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Show Beware of lied an a Color. Has it ever struck you," said a man who paints not signs but pictures, "that red is a very dangerous color that it stands for danger in all sorts of ways? On the railroads, of course, you know red is the danger signal in flags by day, in lamps by night. Everybody is accustomed to tho idea of rod as a warning warn-ing on the railroads, and at sea the red light serves the same purpose. The red stands for anarchy. The anarchists are often called the reds, and the flag which has waved over some of the most sanguinary scenes in the world's history is of a red color. "To wave a red flag before a bull is about as dangerous a thing as you can do. The uniform of the firemen has boon red since time immemorial, although al-though since regular fire departments have been organized the color has been, sensibly changed, for the element the firemen fight is red and the danger of the confusion of men and flames is apparent. ap-parent. The hue of the poppy in the fields suggests the dangerous side of the narcotic it harbors. Some one aware of the dangers of debauches has coined the phrase we know so well: 'Painting tho town red.' "Hod In art is a risky color to use unless the painter knows thoroughly how to use it. as Sir Edwin Landsoer did in his pictures, which invariably contained a touch of red somewhere. Turner employed red lavishly, and, although al-though ho succeeded In producing . marvelous effects, his followers have niado countless millions mourn over coruscations on canvas. Wherever you turn you find red as a mark of peril." "In literature is it so?" ' 'Yes, even in literature; for are not bad books most harmful when they are read?" |