Bill Boards On the journey from Xew York to Washington to attend the 
meeting of the Garden Clttb of America, the charm of the 
foliage, particularly the Oaks and Sweet Gum trees, lent so much 
warmth to the scenery and set off so well the glistening green of 
the Magnolias and Rhododendrons as we reached the Maryland 
border, that even the flat country was attractive at this time of 
year, but all those interested in controlling road-side advertising 
must be profoundly depressed by the numerous and huge sign 
boards, only a short distance apart the whole way. If we were 
not conscious that boycott methods are not only illegal, but in- 
advisable, we would register a solemn vow not to purchase any 
article advertised by these ugly signs. 
After the delightful hospitality of the past three days it is 
difficult to criticise anything in "Washington. Righteous indig- 
nation only, that flagrant hoardings should be defacing the 
hallowed places of our country, make it possible to write these 
words now. 
The Capital had never impressed us more favorably, nor had 
we ever thrilled with more real American pride when viewing 
its broad avenues, the always dignified simplicity of the "White 
House, and now the great improvements in the park systems, 
and Lincoln Memorial, seen from all angles to great advantage. 
But the contrast was sharp indeed when one found at the very 
gate of Pohick Church a large "Polarine" sign, and one wonders 
if it could not be possible to do away with "Mrs. Somebody's 
Chicken Dinners," also flaunting themselves in the faces of 
all the visitors who pass into that loveliest of our National 
Memorials, Mount "Vernon. Surely the wonderful work of the 
Regents Association is not finished until another facade is placed 
before the, perhaps necessary, refreshment station. It was with 
real mortification we saw this woeful disregard of eternal fitness 
and beauty. 
Bill-Boards will not entirely disappear for many years, 
probably, but their control is not by any means impossible in our 
generation. It would seem, when we were viewing the objection- 
able signs referred to, that we as people are industrially mad, if 
even Washington and its environs cannot be spared. But the 
Bill-Board interests are as alive to the monetary advantage of 
plastering this city, visited by citizens from all over the country, 
as we are conscious of the incongruity. 
All this behooves our Garden Club Presidents to put on their 
armor, first to form Bill-Board Menace Committees to be active 
in this campaign ; secondly by using the Bill-Board Menace Com- 
mittee of the Gardex Club of America, (at the Headquarters 
in New York), or by correspondence, in order to develop a closer 
cooperation and thus have the benefit of the information in the 
possession of this committee. "Virginia H. Holden. 
Chairman, Bill Board Menace Committee, Garden Club of America. 
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