Evening star., 1900-12-12
TRADE EMBLEMS.
The Disappearance of the Cigar Store
Warrior and Others. ~.

Warrior and Others.
Like other things here below trade en-
| blems undergo a change in the course Of
| time said cigar dealer to a Star reporter.
Twenty years ago in front of every ci
gar store in the large cities stood the silent
emblem Of the tobacconists calling the
wooden Indian. holding invitingly in his
right hand bundle of cigars or bunch
OF tobacco leaf If man wanted to find a
cigar store his eye roamed up and down
the street in search of the wooden warrior.
The wooden image gave way to the more
elaborate figure of the untutored red man
of cast iron, and now, sad. though true be
the fact, the ferruginous cast Is being rele-
gated to the junk shop.
There are only a few Of these images
left in Washington, and in my trips to
other cities 1 have noted their disappear
ance to q considerable extent. Why 1t Is
tobacconist Of today is too tired to roll
his warrior out in the morning and pull
him back at night, If he takes such good
care of him.
THE Indian is appropriate emblem for
the tobacconist, but 1t cannot be said that
red and white striped pole surmounted
by blue ground with stars Is appropriate
to the BARRIERS trade. as the national col
ors have nothing to do with that business
1t is purely an arbitrary assumption Of an
emblem, the origin of which 1 never
satisfactorily explained A suitable en-
blem for the BARRIERS trade would be a
razor and a strop, with an extended hand
on the side, for l never saw barber who
didn't expect a tip. or act like it.
1.-The druggist of today does not display
his emblem of mortar and pestel with such
frequency as of old. Now that they have
gone SO extensively into the notion and
toilet article trade perhaps the association
of the pill mixer Is repugnant to the COM
Founders Of prescriptions.
"When Maiden lane. in New York mark
ed the limits of the retail trade district
of the metropolis some tailors' signs
would be seen the emblem of lamb sus-
pended in a sling Of cloth tied at the ends.
This appropriate emblem of wooden goods
was brought from England. where it is to
be seen now frequently upon the signs OF
the drapers and tailors shops. The pres
ent generation in this country never saw
this emblem here.
IF you see painting OF a high glass
with or without a side handle. but always
with the representation of a lot of soap
suds flowing over the top, you may bet your
last cent that inside Of that window you
can buy a glass of beer for nickel.
There are no gold beaters in Washing
ton, but in the vicinity of South 5tn avenue
and Prince streets, New York. pretty much
all of the gold leaf used in this country Is
pounded into the neat little thin golden
sheets used in the trade. In front of all
of these places is either sign or gilded
wooden arm of muscular proportions barred
to the elbow, with the hand clutching tight
ly the gold beater's mallet painter
knows this sign quickly as thirsty
man recognizes the schooner of beer.
1.-The pawnbroker will never take in the
wel-known three gided balls. Years ago
would a Hveryman's sign the
picture of horse in motion, but now they
are to be observed only in the smaller cities
and towns. The blacksmith still keeps the
horseshoe In front of his shop, while oc-
casionally Is to be observed the saw, plane
and square Of the carpenter. A good en-
blem for the plumber would be his pro-
verbal bill. Old residents will recall the
big boots which used to be placed In front
Of shoe stores on the pavement or suspend
ed above the door, but now the emblem Is
relegated to the cobhler. The artist and
painter have the Ealette with brushes
through the thumb hole. the jeweler his
street clock. and the optician the big spec
tacles. In short. all trade emblems are APP
propriate to their business except the bar
bor,