Evening Republican, Volume 59, Number 123, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 June 1917 — Page 3

Japanese Street Signs

IT IS not known when the sign hoards first came into use in Japan, but presumably It was not long after the Introduction of writing, though that would not be necessary among a people where pictures and designs preceded ideographs representing them. Indeed, Japanese writing, like Chinese, consists of signs rather than expressions of sound, says'TT (Nakayama, M. Collgny writes in the Cincinnati Enquirer. The national ideographs are for the eye rather than the ear; to be seen rather than to be heard. There is no mention in Japanese his- . tory of the fact that in the reigns of Emperor Godaigo (1319-1339) each government official set up a door plate Signifying his name and occupation, which may be regarded as the first mention of signs in Japan. The art of advertising seems to have made considerable progress during the Tokugawa era, especially in the variety of signs used. To foreigners these signs are striking to a degree, though to Japanese they appear perfectly natural. Those in broken, antique or impossible English are, perhaps the most remarkable, for since the coming of foreigners every attempt lias been made to appeal to them, though in many cases these foreign signs are only to Impress the native customer with the idea that the shop deals in foreign goods and, therefore, sells reliable wares. The most primitive form of Japanese sign is that whereon is depicted the article for sale. The hemp dealer hangs out a bundle of raw hemp fiber; and the maker of grass or reed hats suspends some of these hats before his shop entrance, while the umbrella maker does the same. The watchmaker has a big round clock or watch over his shop, either in a tower on the roof or on the slgn over the door; —~— Sometimes the clock is a real one and sometimes only a picture. Shops that sell mirrors often do likewise. The druggist sometimes has the picture of a huge paper bag over his shop, as most Japanese medicines are sold in that receptacle. Makers of tabl, the Japanese sock, also have a big tab! in front of their shops, usually the pattern after which the sock is cut'before sewing. . Fan makers put out a half-finished fan, and so on. Sight In Front of Shops. Rouge and toilet powders are so extensively used by Japanese women that there are shops that deal exclusively in this stuff, and are Indicated by a small red flag, signifying the color which the powder will make * the cheeks. A .shop with a square piece of wood on which is painted various round dots of different colors, tells the passerby of a paint shop. From very ancient times cedar leaves have been used to represent the drink called sake. The reason for this Is because the ashes of cedar foliage have been put in sake from of old to give it a certain flavor liked by the native palate. The leaves are arranged in various forms, from a round bunch to an oblong bundle. The cedar foliage is not painted, but natural, and is replaced by fresh ones as the old fall change is made with the appearance of new sake on the market, especially at New Year. When you see a paper lantern with the painting of the tree peony on it, fhnt- the Hhon wlthtn deals in wild boar meat. Sometimes a Hon is painted In association with the peonies, as the pronunciation of the word “shishl,” wild boar, is much the same as that of the word “shishi,”. Hon. Tea dealers usually setup a picture of a tea caddy either on <he roof or in front of their places of business. Paper lanterns with pictures of maple leaves tell you where to buy deer meat, as the best venison comes from the maple forests. , / < . b, The custom of setting up signs that Involved some sort of puzzle came into vogue In the Tokugawa period, and has

been continued down to today, though more; often to be found in the provinces than in metropolitan areas. When one sees the picture of a flying arrow one knows that it is a bathhouse, as the word for shooting an arrow (yulru) sounds like yu-iru, taking a hot bath. Dealers in sweet potatoes write up the ideographs for jusanri (thirteen rl), which means that the potatoes are nicer than chestnuts (kuri-yori-umai), ku-ri, meaning nine rl, and also chestnuts ; the syllogistic signification being that as thirteen rl are greater than nine ri, so sweet potatoes are finer than chestnuts. The kite maker puts the picture of an octopus (tako) on his door, as the word for kite (tako) is much the same as that for octopus the vernacular. The dealer In beanjam buns has a horse over his shop, because the word for horse (uma) has the sound of umai-umal (sweet-sweet), not unlike foreign yum-yum, for the same meaning. Such notions may appear childish, but in the peaceful Tokugawa days people were evidently at a loss for novelty and had to do something to preclude ennui.—Such signs are now seldom seen. Some Eccentric English. To foreigners, of course, the more interesting signs are those essaying English inscriptions; which often are very remarkable for their eccentric attempts at spelling and wording. When you see a sign reading “Tailor of Resistant Wet Cat,” you know that there is a good place for cheap waterproofs. “Baggages, Sent Any Direction by Internal Railway,” means an express office. “Modified Milk for the Scientific Feeding of Infants and Invalids” is of doubtful significance, as Is also “Shifts Repaired Here.” No one doubts the meaning of “Horse-Blf Shop," though why the appeal is made to English readers no one seems to know. “Coats Made From Any Hides Yours or Ours,” sounds dangerous, but simply means furs will be made up from skins brought to the shop. “Various Kind Hairs” has the same mcenlng. “Ladies Furnished in the Upper Story” will bring you a blouse waist “Whale and All Relating It Are Sold” seems more ambiguous than it is. Tim stranger will naturally ask why such ridiculous wording is thus impudently stuck up before the public when it would be so easy to have the English corrected before being painted on the sign. Those asking such a question but show how unfamiliar they are with the country they have come to visit. The man who sets himself up as a painter of foreign signs Is not going fb admit that he cannot compose the device to be painted on them. Possibly he gets some schoolboy to find the words in the English dictionary that corresponds to the Japanese ideographs,, and -so he paints these words in any order that seems to him best. Biit what of the man who pays for the sign! Does he not object to paying for a sign covered with a jumble of mistakes and then holding them up to public view? .Well, he does not know the difference, and so long as he is none the wiser the painter will not find it profitable to seek correct Enggllsh for his signs. In Japan many things are done incorrectly simply because those who pay for the work do not know the difference.

The Busy Bee.

The bee is pointed out as a paragon of patient industry. Few people, however, realize the Infinitude of energy that must be put forth by a swarm of bees In order to store their hive with honey. How much do you suppose it takes to make, for example, a pound of clover honey? The scientists calculate that It requires the nectar from no fewer than 62,000 clover blossoms. To extract this nectar requires 2,750,000 visits by bees who often have to go for it a distance of one or two miles. Who of us has the Industry of the bee? And yet how else can the honey of life be stored?—Biblical Recorder. ,

EVENING REPUBLICAN. RENSSELAER, IND.

MANY NEW COLORS FOR LATE SUMMER

Six Shades of Red to Lead, It Is Officially Announced. 1 » ■ SOMBER TONES MAY PREVAIL Manufacturers Think War Will Cause American Women to Choose Dull Clothes Though They May Be Expensive. New York.—The manufacturers are exhibiting their usual Interest In the colors which may come into fashion next autumn. •To the layman, this forehandedness seems to be vitally wasted, but the man behind the business knows that now Is the appointed hour to look with sharpened eyes into the near future. Merchandise ite a stupendous bulk of material that quickly goes Into profit or loss. It makes or mars a merchant and affects thousands who owe to his cleverness their chance to live in comfort. If he does not look ahead with an eye and mind trained to take Into account every minor and major happening, and every shadqw of coming events, he goes down Into debt and carries the thousands with him. When those who are more' interested than ever before in the production of woman’s apparel because of the strain caused by the war and the feeling of false economy, say among themselves that this color and that fabric will have no chance for popularity next winter, then they decide a momentous Issue. They realize that the public must be induced to buy while the buying is good; while It can make use of the pieces of merchandise that exist and which may soon cease to be worth while. The public, itself, wants to know the prospects for the success of every garment. If Its service Is to be of short duration, then wisdom dictates that it must be made to yield every ounce of service now. Many of us would willingly buy a garment, or a piece of doth, if we were candidly told that it would not serve us long, but that It would last for another three months, giving that as the reason for Its reductton from the original price. But we feel cheated and humiliated when, after buying something that was supposedly rising up the hill of popularity, we find that It Is quickly going down hill. Weary Quickly of Clothes. Most of us are guilty—if crime it be —of wearying of what we possess in the way of clothes before they have given us value for money expended, and we willingly give them up under the pressure of an excuse that will satisfy our conscience. If we buy often and without undue expense, we right happily fling away the purchase when Its time comes to go. It is this psychological truth that lies down deep in the spirits of the majority, that makes it possible for -the department shops to reap a snug fortune each season out of the modIshly cut and cheaply priced garments

Here is the Arab hood for sports clothes. Gown of gray and gold jersey cloth with cowl and tassetled belt. Full sleeves put into tight cuffs.

that are speedily bought up by the women who make no pretense of going In for quality. The hue and cry Raised against this national practice by those who are always trying to adjust the lives of the wage-earners for them from the viewpoint of the nonproducing consumer, Is merely sending sound into air. It is running against the very foundation of human nature. Why insist that those who have little to spend on raiment should spend it on uniforms, on somber and demure garments that proclaim themselves out of style; that announce to the world: Here goes one who has little chance for pleasure. The girl who has a mite for clothes would prefer to spend that mite often on what she likes? rather than to hoard many mites together in order that she may get some piece of apparel of good quality thafcwill outlast her desire for it or its oWn fashion. The manufacturers realize that they can make fine capital out of this desire for change as the summer season advances if they are quite sure of

what is soon to come. They send buy* ers to Paris in April and. receive reports of importance in Mhy concerning the performance of the parts weavers, dyers and ornament makers. . These,reports, especially those dealing with the colors for next season, are guides to the disposal of merchandise on hand and the wholesale people are enabled to go ahead on their production of fabrics and gowns for sale next autumn and winter. And the colors, as officially announced, that will rule after this summer are led by six shades of red. called Incende;

In this dance frock the skirt is of flesh crepe with bands of dyed Mechlin lace. Cuirass of iridescent beads on metal silk. Shoulder drapery of crepe.

there-are six grays called munitions, and several shades of purple under the name of academic. The American navy blue is shown, and under the name of chestnut there are shades of brown. Three quite adorable-pinks-are promised for evening gowns. The American manufacturers are quite certain that somber tones in fabrics will prevail after the summer. They think that the state of war will result in the choice by our women of sober clothes, even though they may be expensive ones. France, It is true, went in almost hysterically for- dull clothes even before a single batch of wounded was brought home, but neither England nor Canada cut out the buying of colorful clothes, nor did the women of those countries seem to think It -was—necessary_to economize. The English department shops, for Instance, had all they could do -to sup ply the immense demands of the thousands of women who came into money -suddenly through the high wages paid their husbands or their own suddenly discovered wage-earning capacity. There is every reason to suppose that when the first excitement of war is over our women will go on buying the kind of clothes they prefer, but the’ manufacturers hate decided that it is best to look forward to soberer colors than we have worn. Will Silks Grow In Strength? Another question important to the people who sell apparel has to do with silk. We have been wearing it recklessly, and without regard to the fact that we could have cotton. All classes have indulged in silk weaves for every kind of garment, and the majority seems to have forgotten that in the near past only those with fine incomes indulged in that luxury, and even they guarded their silk things. It is believed, however, by those who balance conditions, that the American woman can continue to indulge herself in the wearing of silk because woolen will be needed by our government or one across the sea. Cotton things are expensive and will become more iso, because the raw material is sorely wanted by all countries. So it may turn out to be silk for economy's sake. There is also reason to believe that satin and velvet will be in Strong demand for the winter. (Copyright, 1917, by the McClure Newspa- ' per Syndicate.)

FOR BOTH SUM AND STOUT

Bodice Tied In Back Is of Advantage Because Either Figure Can Make Use of It. Just as it became almost certain that nothing new could be originated in the matter of concealing the actual measurement of the middle of the body, the bodice tied in the back made its first appearance, says the New York Evening Sun. The advantage of it rested In Its possibilities for, both the slim and the stout. Either figure could make use of it, because it virtually covered up whatever there was. Its careless wrinklps~Wggested grace even Where grace there was not. They left the observer wondering whether thinness or funness rested below, i

Blue Batin and White Bilk Jersey.

A frock'with a coat to match is of dark blue satin combined with white silk jersey embroidered in blue, the latter used for the trimming section of the coat, also -for the belted upper section of the dress, which has elbowlength kimono sleeves. A hat of navy blue Milan trimmed with cherries is worn.

CASTORIA fbfflljlljWß] I For Infant. and Children. WjpaiSfnSJ Mothers Know That Bic? U - i Genuine Castoria fcOI Always Z • I. Bears tho /jkSp s Thereby Promoting SlgßatUTo »V* Cheerfulness _ fe of 100 i lAi* ll® i \ . ” -*¥4 - }*d 1 I lA 1 411 £§•- a Jtv —In Ml VI „ Use SgM and , FCVeriS X S EEP I I|V ■> A te \Jr for Over Fac-SimileS^ natnt^- of ii! Thirty Years - NEW CASTORIA Exact Copy of Wrapper. tmb Mirraua ««w **m •rrr.

Little Liver Pills Great Sn** Make y«n fed the joy of living. It is impossible Every to be happy or feel good when you are CONSTIPATED h p|| A s » Tfc “ old remed y will Mt y° u ri s ht over Genuine bears signature pallidpeople" carter’s””iron B 'ptlls I

How About It?

“I dreamed last night that I proposed to a beautiful girl.” “And what did I say?”

LIFT YOUR CORNS OFF WITH FINGERS

How to loosen a tender corn or callus so it lifta out without pain.

Let folks step on your feet hereafter; wear shoes a size smaller if you like, for corns win never again send electric sparks of pain through you, according to this Cincinnati authority. He says that a few drops of a drug called freezone, applied directly upon a tender, aching corn. Instantly relieves soreness, and soon the entire corn, rdot and all, lifts right out. This drug dries at once and simply shrivels up the corn or callus without even Irritating the surrounding skin. A small bottle of freezone obtained at any drug store will cost very little but will positively remove every hard or soft corn or callus from one’s feet. If your druggist hasn’t stocked this new drug yet, tell him to get a small bottle of freezone for you from his wholesale drug house.-—adv.

Blue Blood.

Bushrod was establishing a pigeon coop of his Own, emulating his neighbor, Bill Hite, In arranging the financial promotion of this venture, he went tp his mother. “Mother,” he said, “I want a dollar to buy a x Mother thought a dollar U rather high price for a pigeon, with common birds averaging ten cents. “But, mother,” Bushrod -said, earnestly, “you don’t understand. This Is a pedigreed pigeon. With its pedigree It’s cheap at a dollar.” Bushrod finally wheedled his mother out of the dollar and left to buy his blooded bird. He returned with the pigeon and a scrap of crumpled paper in his pocket. “Mother,” he said, “this is the pedigree.” J ~ -; ~ On the crumpled scrap of paper was written: “Grandfather, unknown. Grandmother, unknown. Father, unknown. Mother, Bill Hite's pigeon?’ 7

Taking Antifat.

She was precocious beyond what five,summers. She lived In a family where one of the members had been taking “flesh reducer.” A boy, wearing a chstoff hat several numbers too large, which had been puckered to make it-fit, was passing along the street. * She called out. shrilly:l• “Ob, mamma, Johnny has been taking antifat. He had to tighten his hat band." —Indianapolis News.

Immaculate.

She—“ Mr. Toppington is a most immaculate man.” He—“ Yes, there isn’t anything on his mind eyen-” Social intercourse is broadening and necessary. •

In California.

“You must know,” explained the sil-ver-tongued clerk at the seed store, jgs he sold five quarts of onion sets to the new'ly interested garden faddist, “that the majority of onion sets in California are red. But here people prefer white or yellow ones.” “Yes,” she beamed, “they do have wonderful landscape and scenic effects out on the coast.”

Was Right First Time.

It was little Jane’s third birthday and brother Will was taking advantage of the privilege it gave, at which Jane cried lustily. “What’s the matter, Jane?” asked mamma, coming on the scene. “Brother’s a regular ’sprize fighter, he is,” said Jane. After mamma had explained the custom, she exclaimed, “Well, he ’sprize* folks, anyway.”

Naturally.

Time—What do the inmates think of the new asylum? Keeper—They Just rave over it The wise wife will see that her husbarwLs life is well insured before beginning to practice economy by discharging the cook. There is Just as much kicking la basebail as there is in football, only it is not so effective.

Mv A 1 a A Wise I Move I 'J is to change from I POSTUM before the harm I is clone. “There’s a Reason” I