AMERICAN ENTHUSIASM

Hokitika Guardian, 12 November 1918, Page 4

AMERICAN ENTHUSIASM

The American enthusiasm with re- , gard to all things pretaining to the war, has been well demonstrated now. Captain Seddon in some, extracts of a recently received letter ju3t published, referred to Seattle’s excitement to do big things with regard to the Fourth Liberty Loan. Here are some excerpts from a Seattle newspaper showing how the loan was boomed which are as interesting as they are humorous: SEATTLE STREETS SING BOND BUYER’S BALLADS SIGNS, BELLS, WINDOWS, PEOPLE THEMSELVES RADIATE “OVER THE TOP” ENTHUSIASM. “ Kaiser’s Knockout Drops—Liberty Bonds.” “We’ve Got ’Em on the Run— Don’t Let ’Em Stop.” “ Idle Dollars Make Longer Casualty Lists.” These and dozens of similar sentiments confronted the Seattle citizen on his way to work this morning and his wifi when she came down town to do her Saturday shopping. Second Avenue from Pike to Yesler is lined with banners, draped with American flags and plastered with Liberty Loan posters, urging Seattle to loosen its purse strings in behalf of the soldiers and sailors who are battling for world liberty. Not a display window the entire length of Second Avenue but had its own story to tell of the Hun’s destructive power and the American dollars needed to defeat it. Every lamppost on the avenue is covered with a shield which carries its message. The posters in red and white first tell the passerby to “ Buy Bonds ” and then tell him to “ Buy More Bonds.” Each one has a catch phrase, with a similar piece of advice to the Americans, such as “ The punch in your bunch of dollars is the punch the Kaiser fears. Hit hard !” JUST HAD TO READ. Seattle moved slowly down the length of Second Avenue to-day, because it cou 1d do nothing else. Those who ixiiiihfc have wished to pass hurriedly by the searing signs were held where they could not miss the handwriting on the Avail by the eager crowds who were absorbing every word of every poster. One great department store had three blocks of show windows bringing their story of what the people’s money was ueeded for, to each individual who Avas interested. Crowds Hocked before each window all day long. The entire equipment necessary for a soldier, sailor and marine, for the mess tent, the aviator, the officer and the doughboy, was included in the display. Every known machine for soldier fighting, with the co’t of pach and the cost of firing a round of 1,000 shots Avas also shown, and women proved quite as interested audiences at these windows as did the men. MERCHANTS I'ASS UP OWN STOCKS. A number of stores had their full block of window display. The stranger in the city Avould be at a loss to know what Avas sold in the larger portion of the stores of Seattle. No merchants’ trademark or Avares Avere in evidence to divide the attention from the gripping slory of the Liberty Bonds. Some of them, stretched across Second Avenue, carried in their flaunting red and Avliite the following mes- ; - sages “ Our ‘ Peace Proposal ’ — ; Buy More Bonds,” “ Victory Is Near, Let’s Grab It,” “ Take the Tonic Out of Teutonic,” “ The Swine Are Whining, Make ’Em Shriek,” “ Dress Up Your Dollars in Uncle Sam’s Uniform,” “ What Do Yon Weigh in the ’ Scales of Service ? ” “ Turn the ! Kaiser’s Sneer Into Fear,” “ Don t. Fight Your Conscience —Fight the Kaiser.” > At Second Avenue and Madison ’ Street the people Avere greeted Avith [ “ Kaiserism is Dying—Let’s Kill It 1 Quick,” “Do You Deserve Old Glory’s - Protection ? ” and “ Bonds Put the : Kibosh on the Boche.” At Second • and James, the sign painters waxed ; alliterative when they painted “ Bonds I Buy Bullets to Beat the Boche ” and : “Biff Bloody Bill With a Bond.” : HULLS RING OUT. In case anyone Avas not able to see, seven great bells manipulated by sailors, tolled out the cry of freedom. They were located at Pike, Union, ’ Seneca, Madison, Marion, Cherry and f Yesler Streets, and each one urged , the people to “Keep the Bell Ring- ■ ing.” 1 Never in the history of Seattle hav e : all its forces united for such a gorgeous > display of patriotism as is to be seen to-day, Its nearest rival, the days when the American fleet lay in Elliott Bay, pales to insignificance before the 1 array of banners and flags that flaunt the breezes in behalf of the Fourth Liberty Loan. —BUY TILL ir BITES. — Bonds build ships. Buy Liberty Bonds.