The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1922-08-11
ODD TRADE SIGNS
Signals That Puzzle American
Visitors in Europe.
Bunch of Straw, for instance. Has
Many Meanings, Somewhat Eafh-
ing to the Uain,t.atec.

IAlS ~ XIV - si!t!t -
In many streets of continental
Europe are still to be seen signs. or
unwrisren words, which have no such
Clear significance as the hat before
a hatter'S shop or the boot before q
cobblers. Certain Of these Signs are
SO obscure IN origin ana meaning ihat
no oGe could understand them With
out reference to tradition OF tle pass
erS-ty.
Everybody in this country knows
tnat pole painted with spir;,ls Of
red, white and blue is the usual sign
before u BARRIERS shop. !5uf 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 cHciousiy
scooped out on one side, as If a piece
had been bitten out Of it. 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 a
man ready to open tAem 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 ilEterate on the point.
The cid proverb, Good wine needs
no bush refers to the custonNof put
ting bush before Il vine shop door
as a sign. Sometimes branch IS
placed above the door instead Often
no name or any, other sign is displayed
by the wine seller.
Such a bush may be of any tree COM
mon to the locality. In the North It
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bush over the door is obsolete il cities.
but was doubtless the origin Of the
habit of placing small evergreens in
portable wooden boxes outside cafes
and restaurants in Paris and other
large communities.
A common sight in Paris is that Of
horses led through the streets with
punches of straw tied to their tails
This signifies that these animals are
for sale. In fact, a bunch OF straw
tied to any object can always he inter-
preted to mean that the present owner
is ready to enter into negotiations with
any ore who takes fancy to his
property.
Thus, as he passes along the streets
enc sees baby carriages, bicycles or
any secondhand furniture with the
bunch of straw attached. He who
runs may read such a sign even better
than written or printed card.
1t serves another end as well, for
advertisements can be taxed. while
there is no tax on, bunch Of straw,
In France, unless an owner has
regular license to sell, he must place
a government stamp on any sign or
writing hung at the door. In the
szir4a way even dreSsmakar or shoe
maker in want of apprentices must
pSt Il government stamp on any no
tice 50 displayed
A curious instance of this use Of
straw used to be seen near English
law courts of the Eighteenth century.
Men willing to bail criminals or DEBT
ors were seen parading with straw in
their shoes, thus Signifying thar they
would bail for pay Thus worthless
pail came to be called straw bail"