New-York tribune., 1905-04-14
ARTISTIC ''AD." SIGNS.
National Arts GLIB Shoes What
Might Be Done IN SubVgay.

IN an effort 70 bring To public attention the pTac
teal side OF its HEEt for the Of artistic biI-
posters throughout the city the committee on ad-
vertisng signs Of the National Arts Club has
opened an exhibit OF attractive posters at the club
house No. 81 West 34th-st- These posters were
contributed by firms chiefly interested in advertis
ing methods The magazines and the theatres are
particularly wei represented
Among the posters are those Of Grasset and
Mucha. French; Harding. Of England. and A. B.
Wenzel, Ella Conde Lamb. V!viaE Burnett p NJ.
PomerOy and Helen AlcOtt OF this country. The
sNn1Dd vas opensd 70 the public yesterday and
VIII continue until April Il every afternoon.
frcSn 2 o'eloek to John Martha chairm-tn OF the
poster committee. yesterday explained the attitude
of the club follows:
IN recent mon chs the Municipal Art Society has
Peen active IN excluding advertising from around
ply fought for tae enforceraen OF the law. which
i1 cE PIGS Sne use Of the park property and OF the
nCt 50 strict some PhlhstIne Park Commissioner
% aonF stb GPe abG Gy sr5 Tfn5 the fGee @ line Of Snta Park
:, L3esSliy the subway is highway of the city, and
tba3 ~ ~ more 1t"tst 70 pat advertlsinS Slsns in it
Of BroadTay and I'm t5eTS Tilb 6ose1 4es 'S & SSTo
on the advertising contractor showed special con-
Tempt Tor the public taste and convenience by Jne
klnd Of frames and posters lie put up and loca-
1ot,S ne Saose Tor them IL vas therefore. clear
" the duty Of the Municipal Art Society to light for
That fight beins won the way viii be clear for
f Has removal Of tAe advertising from the elevated
But But With respect to advertising or vacant lots.
necessary 10 business anu the crowded streets Of
a commercial metropolis are 50 profitable for adj
SLt1sliS tItat IL would be futile Try abolish
sl6HOoat0S ana posters. desirable "a such a con-
S9eiuldtion nSht appear TO some artists souls.
SsSs ul1lIon ana Improvement suppression, Is
Equally important is the Improvement Of the ar
ttStlc Quailty OF the signs Fortunately, some of
She the most important photographic and advertising
n.ElS appreciate that a beautiful sign need be no
more eoStly ard may 10 more attractive 10 the
PIpIlc and. therefore, more remCneratfve 70 the
SGNertlser tnan a crude and offensive sien.
Hs1ltOIS OF good magazines have made the adVeF-
SSslHS pages as attractive as the reading pages.
some LADIES' always turn 70 the aGveru,sins lirst
Why ShOuI0 there not be advertising ''e.iitOri-
LOT the ely StreetSs His duty should BE- for
PIG aqveruslng any more than the magazine editor
d0eS out 10 enforce rules OF sightlEsss.
IhSt even SO-catled good citizens are sometimes
ueld 70 oecency in this matter. while some adver-
SlhS FIaS are alive 70 its importance. shown by
thS acuon OF tue lnterboTough Company respecting
the advertising in the subway Before the CONTRACT
was gwen cut a responsible firm in the city sub
Inltted 10 the company proposition for attrac-
i've t-SVefJslnS. IhlS was accompanied with an
OdeF 70 surrey the stations to determine now much
space cou!u De used consistently with this itr-
seeing and discreet policy, and TO pay per
square loot Tor the space selected than COM
petlJcr. The narrow limitation of rhe area allowed
I0r advertising. so as 10 preserve the ornamental
chaIac-cr OF the stations. and that adveT-
Cs1ng shall dominate train directions OF public
announcements, was integral part OF the
scheme TIE proposition declared ridiculous
and the compsny invited the firm now n possession
70 maze the subway hideOus-
Though fully warned by the public anger aeainst
the advertising tn the subway. the EsaDd Transit
Commission has passed the McAdOO tunnel fran
chlse without Eeservtng even the power 10 regulate
the advertising in the tunnel. Since this tunnel WI;
De legally private property. 1t may be that only
commercial good sense Of the owners remains Tor
the protection Of the public