The dispatch-news. [volume] (Lexington, S.C.) 1919-2001, 1922-08-02
ODD TRADE SIGNS
Signals That Puzzle American
Visitors in Europe.

In many streets of continental
Europe are Still to be seen signs, or
dnwritten words, which have no such
clear Significance as the hat before
hatters shop or the boot before a
cobblers. Certain of these signs are
SO obscure in origin and meaning that
no one could understand them with.
out reference to tradition or the pass.
ers-by.
Everybody in this country knows
tnat pole painted with spirals Of
red, white and blue Is the usual sign
before barber's shop. But how few
know that the stripes are supposed
by some persons to represent surgical
bandages? That was when BARRIERS
performed simple surgical operations
Before many barber shops in Europe
small brass plates are hung. These
are oval, cOncave and curiously
scooped out on one side, as If a piece
had been bitten out of 1t. This repre-
sents the old-fashioned cupping dish
which barber chirurgeons, or surgeons
used In taking blood from patients.
Who would naturally suppose that
mats Of straw, loosely plated and
fastened to the corners of buildings
signify, that oysters are there for
sale? But this Is their meaning In
Europe oysters are never eaten ex-
cept raw. and in mild weather they
are exposed on the sidewalk beside u
man ready to open them for custom
ers. In bad weather, when the oysters
are not exposed, persons who can read
may find them mentioned among the
names of fish on the shops placards.
but the mats are then expected to
Inform the illterate on the point.
The old proverb, Good wine needs
no bush." refers to the custom of put
ting a bush before wine shop door
as sign. Sometimes a branch is
placed above the door instead. Often
no name or any other sign Is displayed
by the wine seller.
Such bush may be Of any tree com.
mon to the locality. In the North 1t
Is often spruce or pine or huge
branch Of mistletoe. In the South it
Is almost always olive or myrtle, and
generally renewed on fete days. The
bushes have acquired the name "bouch
ons" In France and this is applied to
small taverns also.
The ancient usage Of hanging a
bush over the door is obsolete in cities
6ut was doubtless the origin of the
habit Of placing small evergreens in
portable wooden boxes outside cafes
ntS In orfc OIL
large communities.
A common sight in Paris Is that of
horses led through the streets with
bunches Of straw fled to their tails
This, signifies that these animals are
FOR. sale In fact A. bunch of straw
tied to anysobJect can always be Inter.
preted to mean that the present owner
Is ready to enter into negotiations with
any one who takes fancy to his
property.
Thus, as he passes along the streets
one sees baby carriages, bicycles or
any secondhand furniture with the
bunch of straw attached He who
ps may read such sign even better
In q written or printed card.
It serves another end as we'll. for
Fertisements can be taxed, while
Ire is no tax on q bunch of straw.
[z5sI France, unless an owner has a
llar license to sell, he must place
Z government stamp on any sign or
hing hung at the door. In the
S way even a dressmaker or shoe
81 Ter In want of apprentices must
government stamp on any no
so displayed.
5< curious instance Of this use of
Nv used to be seen near English
{ courts of the Eighteenth century.
s. willing to bail criminals or debt
]| were seen parading with straw in
IS s. shoes. thus signifying that they
Id bail for pay. Thus worthless
came to be called. "strnW bail"