Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1917-06-15

Is not KnOWn Wnen Jne SlSn
boards first came into use in Japan,
but presumably it was not long
after the Introduction of writing,
though that would not be necessary
among a people where pictures and
designs preceded ideographs represent
ing them. Indeed, japanese writing,
like Chinese, consists Of signs rather
than expressions of sound, says T.
Nakayama, NJ. Coligny writes in the.
Cincinnati Enquirer. The national
ideographs are for the eye rather than
the ear; to be seen rather than to be
heard.
There is no mention in Japanese his
tory of the fact that in the reigns of
Emperor Godaigo (1319-1339) each gov
eminent official set up a door plate
signifying his name and occupation,
which may be regarded as the first
mention of signs in Japan.
The art of advertising seems to have
made considerable progress during the
Tozugawa era, especially in the va
riety of signs used. To foreigners
these signs are striking to a degree,
though to Japanese they appear per-
fectly natural. Those in broken,
antique or impossible English are, per-
haps the most remarkable, for since
the coming of foreigners every attempt
has been made to appeal to them,
though in many cases these foreign
signs are only to impress the native
customer with the idea that the shop
deals il foreign goods and, therefore,
sells reliable wares.
The most primitive form of JAP
anese sign is that whereon is depicted
the article for sale. The hemp dealer
hangs out bundle of raw hemp fiber
and the maker of grass or reed hats
suspends some of these hats before
his shop entrance, while the umbrella
maker does the same. The watchmak.
er has big round clock or watch over
| his shop, either in tower on the root
or on the sign over the door.
| Sometimes the clock is q real one
| and sometimes only a picture. Shops
that sell mirrors often do likewise
The druggist sometimes has the pic
| ture of huge paper bag over his shop
as most japanese medicines are solo
in that receptacle. Makers of tabi, the
Japanese sock, also have a big tabi In
front of their shops, usually the pat
tern after which the sock is cut be
fore sewing. Fan makers put out {
half-finished fan, and SO on.
| Rouge and toilet powders are so ex
tensively used by japanese women tha
there are shops that deal exclusively
in this stuff, and are indicated by 6
small red flag, signifying the colol
which the powder will make th'
cheeks. A shop with square piece o.
wood on which is painted variou.
round dots of different colors, tells thu
passerby Of paint shop.
From very ancient times cedal
leaves have been used to represen
the drink called sake. The reason fo
this is because the ashes of cedai
foliage have been put in sake from O.
old to give it a certain flavor liked b.
the native palate. The leaves are ar
ranged in various forms, from rounC
bunch to an oblong bundle. The cedal
foliage is not painted, but natural, ant
is replaced by fresh ones as the oil
fall away. Usually the change Is mad
with the appearance of new sake ol
the market, especially at New Year
When you see a paper lantern will
the painting of the tree peony on il
that shows the shop within deals il
wild boar meat. Sometimes lion i