Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-06-06
WIDESPREAD EVIL.
Bill Posting Nuisance Arouses Public
Consideration.

1t must be a cause Of graduation tc
all philosophical citizens that atten.
ton is again called to obnoxious bill
posters, writes Rev. William RAIDER
in the San Francisco Chronicle
Public pride should long ago have
corrected this glazing violation of
good taste. No other city in the
world suffers so much from plastered
fences and disgustiIgly foolish and
nasty advertisements as San Fran
cisco. We are a city of high board
fences, loud colors and sensational
theatrical posters. l for one am
ashamed to have President Mckinley
ride through our streets where he will
be greeted on every side by a whole
herd of Durham bulls, villainously
executed portraits of Gen. George W.
Childs and other notables, f1aring
theatrical posters and advertisements.
good, bad and Indifferent.
He will be forcibly reminded that
his own portrait may some day be
used to give Endorsement to new
" oI4o VI CoAet, SOdp VI cigars. Iu0T0
ought to be a law protecting
prominent men from that kind of pub
licity given by a poster on a high
board fence.
Visitors to our city are reminded at
once that we believe in gaudy adver-
Using, in tawdry displays, which not
only disgust the esthetic sense, but
encroach upon moral standards.
Florence, Rome and Paris would
not long remain the most beautiful
cities of the world if their people per-
mitted board fences 20 feet high to
adorn the boulevards, on which every
thing would be displayed, from the
worst whisky to the next circus
coming to town. In the east the peo-
pie are rebelling against the bill
poster. 1t is time San Francisco also
rebelled.
Advertising has free play in the
United States. 1t mars rocks, trees,
landscapes, walls, fences, pavements
and cars. 1t uses the platform and
the pulpit. 1t greets you on every
side. To advertise is not in itself
wrong. 1t is one of the secrets
Of success. Advertising legitimate
and commodities is per-
fectly proper, but we must guard our
selves against the unsuitable displs
of suitable advertisements first of all
in the interest of good taste.
One need only compare a city like
N. Y, with San Francisco to
see the effects of vulgar printing on
the general appearance of the city
Indeed, any eastern city could be
at random to prove by COM
parison that San Francisco is dis
figured by vulgar posters.
The violation of the public taste Is
just as damaging to the people as the
satisfaction of the best taste is helpful
by the erection of the best monuments
and the preservation of beautiful
parks. A city has no moral right to
neglect its appearance. 1t should
stand for the best. Next to the
beauty of the natural world is a tidy,
city. But if it is dressed
plastered with gaudy
colors and vulgarized by indecent dis
phys it becomes ridiculous.
The cities of Europe are protected
by societies organized for the purpose
of defending the people against the
bad taste in advertising. Even the
London omnibus has been stripped of
at least one layer of placards, and the
cities of Europe are comparatively
free from the evil. A society in San
Francisco, organized for the same DUR
pose, might be useful in arousing our
authorities to some definite and
satisfactory action.
Down with the hideous bears and
human monstrosities! Down with the
fence landscapes executed by house
painters! Down with the bulls and
buffaloes and the whole menagerie of
things known and unknown! Let us
strip our city Of the purposeless and
senseless toggery which has so long
violated good sense and good taste.
The best cemeteries are protected
against bad taste and foolish monu-
mental designs, and a committee
passes upon the mausoleums and
tombs erected over the dead. The
rule Of the City of the Dead" might
be proper law for the city of the
living, applying not alone to monu-
ments, but to posters.