The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1921-01-10
u.S..WAR POSTERS,
EXCEL IN V|cO2
Interesting Collection on Exhibi-
ton in England.
FlcKED Up IN MANY LANDS

Are ShoWn-Medal Section Probably
More important Than Any Other.
Hate Characteristic of German Pro-
duction.
A unique collection of war curius Is
on exhibition at Manchester, EngIand,
owned in it's entirety by Mr.. Franken-
huis of Holland, who throughout the
war industriously gathered "trif1es''
which are now intensely interesting.
Mr.. Frankenhuis acquired speci-
mems of most Of the medals issued
In the belligerent countries, of plaques
made in Germany to stimulate the
Na1 spirit among families, and of pic
torial posters and broclamations that
a. one time or another disigured the
walls of European and American cities
indeed, nearly every odd thing that
the war spirit produced, as propa-
ganda or as inspiration, is represented
in the exhibition. Mr.. Frankenhuis
will give the proceeds to st. Dustans,
the home for blinded soldiers.
"Posters That Flame"
The rich variety of medals probably
makes the medal section more impor-
tant than any other; but the eye of
the casual visitor is first attracted to
the posters that flame, in national
groups, over the glass eases containing
medals. 1t would seem that if any set
of posters deserves to survive rather
longer than the rest they are the ones
which were first hung in the streets
of Paris,
Nearly all the German posters on
view were obviously meant to inspire
rather than to infuriate. The head of
Hindenburg, done massively, or the
figure of bluejacket backed by
nine-inch gun are the same sort of
thing that most arms of the British
service discovered to be useful In an
unsensatonal way for getting re-
cruits. Occasionally some more am
bilious poster-showing perhaps a
pale, mad face backed by flames
stands out with rather CHASTITY effect,
but in general the German idea of a
war poster seems to have been not
unlike the British. They conform
more closely to artistic principle, but
they have less humor.
Neither the British nor the Ger
man posters can compare with the
American for vigor. The silhouette
of a hand done in blood red and called
"The Hun, His Mark" is as outright
a piece Of poster work as the exhibit
ton contains, and scarcely balanced
by the injunction to "blot 1t out with
Liberty bonds"
In the Australian posters there is
also a forthrightness Of expression
which 1t is interesting to compare
with the French trick Of saying the
same thing differently.
The Italian posters are decidedly
heroic. Among the proclamations
there is none more tragic than one
Of the original sheets appearing in
Brussels with the announcement
that Nurse Cavell had been put to
death.
Medals by ooetz and LindI.
Among the medals are many with
which the British public is not. &C.
qua 'nted, although they were first
struck off in England. But both
Ens'ishmen and Americans are in
clined to pass hurriedly over these
to turn to the satirical medals of
Goctz and Lindl, of which Mr.. Fran
kerhnis has magnificent collection.
While the war was going on both
these designers put their, skill power
fully into any kind Of propaganda that
hannened to be needed, but in 1919
Goetz left his admirers in no doubt
as TO his new convictions. There is
exhibited the head Of German eagle
which he did. The beak of the eagle
IS closed by paddock On it's beak
stands the tree Of liberty, around
which are dancing figures. The
eagles head is crowned with a large
crowd Of people, and In the fore
ground male figure is destroying the
pmreror's helmet. France lifts the 8
EAGLES foot, and England extracts from
It q claw. On the reverse the satirist
turns his weapons against Bolshevism.
The Germans were without rivals I
in the art Of carrying hatred into their +
domestic life. Their plaques have
inscription that would :
have made them uncomfortable to peo-
pie which takes its hates SO lightly as =
the British, or which likes them en-. :
pressed so finely as the French.