Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-24
ELLEN ADAIR SEEKS
UNCLE'S HOME, BUT
FINDS HIM GONE
A Taxi Ride Through Phil
adelphia's Streets Brings
New Surprises at Every
Turn of Road.

was only four days old. y little village
boy pulled its eyes roughly open-and
the kitten died.
know now how that kitten felt be-
fore it died It must have thought the
world cruel place. and glad II was
TO leave 1t. Nv rude awakening hurt me,
too For when the lovely lady swept
away-t was the kindest thing that she
could do. poor soul,-she swept my child
ishness along with her. My eyes were
opened to treacherous world, and deep
down in my heart two feelings reigned
supreme.
First was trembling thankfulness that
she had gone. Then came great deep
pity for her pain, that swallowed all re-
sentiment and all fear | knew her sor-
rows were unfathOmable. Poor. lonely
soul in that strange underworld. drifting
among vague shadowy forms whose
hearts have long since died-is there no
resurrection to a higher life? out in ths
sunlit spaces. children's voice call-out
in Gods world are happy blessed homes.
TOO late. too late!" l still can hear her
cry.
At length l rose from meditating there,
and sought the railway station once
again. 1 had escaped the greatest dan
ger, and nothing could harm me now.
I hailed a taxi to convey me TO my
uncles house, my shabby trunk was
piled on it, and of we started
NEW SCENES ALONG THE WAY.
I noticed that the driver was a negro,
and he wore no chauffeur's uniform.
missed the smart appearance OF the Lon
don taxts, and the vase OF flowers within.
This strange dark chauffeur drove so
fast, and oh. l noticed in alarm that
we were careering on the wrong side of
the street, For. as We drove toward
the west, on that wide thoroughfare
called Market street. we kept upon the
right-hand side, and not the leftl
1--WE certainly will have an accident
quite soon," said l, and sought the
speaking tube
1 could not find it, and we still swung
on at lightning speed, still on the right
hand side. This was too much. could not
stand it any longer and hung far out
OF the window.
please stop!" I cried to the chauffeur,
"Tou will have an accident II you don't
keep to the proper side of the road.
Please cross over to the left at once"
The dusky driver duly stopped, and
shook his puzzled head. II drive all
right" said he in a soft, musical voice
a voice that seemed to hold the liquid
melancholy OF old slave days. We
mus keep to the right side. 1t is the
rule here"
sank back In my seat amazed. Here
then the traffic laws must be the opposite
OF ours in England Yet ! could not
shake off the vague surmise that We
= wound shortly collide with something.
The policemen looked quite different
from ours: they wore no helmets, but
peaked cap OF the type our postmen
wear in England and many Of them rode
on horseback.
I thought the postmen did look strange
mail carriers 1 think, the name is here.
They wore straw hats with wide up-curv-
ing brims. dove-colored. and with suits
of blush gray.
We passed great shops I'm Market street
II think they're called department
stores"-and great street cars changed
everywhere. They had no upper deck,
these cars, but all must crowd inside. No
one at home sits inside car in summer
time, unless it rains. They always climb
upon the roof, to get the breeZeE and a
view. I thought it must be dreadful, that
warm July evening, inside those big troll
ley cars! Although they were so huge
and long, l noticed they could turn
around a sharper cornar than cars OF
half their size in England ever could,
We turned sharply north from Market
street and swung alonG IN quieter streets.
The taxi bumped and bounced upon IT'S
way. for the road seemed strangely rough
and uneven. We ratified right across a
railroad crossing. too, l saw the tail-end
OF great goods train Just passed. It
seemed so odd 10 see those railway lines
crossing a traffic-leden street "I hope
] get to Cncles safe" thought T.
II was now lust after o'clock and
darkness seemed 10 fall so suddenly Il
seemed to me that in few short min
utes after daylight 1t was dark. At hons
we have q long, long twilight. and on
July evenings daylight fingers on tin n
o'clock.
I saw the oldest things on that .onE
taxi ride-they seemed so strange AT first
20 me an English girl but now I've
grown accustomed 10 them all We
passed street after street Of red brick
houses, with five or six steps leading
down TO the pavement. Sntrtlv zowned
white clad girls sat out on these sters
with well-dressed youths: whole families
sat there and faced publicity They aveu
went further. for saw many little en-
campments right out upon the pave
ment's edge The father would Sin yroY
q campstool there reading the evening
paper and peacefully smoking. not the
pipe OF peace, but one big black cigar
while the mother sat and chatted with
her friends who might pass by upon the
street
thought the crowds Of I-,IA cbu-
oren playing in the streets were lust tbs
dearest merriest little things. l.licd
the curious style In which their hair
was cropped, an round tho back night
close up 10 their little ears.
a DREARY DILEMMA.
At length the taxi drew IN ~ my
uncle's house, after We had driven lust
= trihs over four mle=. 1.-TWO dollars.
please" said the driver, as he carried
my trunk up 10 the door Two dollars,
Why, that taxi ride at homs would nav.
cost but 70 cents, I paid him while
he rang the doorbel
1t was two-storied, red brick houss IN
long line OF others. with FIVE steps
leading down 10 the pavement
The driver rang and rang, and rang
again. No answer came, FIr could
wait no longer, So mounted his car ana
drove off. A little boy who had been
intently watching me now spoke In
the grsst dread that now enveloped me
! yet could note tho odd twanE in his
speech, IF YOU are wanting the gem
tlenan in that house, he went of to Eu-
rope Just a week ago said he 81 heard
that house is 10 be shut mp for the next
three months"
Three months And here was 7, Ellen
Adair, with but S m the world. and not
enc single friend in the length or
breadth Of America, left solitary upon
the doorstep.