Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1891-02-14
oLp PHILApELPtlA INNS.
sOAs OF tho Queer Names By which The
,.. Were known.

/ 0OA1AO " ehO VuuoE eonAp" " " a-AS- @--"s
,a.' Wers known.
| A stranger rambling through tho BY
ways and courts Of the old quarter o
Philadelphia will frequently meet with
tiny houses one and half or two stories
high, with quaint hipped roofs and check
ered fronts OF glazed brick. At the curbs
stand tall poles bearing oval or square
signs, swinging on rusty rods on which
one can decipher the lineaments Of some
famous and popular general Of bygone
days almost effaced by decades OF rough
weather, or, as is more frequently the
case, may view with satisfaction the
standing phenomenon Of nature-a blue
lion or q yellow bear. These erstwhile
inns-for such the observer will ut once
know them to behave rs class long
since pissed away, but there are even
yet scores of the old signs scattered
throughout the city, and here and there
may be found resorts where the
painters handiwork Is still the token OF
good cheer to be had within the walls
of the old tavern. The puritanical acts
of the License court have been felt by
some of the old houses, which for full
century or more were the gathering
places of convivial spirits, who will
never again meet around the fireplace.
Let us glance ut the titles Of few OF
these inns Not TINT as rule the signs
bore any lettering, for when they were
hung the handlers of the brush were
something more than mere whitewash-
crs, and words were not necessary to
explain the meaning of the illustrations.
One of the earliest inns was the anchor
and Hope" in Black Horse alley, exist
ing about e beginning of the eigh-
teenth century. A quaint sign OF much
later date W IS "Adnm and Eve In the
Garden" at Sixth and Berks streets.
There were the immortal Blue Anchor"
where Penn landed; the BROAD Axe"
the Battle of the Kegs" perpetuating
o stirring incident of the revolution;
several "Blue Bells" half a dozen
Bulls Heads" and as many Bucks"
"Black Bears" Eagles" Horses and
Bulls, while Butchers Arms" "Boar's
Head" BIRD in Hand" "Bald Eagle"
bee Hive" and BARLEY Sheaf" are q
few that may be classed under the sec
ond letter of the alphabet.
The mention Of the BRIG and Snow"
sign in Strawberry alley will convey no
to the average reader, but
the picture on the sign represented two
vessels, ''snow" being small sailing
boat. At least nine Gross Keys" inns
fourished in Philadelphia at different
times, while the Cock" "Crown" and
Sock and Lion" were favorite appella-
tions. Then there were the Canal
boat" ''Cork Arms" ''Cordwainer's
Arms" and Crooked Billet" the latter
q locally renowned gathering place on
the Delaware river. An old inn which
Is still standing is the ''Cat" or Spotted
Cat" on the southeast corner of Eighth
and Hilbert streets, now used as a shoe
store. It was opened as q tavern more
than one hundred and fifty years ago.
death of the Fox" Dragon and
Horse" miller and White Horse"
Dolphin" Dove" Durham Boat"
DOG and Dove" and death Warren"
were the titles of others, while mention
of the ''Darby Ram" will bring up recol- |
lections of the Clover Club in journal
istic minds.
Of course in the Quaker City, which |
he so materially aided, there would
be a number Of ben Frank
lin" inns. Falstaff was remembered,
while the Faithful Irishman," "Ferry-
boat" -Four Ais" Golden Fleece"
Golden Swan" Golden Horse" the |
"Goose and Gridiron, the Screen Tree"
and George and the Dragon" afforded
for the masses.
The generals were well represented,
efHgies of Washington, Harrison, Jack
son, Wayne, Montgomery and others
being displayed. The Hen and Chick
ems, =" "Half Moon" Harp and Crown"
''Horse and Groom" Harp and Crook"
Hornet and Peacock" divided honors
with the 'Hog," Indian King" SIN
dian Queen" "Jolly Tar" "Jolly |
Trooper" and "Jolly Postboy." There
we're three Lamb" inns, several
'Lions." a Lafayette" q Lady Wash
ington' and Louis XVI"
The 'Mason and York Arms" "Mer-
maid" Minerva" ''Moon and Seven
Stars" ''Noah's Ark" and Napoleon"
were we'll known sights, while the
MAN Loaded with Mischief" "a picture
Of man carrying his wife, and Meta
NORA" the latter near the Arch Street
Theater and named after Forests crea-
ton, were especially prominent. The |
Pewter Platter" plume of Feathers."
''Penny Pot" house and Porter Bottle"
are names which bring up legends ga
lore in the mind of the student, while |
the punch Bowl" still standing near
Broad and Diamond streets, Is hostelry |
whose fame has spread far and wide.
'The ''Quiet Woman" q representa-
lion Of hcadless female, did not exist
o,,oy t,onular oninion oauSin0 mine host |