Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 22, Number 95, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 August 1901 — The History of Spotless Town. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The History of Spotless Town.

When early in March, 1900, the public was, by means of the car cards designed by Mr. J. K. Fraser, of Ward.* Gow’s art department, introduced to Spotless Town and its inhabitants, a new “chapter had been added to the history of advertising. The series “took” at once; never since the day of “Punch in the presence of the Passengaire” did a jingle so take possession of the public. Dignified men in elevated cars craned their necks to see if there was not another Spotless Town card in sight, while more enterprising people Journeyed through the entire train for the same purpose. Children and sedate matrons read the verses to each other, till, from the haughty Mayor down to the modest cook the newly created citizens became the friends of the public. As It Is usual In giving the history of a town to publish the portraits of those people who have done most to make the place prosperous or famous, we reproduce here pictures of the men and women who have been most prominently connected with the growth of Spotless Town, made directly from the watercolor paintings in the Hall of Fame.

This is the Mayor of Spotless Town, The brightest man for miles around. The shining light of wisdom can Reflect from such a polished man, And so he says to high and low: “The brightest use SAPOLIO.” This is the Butcher of Spotless Town, His tools are as bright as his renown. To leave them stained were indiscreet, For folks would then abstain from meat, And so he brightens his trade, you know, By polishing with SAPOIiIO.

This is the Maid of fair renown Who scrubs the floors of Spotless Town, To find a speck when she is through Would take a pair of specs or two. And her employment isn't slow, For she employs SAPOLIO. This brilliant man walks up and down Upon the streets of Spotless Town. The glitter of his shining star Arrests attention from afar. It rights the beat and goes to show That naught can beat SAPOLIO.

The Cook of Spotless Town, you see, Who takes the eake as you’ll agree. She holds it in her fingers now. It isn’t light—but anyhow ’Twill lighten her domestic woe— A cake of plain SAPOLIO. This lean M. D. is Doctor Brown, Who fares but ill in Spotless Town. The town is so confounded clean It is no wonder he is lean. He’s lost all patients now, you know, Because they use SAPOLIO. A strong interest soon sprang up as to the location and environment of Spotless Town, in response to which an excellent map was published, and the territory was named Shining State. Spotless Town, in Sparkling County, was designated as the capital. This municipality was in the middle of a section of country possessed of great natural advantages In the way of water courses, hills and plains. It had. however, one disadvantage, that of proximity to a most unsalubrlous and offensive region, the very name of which, “Filthy State,” perfectly described its character. It was, nevertheless, but a short time before the contrast with this unpromising section became beneficial to the citizens of Spotless Town. Lots were bought and houses built by persons who were glad of the opportunity to escape from such places as Grimeville, Dingy Village, and that branch of Muddy River known as Rusty Fork. It must be understood that there are many things about a residence In this town that appeal to the thrifty; for Instance, They need no lamps in Spotless Town, Because the town is always bright. For when the sun is shining down, The pots and pans abed forth their light. Ton ask the girls what makes them so. They'll answer quick, SAPOLIO. Spotless Town has a well-attended church. It has a club which announces the election of William McKinley ns an honorary member. That It has a Town Council where the executive action is repeatedly used to promote cleanliness and suppress bad morals. Lawbreakers are almost unknown among the residents. Even the people who are not professedly godly are very clean. Storekeepers are happy because they have no bad debts, and their customers enjoy life because they have no fear of substitution, and a tpddllng child can do the family marketing as well as her mother.