---
title: Signs of Spring
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/berryman-signs-of-spring-1928/
description: A circular central panel shows a loaded touring car passing a 'To Florida' sign, with four surrounding panels of spring motoring mishaps.
section: Collection
---

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3. Signs of Spring

[![Signs of Spring, 1928 US cartoon: A circular central panel shows a loaded touring car passing a 'To Florida' sign, with four](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/berryman-signs-of-spring-1928.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/berryman-signs-of-spring-1928.jpg)

# Signs of Spring

A circular central panel shows a loaded touring car passing a 'To Florida' sign, with four surrounding panels of spring motoring mishaps: a boiling radiator, a salesman for the 'Dissip-8' launching the 'Big Drive', a family car being lacquered, and convertible tops being folded back on 'Pneumonia' models. The tell, weak here, is euphemism: sales labels ('Dawn-Gray', 'One-Man' tops) are set against the plain outcomes ('dirty Airedale brown', 'Pneumonia models').

## Propaganda techniques used in this cartoon

[Euphemism / doublespeak](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/euphemism/)

## Text on the object

Original (English) · read from the image, not independently checked

```
WHEN IT GETS TOO BALMY FOR THE OLD BUS, AND THE ALCOHOL IN THE RADIATOR BOILS OVER
MR. SLICK, SMOOTH-TONGUED SALESMAN FOR THE FAMOUS "DISSIP - 8" LAUNCHES THE "BIG DRIVE"
TO FLORIDA
RUMBLE SEATS ARE PRIED OPEN AGAIN AND —
"ONE-MAN" TOPS FOLDED BACK ON THE "PNEUMONIA" MODELS
DAD SPENDS TWO WHOLE DAYS SMEARING UP THE FAMILY HACK WITH A BEAUTIFUL "DAWN-GRAY" LACQUER, WHICH WILL SOON TURN TO A DIRTY AIREDALE BROWN
J.T. Berryman
[licence plate: DC 11-A]
```

[← l'Unità, Anno VII, N. 1, front page (January 1928): "Resistere alla seconda ondata di riduzione dei salari! SCIOPERATE!"](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/l-unita-sciopero-salari-1928/) [The Day You Really Regretted Not Having Filled Out the Coupon for a Little Book on "Snappy Come-Backs for 1928" →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/berryman-day-you-regretted-not-filling-out-coupon-1928/)

## More propaganda examples that use the same techniques

- [詔書 (Imperial Rescript on the Annexation of Korea), Korean translation, Official Gazette of the Government-General of Korea no. 1, p. 17](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/annexation-rescript-korea-gazette-1910/) (Empire of Japan · Aug 29, 1910 · Glittering generalities, Euphemism / doublespeak). Content note: Official Japanese imperial text on the 1910 annexation of Korea, printed in Korean translation; shown as issued.
- [Suomen Kansalle! (To the Finnish People!): German commander von der Goltz says German troops come as friends](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/german-goltz-suomen-kansalle-1918/) (German Empire · Mar 1918 · Glittering generalities, Euphemism / doublespeak)
- [Deutsche Zeitung, Nr. 120, morning edition, front page (Berlin, 13 March 1920): "Ein angeblicher Militärputsch" (An alleged military putsch)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/deutsche-zeitung-angeblicher-militaerputsch-1920/) (Weimar Germany · Mar 13, 1920 · Euphemism / doublespeak). Content note: Front page carrying a column headed 'Sozialdemokratie und Judentum' (Social Democracy and Jewry) beside the lead on the Kapp putsch.
- ["Sous le soleil équatorial" (Le Petit Journal illustré, 6 July 1924)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/petit-journal-congo-ocean-railway-1924/) (France · Jul 6, 1924 · Euphemism / doublespeak, Glittering generalities)
- [Human Sterilization Today](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/human-sterilization-today-1938/) (United States · 1938 · Euphemism / doublespeak, Glittering generalities, Transfer). Content note: Pro-sterilisation pamphlet using "insane and feebleminded" for patients, with a disparaging remark about Catholics.
- [This Is France Overseas, One of the United Nations](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/france-this-is-france-overseas-one-of-the-united-nations-1939/) (France · 1939 · Card stacking, Euphemism / doublespeak)
- [This Is the Netherlands East Indies, One of the United Nations](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/netherlands-this-is-the-netherlands-east-indies-one-of-the-united-nations-1939/) (Netherlands · 1939 · Card stacking, Euphemism / doublespeak)
- [What to Do if National Insurance Cards or Books are Destroyed in an Air Raid](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/uk-national-insurance-cards-air-raid-ministry-of-health-1942/) (United Kingdom · 1942 · Euphemism / doublespeak)