One of these days, somebody' should write a history of advertising on the boulevards. A complete list of the publicity devices that have been tried, ever since the boulevards became the rear contre and the most! frequented part gf the city, would constitute a curious record of] ingenuity. We have, of course, plenty of huge placards and ill minated signs, but no sandwichmen. They take up too much room and defected look of servitude tes upon the public feelings. Ingenuity shows itself chiefly in finding new ways of attracting notice at small cost and without creating any obstruction which might justify the police in interfering.
A device in favour some years ago! was a broad wheel which left its message printed in water on thei' be pavement. The words soon evaporate ed, but they lasted long enough tol produce an effect, and the advertiser could not be accused of doing any! harm to the pavements. A gigantic negro in an immaculate frock-coat acted as walking advertisement for a time, and at present we have a gentleman in full evening dress, who walks very slowly with his right hand. extended in an_ impressive attitude. The most amusing of these publicity martyrs, however, 1 knight in full armour, who clanks i}at every step and who, Judging by what little can be seen of his face, is a prey to acute melancholia. The other day he was seen to stop op-Posite a cafe and wistfully eye the customers seated at the little round tables with their refreshments, Suddenly, an idea occurred to him, and his face brightened. Advancing, to a chair, he lowered himself carefully into it and ordered a glass of beer. Wiping his heated forehead, oF og much of it as he could reach with his handkerchief, he prepared to take a long drink, but, to his disgust, he found that the lower part of his helmet prevented his lips from reaching the rim of the glass unless he spilt about half the beer. Observing his plight, a sympathetic waiter brought him 'a couple straws, through which "he at last "thirst.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.