Billboard advertising (Jan-June 1899)

,. ■ 1 1 THE BILLBOARD Tenant vs. Owner- Bill Posters DEPARTMENT ^ as.: Are Billposters* Prices \ Too Low? The November number- of "Profitable Ad- vertising" contains an argument to the ef- fect that bill posters 'are hot charging enough money to justify them In giving proper service, ; The December number con=-- tains a reply, claiming that the price is all right; that the hill posters themselves are at fault, where they fail to make money. Both articles toe' published herewith, and "The Rillboard"-would like to have an ex- pression of opinion .from bill posters them- selves. -.'*' ':'"■:.>"',- , .- -* '''.':■-'-'- BILL POSTING PRICES" TOO LOW. Thinking peppje.who' are interested in" bill posting are beginning to realize that .this good old method- 'of advertising will, never, reach perfection* as. long as the present ab- surd low rates for sinall cities prevail. At the last meeting, of, the Associated Bill Fosters, a scale 'of.cborses' was adopted, run- ning as low as ^ceuta per sheet per month, for a "listed, projected,; 'renewed and guar- anteed" service r ; and'thS rate Vf or cities up to 50,000 population: is only 7 cents. Under these' circumstances-, it is no wonder. that the bill posters'in these small towns and cities should tajte-such a-"slight interest in rendering good service or. securing good loca- tions. ' \;, .'•>"-: ';:'■• '.-.'- The city of Norfolk, Va., contains abcut.Bl,- 000 population, and the bill poster has about fifteen bill boards, averaging 100 feet each, or nossibly, on -an outside estimate, 160 feet each. ,* ■ ':'.■--*. -< ■'" ,. ':*'-„■- .--.- Here Is a capacity for:l-500"Eheets of'paoer:^, - suppose he hasrthis;'all in use at one 'time;'- bis gross income from posting Is onlv $105 for the month, from which is to be paid his paste bill, hi? lumber 4 bill, his rentals, his labor, and stable'e^cpen^es.' It is seldom that' any bill posterAevex 'has -his space full of paying paper^and.-'hesides, - two or three, or four months of* duD/jbnsiaess must, be ex- •pected every year.' J ;'":'-"" .» •■•' • ,.'■ " TJuder these ^circumstances; can any one blame that bill p'oster for<neglecting his, cor- respondence, for neglecting: toj send in lists, for neglecting to renew the paner when re- newing is necessary^ih fact: for tolling those who want to dol posting to his town that he does not propose to be dictated to? Recently, in a visit;to Chattanooga, al-city ,. of 50.000. which is note'd'for its exc«otlon»lly " fine bill boards *aiuT'-itS-exceptionally large" number of boards.':tbe .bill roster, with a/ great deal of pardonabl* pride, showed me', what an immense amount* of naperlie had on the boards, and I spent nearly a day in driv- ing around to inspect them. -■ '. Here is the record: . .' ; , Duke's Mixture'Tobacco..-^..-. 501 she ts George W. Childs CIgar..;«..........f!' , Q; " Scotch Oats :. 3«0\ "". Pattl-? At Pine Tobaceo.. 400=' " . Horse Shoe Tobacco 3«Q "V Factory Smoker Ci-rar..-. ..; 240.. '.' •'- Rrriy El** Tobacco W' " Wild-man's Clo»h'n-r : ...4G0 ,V Chattanooga "Ulnies" —.500- " Lillian RusseH\eig"r. 4<ic>:^ •*. v Star and Sledge Tobaccos .-...20'R- " Other small stuff ISOO- " "5.O0O sheets The above is *n exceptional, amount-of-pa- per In a city, with an exceptional, number of good bill boards and an exceptional r-o"t-»- tion for doing good bill Posti-g:. yet $?50 is the gross receipts from all this work at the association rate of 7 cents per' sheet pt month. Of course* there was also some amuse- ment paper on the boards. Carbondele. Pa., is BnrrcundPd by a half- dozen good big -towns, pll of which are built up so closely as to make it practically one citv, with a population of about 40.000. The bill poster there Is a Bustler, gives good ser- vice, and has lots of bill boards. In t*"" seven towns he has. by actual count, 71 bi'I boards, and by actual measurptnpnt he can post on these 71 boards only 2481 sheets of paoer. " These town** axe considered -well su^oH-d^ wi'h b-'U h-n-rds. ret at tils '■'-gular association rate, supposing that the bill poptpr can f"i every inch of space IwMch he can't) for e*-ery day of the vpar (which he can'tX his gross Income would be only $152 o»r month. But leaving cities of 40 0<H) to 50 P00 a"-' coming down to'thos-> of 10.000 or 15.0"0. 1 0"0 lineal feet of boardings Is about th° limit: and even if more boards can be built Loon sheets of ppner at a time is about all th**t such a town can safely count uron. At 7 Cents nor sheptXsunpn*lng that the limitw~re the average. STO'would be this man's munifi- cent ptoss receipts per month. Raise the rate'* to 3 cnts a we"* aP round. .tames xnnn thompsov. In Nov. "Profltable Advertising." i THE MEN, NOT THE PRICE. AT FAULT. Mr. James Todd Thompson, in the Novem- ber Issue of "Profitable Advertising." tells us that bill postern' prices are too low. and quotes numerous Instances shewing that a town of ten thousand can not earn $70 per month gross, out of which must come all ex- penses for lumber, paste, rents, etc. But Mr. Thompson forgets that the enterprising bill poster (mind, I said "enterprising") also does circular and sample distributing and card, tacking, in addition to his bill posting. And if he is sufficiently enterprising, he also solicits, the retaH.trade in his town for poster printing, and makes 10 or 15 per cent, on orders of this kind v In addition to getting the posting to do whe'D the printing is ready. Nofwalk, 'Conn., bas a population variously estimated at from '16.000 to 20,000, and Harry Bussing, the bill poster there, is classed among- the enterrisirtg kind, and never com- plains about association rates being too low. Mr. Bussing has lots of good boards, not only in Norwalk,-but- In surrounding towns as well. When ;he .built :his first bill boards he took a dollar, and bought a hundred postal cards, and fired, tEem'at the general advr*- tisers who used .bill boards and did distrib- uting. Just as fast as Harry madcaneirra' dollar over- costvof living, he nut' fiftv cents Bill posters and bulletin painters will all be more or less ' interested. in. the following decision of the Appellate Term of the Su- preme Court of New York. We quotu from the New York Times of Dec. It! Advertising Signs on Roofs of Leased Premises:-—Daniel'•MrS-rcriompy, who had a five years' lease from May. 1S97. of the three-story building, 106 and 10S Myrtle Ave- nue, Brooklyn, with a covenant that he would not underlet the whole or any part of the premises, except the second and third floors, nor make alterations without the written consent of the landlord, on the 4th of last December, without such consent, delivered ' HTthe O.'X Guae Company a" paper ^granting the latter the use of the roof for five years -"with the right of placing, painting, erect- ing, and maintaining any and all advertis- ing signs thereon." That copmany. on Dec. 30, erected on the roof a sign ten feet high and about twenty-live feet long, constructed of wood and iron. A day later the property was sold by James McEnery. the owner, to Thomas M. Farley, subject to the terms' of the lease. After McMenomey had refused to comply with Farley's request to remove the sign, the latter had it removed and stored in his cellar, and notified the Gude Comany it was at its disposal. The company then sued Farley in the First Municipal Court to re- cover the value of the sign,'claiming it had been converted by defendant to his own use. The Appellate Term of the Supreme Court has affirmed? judgment given' by Justice Lynn in favor of the defendant. Justice Giegerich, giving the opinion; said the remarks of the trial Justice wherein he concluded that the '^facts' proved did not constitute conversion, were fully concurred in by him. '-'The mere ~* i*. *..«.. ,..^.». — j~ii ^ »,"—-jiiT .- . . wcie Luuy i-uui-urreu. iu - uy mm. - ine mere Sta ™£. 1U ~*£' SS' , ai. 0, ?!LS2r^SSS- ^P°^ «*■» <**«*••" ^tice Giegerich said. into postal cards, and fired another-volley at the general advertisers; ^Anct-By-this time' the advertiser feels slighted. if a week eoes . by: without hearing- from' Bussing, of Nor- walk. Did Bussing get the'buHness?* 'W'll. I reckon! He not only has all'the bill boards that can possibly be called for. but he h' "from one plae to another, in the absence of any claim of ownership or the exercise of any dominion thereover, does not amount to - conversion. • • - - * In the case at bar the defendant seems to have acted upon, the theory that the -agreement between the plpiuttft* and t£e I'egsee operated as a ^sub- distributing enough to keep a', good force of, . b'tttne' rather"TftrfiT'a"' HrpnKe~'Vii/i"'thX !ZZ men at work regularly throughcut his entire V '*» Smh^™wL ™«„^'™ °_^;." ^ ■ A-t.P™. county and surToiindings.y iHe is making money and is happy.- " J ' ." '*■ "''--•'- " '""" Then take Asheviile,.NaiC.: -J. D. glummer. Is the bill poster, and he also has the* car ad- ■ vertlsing. and. publishes, the theatre program.- as well as attending,^i'distributing- and card tacking. And although Asheville is, a small town v Plummer has too much work, to allow of donjTJ'nB- the' bverelis himself; \-%t_ is' all'-he catf^do-to attend to the correspondence, solicit ^business, send in lists, make, out bills.-, etc. ' Ajnd'a good force of men is always at; work. ' Neither of the people named asks more 1 than'.' refeular association rates for wprk^-. /- -.' '- ^-doh't pretend that every bill poste%.«an do >as well as these two. or dozehs^'of, others 1 could name. It Is said by the. commercial' agencies that 97 per cent. of. people., going into business fail; and if this is true ofc-gpn hibitiv.e clause against sub-letting -contained. in the' lessor's lease, became operative.-.and, by virtue of the deed, vesting in the, defend- ant title to the" sign upon itsi annexation as part of the freehold, and that, tHerefore. .the ■'plaintiff had neither nroperry,. general or- special.; nor the immediate right "of, possession therein or thereto. Whether or Jiot this posi- tion .Js':=well taken need not : be 'considered, in view of'the conclusion above reached, anent the defenri^ht's freedom from liability for -his acts. The latter having at'the.very out-' set 're.quested.-the' plaintiff and McMenomey to' remove • ttje "sigin t rom the roof, and they • :having ;faiied to conjply therewith, -its re- moval was obviously not made for the pur- . P°? t kji£f- .depriving plaintiff of ownership ;«her«n; • but iroerely' to change Its position ., ftoDiia patt Of the building where defendant ^clainVd it tiad do right tjoL-.be. "" " eral lines, why should we expect bill pr/stM r *2%§- ,^St^,^ a SDt >^ f De ; ,F n6 . er tnese to prove an Sception? One or the liesv"lgrl ^ifeHo^^S;,^ .1°'-- V T .?£ tt e . f ff * '? at painters I ,ever knew managed a ~ rfsn-sb^/-4 0 /!^ T - -.T t he other-&art*- r .'!3i ? ; su . 1 ?5«"^ to^its order, of whieh-the latter for another man and made the other- man wealthy: he started in business for himself and failed in six months. Why? I don't; know: and I don't think Mr. James Todd- Thompsdn'knows. Here was a practical man, in every sense of. the term: a go'bd manager, and a good hustler for trade, who had made a success when "3at work for another, but failed in Ms own .'shop. Georgia Cayvan was a leading' actress; attempted to star.' and is 'now., "resting." "May Irwin not only at- 'tempte'd to. star, but also threw over her old managers;'.: and Is succeeding under her own management. Furthermore.' t■believe some localities are more favored than others, -and that some bill posters can'make money at rates others will starve..at. : ^ -' It Is, therefore.'Well jjp ; remember that the essociath»-:-.dbes not say-thr^ a certain rate - is maximum, and is all-a bill poster shall be. allowed to charge:"on. the rcontraxy...it savs that the rate .is minimum, and that no work should be taken,for.a"Iower rate. ' ' ' " The great difficulty is. that many bill posteis will, not adhere-to rates with all advertisers,', and consequently are hard-up mpst of".the time, to the detriment of the'ladvexfiser who Is willing to pay full rates and who wants good service. -', ;- .. ," T. CLARKB HES'JfESS'ST. ' In Dec. "Profitable Advertising.'-'' In a few months, another association ^meet- ing will be on, and if prices are not right, the matter should be thoroughly talked over between now and the date of the Milwaukee meeting, and if any changes are considered necessary; they can then be made. It might be well for the members of the as- sociation to bear in mind the stand taken en the rate question by the International Asso- ciation of Distributors. This associati:n claims that conditions differ so'much in va- rious towns and cties as to make it impossi- ble to name a certain rate as just to various towns. If the Bill Posters' Association has been laboring "under a mistake in establishing a scale, of charges, the members ought to be made aware of the fact by open discussion. If members are to be allowed to charge high- er prices than regular rate, such a fact should be made clear to them, as undoubtedly many bill posters believe that they are ab- solutely required to charge no more than association rates. The columns of "The Billboard" are open to every bill pester in the land who has something to say on this subject. Send in your letters. ■Jid not avail itself, it is clear upon principle 1 and authority^ that the defendant's acts in the i-remises did not amount to a "conver- 'sioru"' :\ , . The Distributors' League, of 49 West 28th. New York, is the latest candidate for honors among the sucker hunters. Billposters' Chat. W. L. Mildrum & Co., of Yonkers N Y - request us to state that they have abandoned the idea of opening a plant in Newburgh. " .' ..-' We have had the pleasure" of'examining a copy of. the'Billposters' Diagram and record book. Originated and published by Frank Ai -Fitfegerald. of Milwaukee. Wis. In our esti- mation, no bill poster can afford to be without., .".it-i'ft comes In white or black slate.'and Is i.very durable. -Address Frank A. Fitzgerald. .__ .220 3d sfe, .Milwaukee, Wis. • John Moore', the globe-trotting poster salea- ., m^n, leaves Denver Jan. 10 for New York on . "ti'is way to England. He will stop in London '..v about three months, and then go to South Africa. There is,many a bill poster In'Amer- ica who will be sorry to hear of his departure; ' but tbey will all wish 'him God-speed, Just the same: . - Chas. D. Chaples. city Kill poster of-Rock- laod. Maine, was a member of the First Maine Regiment. He was but recently mus- tered out. The strikers lost their fight in New York— that is as far as the three bill posting firms are concerned. Some few of the theaters conceded their demands. Will A; Lorella, of Grantsburg, Ills., is well spoken of.. At the Ohio Bill .Poster. Convention at To- ledo, December 1, the following firms were represented, viz.: Bryan & Co., Cleveland. Akron, Toledo'and Painesville, by Albert and C. F. Bryan;'The John Chapman Co., Cincinnati, by B. B. Chapman: Miller Brrs., Columbus, bji Joseph Miller; W. C. Tirrill & Co.. Lima, by W. C. Tirrill: England Bros., Zanesviile. by J. A. England; Charles Bactz, Sandusky, by himself: H. H. Tyncr *. Co.. Sprinefield. by H. H. Tyner: John Kuhn & Son. H-mllton. by John and M. J. Kuhn; Commercial Hill Posting Co., Bowling Green, by L. L. Yonkrr; B. It. Kndley. Mansfield, by hlmsrlf; Chas. A. Hoed, Delnhos. by himself; P. B. 8tnl<h, Lorain, bv himself; P. B. Oliver. Fludlay, by himself. . The Royal Remedy Co., 18 West Market etreet, Indlarapolls. Is given as the name of a concern which is likely to do a moderate amount of advertising during the next few mon'.liB. A concern called the Branaman Medical In- stitute, corner of Walnut and 11th ntrecls, Kansas City. Mo., will probably use distrib- utors in its own section tor moderate adver- tising. JEALOUSY IN SAN FRANCISCO. The newspapers have little love for the bill poster, no matter where he may be lo- .cated, but it Is seldom, Indeed, that they allow their jealous spite to manifest Itself as openly as It does In the following clip- ring from the San Francisco NewE-Lctter of December 17. In an editorial of .sobriety and good sense the Post of last Monday hit the bill-bo-rd paste-pot brigade a hard blow. It very justly declared that the poster advertisements were a delusion and a snare: they brought little trade to the merchants whose money paid for them, supported no considerable numb'r of people, paid no taxes, and were unslehtly and dangerous to limb and life. All of which is true: and all of which the News Letter has often pointed out. The Post very . sensibly £ays.if..the daily press were to make a concerted attack on the bill-board nulances that the Supervisors would reduce them to a reasonable standiug, and compel their enter- prising owners to pay taxes. Mayor Phrlan has 'called-attention to the impertinent pre- tentions of these bill-stickers, and the Super- visors arc considering the propriety of curb- ing their dangerous ambition and set pur- pose to plaster all San Francisco. Let the dailies join the News Letter and Post, and ■ insist that,the municipal landscape be saved from the vandal . hand of the bill posters, and the lives of the citizens secured from the falling boards they stick up on every vacant foot of territory In, the city. The Abbey Effervercent Selt Co... Is the name of a new.company in New York which has been starfdwithacaoit-lstnckpfonemil- 1 ion dollprs, to Introduce in the United States a proprietary medicine on. which a suces^ful bnsinee-s has elreedy been done in Gre»t Brit- ain. H. H. Warner is int-rrsted In this n'W company and is to act as eeneral manage. The company has acquired the sosce, nmoii'-t- InP' in round figures to one hundred thou'anl dollars, which ws donated by publishers to Mr. Warner pet long since. The Abbey Effevcscent Salt Co.. experts to be a heavy advertiser. A sufficient fuo->ly . of the enods dealt In are to be ready in t'me to permit the company to beeln advertising in February, or Mprch. The advertising c'one is to be under the general control of Mr. Warner. WAS ACASE OF GIVE AND TAKE. That enterprising throng, the city bill rost- ers, were made glad by the generositv of their pioneer emrloyer. 3. A. Curran. on Christmas ' day. The gifts were well! adapted to the age -of the user. All married men received a turkey—a big fat one. from Cumin's ranch, as well a*- a box' of perfeetos. silk handker- chief, and -a. necktie. The employes were not the only recipients, as Mr. Curran was • presented with many appropriate and userul 'gifpj as well. A most elegant present was a rn'agnilccnt smoking jacket from the em- ployes of the nainted : sign deportment. The bond of good fellowship and mutual interest jirj. each other's-behalf was thus cemented .'.-■.more firmly than'ever.. ".- The J. C. Grant Chemical Co.. 110 West Lake street. Chicago; is said to be preparing for a'limitcd amount of advertising for a bak- , ing powder. • ,. ■ "Jackson's Now, Advertiser.—It is said that ' McGee. Bros:. Jackson. Mie-h.. will advertise ladies; garments shortly. Jackson is becom- ' ing conspicuous as the location of firms man- », ufactuiing.women's apparel. "Three new advertisers announced during • the .month are T. G. Hawkes & Co.. Corning. N." Y.. manufacturers of cut glass ware; Dawes & Myler. New Brighton. Pa., manu- facturers of enamelled iron ware, and the Hennig Remedy Co., SO East Twenty-sixth street, Chicago. - OHIO BILL PO?TKRS ASSOCIATION PRICES. Sec. 1. The members of this Association in special session assembled December 1st. 1S9S. agreed to adopt the following scale of prices: -_." Cities of 1,000 to 2,000, 4c per sheet for four Cities of 2,000 to 5,000, 5c per sheet for four Cities of 5,000 to 10,000, 6c per sheet for four wcclcs. Cities of 10,000 to 50,000, 7c per sheet for ' four weeks. Cities of 50,000 to 100,000, 9c per sheet for ' fdur weeks. Cities of 100,000 to GOO.000, 3c per sheet per Cities of 500.000 to 2,000,050, 3V4c p r sh-et per week. • Ci'.ies over 2.000.000, 4c per sheet prr week. One week's listed service in all cities of 100.000 to 500.000. 4c per sheet; In all ci.lcs of 500.000 or over, Gc per sheet. On all straleht three months' contracts 5 per cent discount: on all straight six mcn'.hs' contracts, 10 per cent discount. BURT'S GREAT BILL BOARD. Manager Frank Burt, of Burt's Theater, Is hav Ing built at the Traction company's car shops, a mammoth bill board on wheels for advertising purposes. The new arrangement Is In the shape of a large picture frame fas- tened on each side of an electric car that will be arranged with electric lights and its di- mensions are 1-i by 29 feet. The plan Is to place the new car on tho various lines of the city street railway sys- tem advertising Burt's Theater.—Toledo (O.) News. W. F. Williamson, of St. Louis, writes as follows, viz.: "It may Interest you to know that we are more than holding our own in the bill post- ing business in St. Louis. We are making a specialty of commercial bill posting, and are equipped to give the advertiser a much better showing than It Is possible for him to get otherwise. "We are building galvanized Iron beards, and find the paper lasts much better on them. At the presemt time we arc executing largo stand work for the following firms: Lltgett & Myers Tobacco Co., Chancellor Cigars, St. Louis Post Dispatch, Buck's 8tovea and Ranges, Garland Stoves and Ranges, and small paper too numerous to mention." PITTSBURG AT WAR. John Varley and Chas. Anderson were ar- raigned before Magistrate Archibald Mack- rell on a charge of assault and battery mado by Charles Johnston. The latter alleges that the defendants beat and abused him without cause. The parties to the suit are rival bill posters for Pittsburgh theaters. They got into a dis- pute at Liberty and Sixth streets, early De- cember 11, and the affair ended In a fight in which Johnston was cut on the head and bruised on the body.' John Varley. a bill poster, while assisting Special Officer Michael Daly to stop a dis- turbance In the Bijou Theater December 12. received a severe cut in the arm from a pen- knife. Three men were arrested. B. D. Stevers, city bill poster of Denison, Iowa, wishes to obtain a scale of prices for plain and pictorial bulletin painting. Can some brother bill poster oblige him. W. A. Northup, of Kingfisher, Okla., sends us a very Ingenious diagram card which shows the locations of his center boards at a glance. The idea is a good one. Other bill posters would' do well to copy or improve it. PROFESSIONAL ETHICS. We" venture to say that a few of our read- ers are aware of the publication of a paper devoted to the Interests of undertakers. But they have a trade paper called the Casket, a name somewhat gruesome, though not clearly distinctive. No matter about that. We de- sired to call attention to another matter sug- gested by an editorial printed in a late num- ber of the Casket. The writer says: The funeral director, who aims to serve the public in a professional capacity, nat- urally desires to make known his particu- lar fitness for such services as far as possible and open up the largest practical sphere for usefulness to those needing his ministrations, and yet he is debarred by the peculiar cir-' cumstances that involve his profession from appearing to bid for public consideration, to a higher degree even than that which ob- tains in the legal and medical professions. He can not consistently, with the dignity and delicacy of his calling, advertise' himself and his business facilities, as is permissible in many other vocations and trades; nor can he consistently enter into unseemly rivalry and competition. The question as to how far one may go in advertising himself as a funeral director has been a vexed one among conscientious and sensitive-minded people from time immemo- rial, but the experience and propriety have settled upon the simple form of announce- ■ ment as the only means of bringing one's name before the public in a becoming and dignified manner. Anything that has the appearance of immodesty and sensationalism, or is obtrusive and presumptious in its char- acter, is esteemed obnoxious and is looked upon as unprofessional. It will surprise many to know that the ethics of undertaking, is more rigid in lim- itations, as far as advertising is concerned, than those which circumscribe the high pro- fessions of law and medicine. But we appre- hend that ethics in all the cases has been car- ried so far that the transgressors have pi of- Ited at the expense of those who have been more rigid. Yet there is a propriety in pro- fession-! ethics, for all professions can be degraded by the unseemly publicity of un- principled members. It would be profitable to discuss the ques- tion whether the ethics of other days is well suited for these times. Ultra conservatism at times is hurtful, and ethics in professions is rounded upon conservatism. It may be that doctors, lawyers and undertakers ar-> viewing advertising in a light which is old and dim. and in a measure suffering by rea- . son of It To have the men who have demonstrated their organi7ing ability by great business successes tell their secrets of organizati"-i. Is the object of the editor of The-Cosmopoli- tan. That he is succeeding, is rroved in t'e January Issue by the article from Charles R. Flint, -who is regarded in New York as one of the three or fpur ablest organizers in America. He is President of the Rubber Trust and the bend of the great mercantile hoUFC of Flint. Eddy & Co.. which has its ramifications in almost every port of the world. Mr. Flint tells very openly what makes for success in the organization of busi- ness. His article may be read-with interest by the Rockefellers, the Armours, and the Wanamakprs as well as by tho humblest clerk seeking to fathom the secret of busi- ness success. In the same line is an article, also in the January Cosmopolit»n, telling how Mr. Piatt organized and conducted the campaign e 0 r the election of Roosevelt. It is by a gentle- man who was actively engaged at the Repub- lican headquarters during the campilgn. and who gives a vivid picture of the perfection to which political organization has been carried in New York State by the most astute of managers. The wary old Senator who has been a lifetime In polities and the youige-t political aspirant will nllko find food for re- flection In Mr. Biythe's article. The Wife and Her Husband's Business. "It Is a cause of amazement to me that a man can go on. year in and year out. toiling for a family whose members show no Inter- est In his work further than to spend tho money he makes, and who look upon him as the family mint," writes Frances Evans In the January Ladles' Home Journal. "Mv llrm belief is that had he. in the first flush of married life, talked over his business and ninbltlonn with his wife, she would have bo- •nmc Interested In both, first for his sake, •••iid afterward for her own and their ehll- •Ircn's. Think of thn gulf that lies between a man and woman united In marriage when !ip never speaks at home of the affairs whieh absorb his entire day! Mutual interests will r>lnd people together Indltsolubly even when indifference, that dangerous bridge ot sighs, ua« iwallowed up affeotlon." THE BILLBOARD You Will Get Your Dividends. During the month of January there Is many a newspaper publisher that will have the pleasure of writing his name across the back of a dividend check, for the stock that he owns in the Sterling Remedy Co. There have been all kinds of schemes and propositions presented to the newspaper publisher year after year, but we think this is the first time that the publisher ever got a dividend. The newspapers who went into this deal are to be congratulated. The business of the Com- pany is growing rapidly and if the present increase keeps up, it wont be long before Cascarcts and No-To-Bac will have as large a sale as any proprietary medicine in the world. "No limit to our advertising, we will buy and use all kinds of Publicity At A Price," is the way Mr. H. L. Kramer, gen- eral manager of the company, puts it. in speaking about the appropriations for 1S99. Mr. Kramer is to be particularly congratu- lated in view of the fact that he laid the foundation for his business at a time when the country was experiencing the h?rc"est times it ever had anything to do with. When we look over, the list of general advertisers in the field, we find that he is about the only one that has, within the last few years.j who shall secure the greatest number of paid- up yearly subscriptiops to "The Arena" be- tween January 16 and July 1, 1S99. The award will be mado by a committee of Boston business men. to be hereafter an- nounced, and who will be given fullest access to "The Arena's" subscription lists and records. The decision of this committee, an- nouncing the winner of the contest, will be published in the August number of "The Arena." so that the successful contestant may make timely arrangements to begin his. or her four years* course at the commence- ment of the next college year in September. Immediately on the announcement of the award, the sum of one thousand dollars in cash will be deposited by "The .Arena" in trust with the treasurer of the selected col- lege or university, to be paid to the student in four equal instalments during the college course. Friends of the contestants may forward subscriptions to "The Arena" and they will be credited to the contestant named by them. This is not a voting contest. No one can buy up a number of the magazines and cnt out coupons. Success will depend entirely on individna! earnestness and energy in se- curing subscriptions. HOW TO ENTER THE LISTS. All those desiring to enter the competition / BURRELL B. CHAPMAN; Cincinnati. launched a business and been able to carry it through until today he ranks as one of the big general advertisers in the country and has created a demand for Casearets within less than three years that runs up to nearly 5,000,000 boxes a year. THE ARENA SCHOLARSHIP. To secure a college education is the worthy ambition of thousands of earnest young men and women and of boys and girls all over the United States. In these days of sharpest competition in every field of activity every sensible worker rightfully desires to secure all the advantages and equipment for the battle of life afforded by the most complete education It is possible to obtain. To en- courage this ambition and aid in its achieve- ment. "The Arena" has established a schol- arship onen to the widest competition end sufficiently valuable to nrove an Incentive to the ambitions youth of the country. This scholarship will be known as THE ARENA SCHOLARSHIP and It Is Intended to secure to the suce-casful competitor the pecuniary means necessary to pursue successfully the full course of study in any college, university, mustcrl con- servatory, scientific school, school of law. medical college, divinity school, school of mines, or of engineering course that may b-> selected by the successful competitor. , The cash value of this scholarship will bo $1,000.00 and will be awarded to the boy or girl, young man or woman under the age ot twenty-one for THE ARENA SCHOLARSHIP will be required to send in name and address, with age, before January 16. 1S99. Only thrse en- rolled at the beginning of the year will be considered elegible. Sample copies, subscrip- tion blanks, prospectuses, etc.. will be fur- nished to aid in the work of canvassing for subscriptions. CONSOLATION PRIZES. That no earnest competitor my go entirely unrewarded, every contestant sending in at least one hundred yearly subscriptions will be paid fifty dollars in cash, and fifty dol- lars more for every additional one hundred subscriptions. TO OUR FRIENDS AND EXCHANGES. In order to facilitate the rapid spread of this offer throughout the country, the pub- lishers earnestly request all friends of "The Arena." all readers of "The Arena." all ex- changes of "The Arena." all who happen to read this in "The Arena," to advertise the rood news In any way or shape they see fit. Such an offer comes but once In a lifetime: such an opportunity should not be allowed to pass unheeded. Every friend of Youth, everv friend of Education, Is authorized to snread the word, to eive It the widest publicity, to become missionaries in promulgating the good news. Address all communications concerning this contest to THE ARENA COMPANY. Copely Square, Boston, Mast- Circulation Department. Additional Fair News. The treatment to be pursued in regard to animals that have been highly fitted for competition at 'the fall shows is pretty well known to all breeders who have been in the business for any length of time. As the ranks of exhibitors, however, are constantlv- being reinforced by younger men, who may not be so well Informed, and -by wealthy citizens who take up farming as a recreation, and whose knowledge of the mysteries of breeding and showing is less, perhaps, than the length of their purse-strings, a few hints as to the most satisfactory way to treat show animals, after their duties at the fairs are over, will not be amiss. When the show stock arrive home, they are. as a rule, pretty well tired, both of their journeyings and of their strong rations which they have been receiving so steadily during their tour, and are just as anxious for a change of feed as are their owners to give it to them, and thus save their pockets from further expense. It Is not wise, however, to make a change too rapidly, as a sudden trans- ition from grain and dry feed to rich past- ures would derange the digestion, cause scouring, and result In the animal's getting a back-set. As regards horses, cattle and sheep, the better plan, and the one most generally adopted by breeders, is to-lessen the grain feed gradually, and turn the ani- mals out in a short pasture for a few days during fine weather till thev become sea- soned: afterwards they can be given more succulent grasses. Whether they can be de- prived of the grain ration altogether then is a matter that depends on the condition of the individual animal. Rams that are to be used on the flock should, on their return home, be deprived of all heating food, but should, nevertheless £ e if?". 1 " n ,n Bood he»rt so that they may be lit for their work. When the mating time comes salts may be given, should a show ram be sluggish in his work. This and plenty of exercise will remedy any trouble in this direction, unless the animal Is absolutely worthless naturally, or has become so In con- sequence of too good treatment. In the case of swine there does not appear to be auite so much caution reoulred In low- ering their diet, although here. too. a gradual change is best. Most of the nles shown at our exhibitions ere too fat. judeing from the pork packer's point of view, and have to lose a considerable amount of unnecessary flesh before they get down to ordinary breeding condition, and, therefore, many breeders Shut off show rations at once when the exhibitions close. Some take their show nigs and turn them out on pasture, with no grain, but where they have access to nlenty of water, and the results have been quite satisfactory. But here too. the breeder will havp to nse his discrimination, heceuse individuals differ so. and one nig would thrive unde«- treatment which another would not stand without se- rious loss. It must he understood that the above re- marks iinnlv only to animals which »~> to be retained for breeding mimeses. Thnw which »re Intended for the butcher or for fat stock shows, must be treated very differ- » » * In . ,r rase there must bo no rhango of feed or lowering of rations, but th°v must be npshed on steadilv on the f~>d thev an > eecpctnmed to. otherwise thev will pot be in the best form to be shown or sold when the time comes.—Farmers' Advocate. Eight years ago. In the month of Septem- ber, a miniature aericultpral fair was held h^ children, in the little village of Brlmfield. A 'vine-covered arbor was psed for th» hall A net lamb, a r»lf. a mother hen with hor brood of ten small chlckons, some vege- tables from a neighboring <~i-den. pnfl » small hov who renrosented the "hit me if von can coon" formed tho attractions B t the show' A Swiss music box furnished choice selec- tions from favorite op°ras September 2. JS98. thnueh the dsv was on- prosslvplv hot. there was an attendance of some «v» knidrM peonle at the "Seventh Annua! Fair." Tho managers were two o' the bovs. now fifteen jpd aeventoon yearn o* age. *\iur lar«ro canv-s tents were erooted nnnn the Academy ball grounds; an eatln"- font a storo t.pt, a tent for tho ai*n!-y of rruite. vegetables and fancy mi*, and one J^T tho over-present Po"fl. and .Tnrty «how. Whip sellers and fruit venders were numer- ous. Poultrv of manv kinds was evhtblt-d. Tiere was a lave dlsnlav of flpo cattle, also cheep, swine and net stock on th"» "rounds. Fanev- work. oookW. etc.. hv children v-'er six- teen voars o' »P-o. wa= «b»wn. snp<-I<a] jn-on,. inrns heincr offered In thio ]| n p. £ hr"s h-nd of twentv nI»oe" furnished mnslc for tho dav. ann 1 a part of tho co**""»nv w° s retained for a "»->nco 't tho Town TJall. to fho oveplne-. The fair li»5 hoop hroup-bt to It«i nr»sont Pta.po'lng hv fho hnv-o 1 and *iorsf~tont w„rV of Its two bov Tnanoo-oro. who now. fool that •hov hove unnn tholr hand* something more thin thev C"n Tnan«o-o Mono. ATI cash ™*- pelpta of each trnjir have heen neon 1 In paying -Tpplnmj: nnii hpvlnp- metprlal for tents, ofe.. tho hnva hoT-I***" rocet'-efl po cash romnnora- tIon for their labor, fhev are n»-«ud of tholr ri'ecece. however and booo. with the h„T n of other*, to ho ship tf* Mtnr op th«t whlwt, has been a pleasure and benefit to the town. Special Dispatch to "The Billboard:" Toledo. O.. Dec. 30.—The Ohio Cen»en».l=I Company, with a capital stook of JSOOflflO. was organised tonight. The following direc- tors wpi-o chosen: E. v». T.ihhev. TVRohlRon, - T -.. C. M. Solfer A. F Lang. s. n. ochenek. "■Tios H. Traev. Wm. Hardee. T. P! Tfnlselev. R. Kind. Barton Sr"ith. W. J. Waldtng. J. D. R. Lamson. P. H. Degnan. G. W. Hull and M. R. Daly. It Is probable that F D. T 'bbey, the plass m ap-nate.wUl be *n«de P»e«- h*ppt. and City Clerk Lent P. Harris Sec- retary. Tt Is sold th-t Admiral Pewv has prom- ised to open the Ohio Centennial at Toledo. The Pari* Exposition buildings have be*n badly Impaired by flood*.