The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1921-07-29


The Rutland Herald is preach
ing a little sermon on the theme
DO You Believe in Signs !" IN
the following paragraphs and
makes out a pretty good case
that we should if we don't. 1t
is only fair to say that its orlgl-
nal form was the familiar
"double-barrel leader of the Free
Press, which adds its impressive
ness:
ssay. can't We read the sign p
How many times do you hear this in
the course of an average day
"Fresh Paint" fascinates every pass
erby into touching and finger-printing
1T.
"No Parking Here" appeals to the
smart visitor as impertinent and super
fuous. "Any way. there's no cop in
sight; let's stop here
speed Limit 10 Miles Per Hour
means nothing in a drivers life. es-
pecially in towns that have IA three
mile or four-mile section of main
Travelled road within their borders.
"Danger: Proceed at Your Own Risk"
invites every fool driver to proceed.
"slow Down: Bad Curve Ahead"
This may reduce the average speed
from forty to thirty miles per hour
but at heart every wayfarer despises
it and takes a chance" not always
successfully.
Even Kodak as You Co. appeals to
few, who fail to see anything wonder
full in the landscape.
"Stop, Look and Listen" means the
other fellow. Nothing doing this time
of day" says the wise guy, as he dashes
merrily into. the engine of a freight
train.
death Valley" in southern California
is said to be the hottest spot on the
face of the globe. Gordon Gassaway.
writing in Leslies Weekly. says:
In July, August and September Death
Valley CAPPED its nav open to swallow
into its parched throat what it could.
Rattlesnakes and other heat-loving
reptiles died in the heat. Struggling
roads across its sands literally curled
I'D and blew away. The wind from
the Valley scared all the country in its
path. Bones of coyotes whitened in the
bIistering sun. wild horses ran here
and there foam-necked. searching for
water they never found. 1t was In
femo on earth.
Because of the danger to motorists
who might "get stalled" in this valley
of death, the Automobile Club of
Southern California has put up thir-
teen hundred signs warning drivers
and tourists of its perils.
win those signs be needed Will
motorists travel in pairs or parties as
the club suggests Depend upon 1t
they will not; neither will the terrible
death Of an occasional party deter
them.
Signs or no signs. they will push on
through the valley il their routes lie
that way and nothing but absolutely
fencing off the danger-area will deter
them.
Anything significant in this Any
side-lfght thrown thereby on the sway
things are going" at present?
Strikes. for instance: Practically
every strike started since the armis-
tice has failed. yet this country and
other countries are full of strikes.
Morality: Some OF our own folks
among the things repealed by the
recent administration and the war.
vet the signs point inexorably to
complete failure to our national morale
unless we give more heed 70 personal
character and conduct.
Foreign markets: Germany and Eng
land are going the limit in an effort
to prevent our getting into the foreign
markets Of South America and other
markets where we might probably
compete. yet we are mostly quarrel-
ing about wages and working condt-
tons and letting them "beat us TO IT,"
Mexico: We have had our lesson
there. yet what assurance is there
that American interests and invest
ments there are dafe or ever win be
until we talk turkey" to our little
brother across the Rio Grande
Tariff and taxation: We know exact
" what the people want. Congress
has been told what must be done. The
signs are exactly right for a tremen-
dous reaction from republican control
Of the government. yet the time drags
on interminsbly and nothing definite is
done toward remedy.
No. as a nation we do not believe in
signs. but meanwhile. established and
orderly habits 81 thought and action
are being rapidly restored elsewhere.
and u is time for us Americans to
begin reading the signs OF the times
and directing our driving lines which
tradition and precedent have shown to
be safe and progressive.
We suffered for four years from an
orgy OF waste and extravaganza. We
are suffering now from a sullen re-
action. The points all point to pros
perity and they oil read alike;
Law. order. Decencv. Economy. Eli
cheney. Production. Distribution.
Isn't IL about time that we took some
OF our signs for truth and began TO
drive by their direction
Every few days during these