BEGINNING OF ADVERTISING.

Waikato Times, Volume 88, Issue 13488, 19 May 1917, Page 1 (Supplement)

BEGINNING OF ADVERTISING.

Would you believe that in the time of the early Romans, yes, even back in the palmy days of -Egypt, such a thing as advertising was well known!' Vet such is the fact. ! Of course, they didn't have the electric signs blazing across the sky. they didn't know that red makes the best color for advertising, green the second, and black the next, but they did understand the first principles and applied them in daily life. We think that perhaps the lir-t bit of advertising copy was the "lost, stolen, or strayed" advertisement written by an Egyption on a slip of papyrus, when his favor.te slave was missing. Thr Greek* have oven greater proof. They advertised their concerts, musical affairs, plays and contests. They gave us the idea of using bands to attract a crowd, for they sent around their cities a town crier, accompanied by a musician playing a harp or a lyre. He praised, extravagantly in the best Greek, the thing he was advertising. Later the people began to advertise privately, on the walls of their homes, giving information about the standing «>i the family occupying tie house, the 'number of unmarried daughters, the state of their finances. The Romans went them one better. They named their streets, advertised shows, sale- and exhibitions in their public baths, notified the public of of estates, posted Hsts of articles lest and found, and houses for sale or rent.

When the Huns swept down upon Home, the advertisement-; disappeared wuh the Roman power and did not return until the, town crier of the middle ages began advertising again. He cried not only superior wares, but great, events, such as sales, weddings, deaths, war news. etc.

Gradual'v as shops grew many and huge, the keepers used signs for i>eoplfl to remcmlier them by. just, as pooolo used roats-of-arms. You . have often