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Show PAINTING THE ROADSIDES About this tlrao of tho year many merchants used to bo organizing campaigns for decorating (?) the roadsides for many miles around with their advertising. As soon ns tho Bprlng mud had dried out, they had their teams and men out erecting erect-ing and painting staring signboards along tho country highways. Very much less of this sort of work will bo done tho coming spring. In many localities it has Btopped altogether. alto-gether. Tho merchants found out it did not bavo advertising value, and they woro spending their good mon-. mon-. ov for nothing. Ono objection to this outdoor advertising ad-vertising was that It soon became do-faced do-faced and shabby. Even ft neatly painted sign, It exposed to rain and dust, would look ancient In a slnglo season. It would convoy an appear-nnco appear-nnco of dlnglness that was loft hand-ed hand-ed -advertising for tho storo that erected it. Boys would uso It as a target, and Jokers would take paint an alter over words with humorous Intent. Tho most serious objection to thoso signs was tho public animosity that thoy created. In many states legislation legisla-tion has been enacted ngalnst them. In others vnrlous associations havo taken tho matter up, and havo mndo It a business to wreck roadside signs, confident that thoy wero within their legal rights. Tho simple fact is that tho peoplo don't want their pretty country roads defaced by advertising. When thoy go outsido of tho towns, thoy liko to seo country scenes nn open nlr Hfo nnd want to forget about business, tho signboard Is a reminder of commercialism. com-mercialism. If erected on a man's placo of business, It would not bo objected to, if neatly dono. Placed on the highways, It offends by being i out of placo, nud It does not help to sell goods. |