Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 December 1884 — Origin of ‘Painting the Town Red.’ [ARTICLE]

Origin of ‘Painting the Town Red.’

‘How is politics in Harris burg?’ asked Billy Welsh, the minstrel manager, of a Telegragh reporter. ‘Red hot,’ answered the reporter; ‘both parties have painted the town red.’ Mr. Welsh remarked: ‘That's an old expression—painting the town red—do you know where it originated? Well I’ll tell you. On my last tour through the country with Callendar’s Ministrels—a year ago or more —I had as advance agent a man named Campbell. <- ampbell was a genius at advertising, and never permitted a rival to get ahead of him. One day in Buffalo I said: ‘Campbell, i hear that Barlow &Wilson are oo veringuny bil Is with their paper; I want that stopped.’ 1 told him that he would strike them at Adrian, Mich. When next I saw him lie had a huge bundle of bills ready for shipment to Adrian. All were printed in bright red. ‘■* hat are you going to do?’ I asked. Tam going up to A drian to pa -te* these bills over Barlow & Wilson’s, and on every dead wall in that olace. I am going to paint the town red,’ and he left. When we got to Adrian it looked as if it was on fire, so thoroughly had Campbell done his work. That expression was so comic that the colored ministrels caught on to it, and whenever there was any excitement or anybody got loud, they always said somebody was pa’nting the town red. Of course it spread, and is now in use by everybody.’—Harrisburg Telegraph.