over the old ones Some of the combina-
tions are very funny. Thus he is forced
to become mirth producer whether he
will or no, but there are some among
the men who get their livelihood in
this manner who Intentionally place the
new bills where they will produce the
oldest if but momentary effects.
The reporter watched one Of these
knights of the paste pot while he pro-
ceeded to cover up rather flaming pic
ture Of his satanic majesty with bill
which portrayed a naval officer in full
uniform. The first section put on was
the officers head As it fitted exactly
on to Mephisto's shoulders the effect
was comical The next section brought
the naval man down to the bottom Of
his coat. From short distance it ap-
peared precisely as though he was mi
nus his neither garments and stood bare
legged in the rising flames which en-
veloped him to his knees. The billposter
chuckled as he surveyed his work at
this point and asked the reporter what
he thought of it while he covered the
officers nakedness with pair of trou-
sers and shoes.
The billposter was quite talkative in
his way and spoke Of the droll side of
his business. Ibid it never occur to
you," said he as he picked and sorted
some flaming colored bills preparatory
to pasting them on the fence, "did it
never occur to you what an odd and
amusing business this is? You saw me
put a uniform on the devil. Funny,
wasn't it? Well, it wasn't patch to
the effects produced sometimes. These
bills have to be changed nearly every
week, and the posters get fixed up in
thequeerest way. I've put angels heads
ON devils and devils heads on angels
I've put a man with q dress coat on
where ballet girl was, SO that it look
ed as though the skirts branched out
below where the coat was. left it there
for a moment while pasted other bills,
and quite a crowd gathered around. A
policeman came along, and had to COW
er it up.
'Once had Salvation Army poster
to put up, and when / pasted the top
portion Of it over bill advertising the
play of Julius Caesar the large blue
bonnet of the Salvation Army girl fit.
ted Caesar perfectly. 1t was too bad ]
had to spoil it.
''You see that ballet girl on the fence
over there? I have got to paste this big
cat over it. Now watch me do it.
He took a section of bill with the
head of a grinning feline on it and plac
ed it so that it fitted to the girls shoul
ders. A halo surrounded the cats head
and the whole affair had puss in boots
air about it that reminded one Of early
fairy tales. Near by on the fence was &
heroic size negro minstrel, whose i'm
mense teeth showed through lips which
stretched form ear to ear.
"Now see how will fix that fellow, ,
said the man of the brush as he go
ready bill on which a large tiger wa
represented balanced on big blue ball
The tigers position was on the uppe
part of the poster. The first section fix
ed the animals head ON the fence, anC
with the next the body and feet wer
pasted up. Then appeared curious Of
feet. Where the blue ball was to b.
pasted the negro's face still grinned
but the tiger was now standing on tol
of the mans head.
"That, said the billposter, t'is wha
I call real artistic effect. 1t isn't Otter
an artist can create Samson in almos
one stroke of his brush.
Following his pasting of the tiger, th
man proceeded to put up bear. On tn
spot where it was to go an overfat bab,
held up package Of a compound mucl
advertised of late. The bear was bull
mp from the feet, which rested ON
horizontal bar. The bears neck and th
baby's neck touched the same point. an
before the bears head was pasted u
there appeared combination of huma
and brute anatomy which could hardl
be equaled by a monstrosity in dina
museum.
Bill posting has undergone a grea
change in recent years. 1t is not tn
haphazard business it once was-that is
it is not allowable for men to go aroun
pasting bills wherever they could fin
a fence. Most of the big fences are pre-
empted now by firms who pay rent fo
the privilege.
The old sign of "Post no bills"
more potent than it was. Its infringe
ment now may mean a lawsuit. 1t use
to be very much disregarded. There
record of very literal man who Wa
arrested for infringing sign whic
read "post no bills under penalty.
When the judge asked him if he ha
any excuse to offer, he said he had nc
''posted under penalty. He had poste
further along the fence. New Yor
World.
The Modern Style.
The prospective purchaser of cit
house built to sell was consulting wit
real estate agent.
} II think I have one to suit you,
said the agent. "It is in good neigh
borhood and has all the modern CONVEX