The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-17
SYGNBOARD ADVERTISING.
Americans but Dabblcrs In II AMI the
Writing OF Names In Public Places.

| To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN--Sr: Miss
| Jessie Lee Bennett read at the Washington
meeting of the American Civic Association
| paper on The Passing of the Sienboard
| II was pleasant to learn that I'm the last
two years great deal has been accom-
| plished In the hght against signboards
! and | earnestly hope that the next two
| years will bring greater success to the
| campaign for the restriction and regula-
! laton Of this hideous nuisance; but when
| Il is remembered that the farmer receives
! payment for the signs In his fields and the
| advertisements on his barns and fences,
| the hope of restriction and regulation In
| these particular quarters becomes very
! faint.
Besdes Il Is a worldwide custom. and
| had this lazy extended her observation
| beyond local limits she would realize that
her description OF signboards as essen
TALLY American. a proof Of most prodi-
ga.ly vigorous race which could have
evolved or endured anything so olatanty
nerve racking, was great error. DIS
play advertising with us is still In It's IN
fancy. The mass of advertising In Lon
don. for instance, Is positively bewilderins
and wearIsome in the extreme
The motor buses there are covered
with Flaring signs OF every conceivable
color and style. So are the boats on the
Thames, and on It's shores great signs are
In abundance. The sidewalks show chalk
artists are permitted to adorn the flags
with their crude drawings as the means
% obtaining pennies from the passers by
The railroad stations throughout Great
Britain are simply masses Of Advertising
and many of the nearby buildings are
used 10 display gigantic naring sign
boards. largely devoted to advertising df-
fert At brands of whskey or certain aperi-
ent patent medicines,
The boats on he Seine carry many ad-
vert sing signs. and IN the folds along
some of the principal lines OF travel In
France are many haring signs l'ke those
W. are familiar with IN our own hu.Gs
This style OF advertising extends to the
Far East and signbOards are seen almost
everywhere one travels.
The craze for electric light advertising
has spread over the world Theatre street
In Yokohama, with It's multitude OF pa So
ing people In blaze OF light. reminds one
OF the Great White Way" which name
by the way. is locally applied TO the pr'n-
c!pal street IN Christ.ania. Norway, on
account OF It's electrical display
Toxic Is a wonder OF electrical display
and the streets of ths Yoshiwara district
al night are like noon on a bright day In
July The electrical display last summer
In tho extensive grounds OF the exhibition
vas wouderfui.
shanghai Pekin. Hardin. Port Arthur.
Chang Chun and tho towns in Corea blaze
WITH electric light advertising So do
Honolulu and Vancouver. while tho cities
und towns along the Canadian Pacihc
make great displays.
Another matter that In this country Il.
considered 10 bs peculiarly an American
trait Is the passion for marking ONES
name IN public places. journey 90 ,hc
North Cape. Norway. would show this to
be an uufounded aspers!on on our people.
for there on the face OF the stup-ndous
rock can be seen the Ka!sers name painted
IN LUCE white letters, with tho date OF his
visit
great bronze tablet bearing me Kai-
sers name Is affixed TO the walls OF enc OF
the ruined temples OF the Ac'opolis OF
Baalbek. Syria, commemorat!ng his visit
there and Eating that he mad ronde GER
tain excavations In and about that an
ci"nt structure.
The Italians are great sinners IN this
respect The walls OF the ramp leading
20 the roof % 81. Peters. Rome are oov-
cred with penc!lled names. large ma
COR - OF which are easily recognized as
ltal an names and there IS a large sprink-
ling Of German names
In the crypt OF the Cappucini Cor s
Maria della Concez!one). Rome. the church
OF the once powerful Barher!ni family
whore there are several chapels entirely
constructed OF the bones Of the monks
taltars. wall decorations and chancel rail-
ingsD. many OF the polished skulls OF the
long dead fathers which are used as the
tops OF the bone ratings, bear penc!lled
names. mostly OF Italians
We are crude in certain ways, but IN
the matter OF display advertising and
peuc.lling OF names in public places We
are not yet in the front rank.
o. b SERVER
NEW YORK, December 10