Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-23
HISTORY AND PUNS
FOR PASSENGERS ON
SIGHTSEEING AUTO
Lecturer Gives Interesting
Account of City's Past
Without Its Accuracy Be-
ing Challenged.

Did YOU ever view Philadelphia from a
Sightseeing auto? If you didn't you have
lots to learn. You will find in some in
stances that famous historians have
greatly erred. that statsticians have not
been Within sunshot distance of facts,
and that youll feel at the end of the
trip that you should brush up on things
concerning your own city.
trip on one of these rubber neck
cars was taken TO-DAY by an Evening
1.ed."r reporter He started from Fiji
teonth and Market streets IN receptive
mood. hut before riding mile was con-
WINGED that he knew very little indeed,
about places and events In his own city.
The first surprise came when the car
reached the main postoiiice There the
marathon lecturer pointed to the statue
Of Benjamin Franklin and announced in
authoritative tones There is the statue
of benjamin Franklin. It was upon this
very plot of ground that Franklin flew
his kite and got electricity from the
clouds" Some of the other riders also
were amazed They made quiet COM
ment, but as most OF the passengers APP
peared to be contentcd the statement
passed unquestioned
one could half close his eyes and pic
ture the guide enightening an audience
in n vaudeville house. Glowing tribute
was paid by the lecturer to prominent
business establishments on Chestnut
street. On reaching Fifth street, he an
nounCed that the Delaware River was
i've squares east; also that the Atlantic
Ocean, which washed the shores of New
Jersey and several other States was 6Sli
miles east OF that.
CoNSC1ENCELESs ENCYCLOPEDIA.
Endowed with a vocabulary which
would have done credit 10 a high school
graduate, the speaker then went on like
a human encyclopedia without con-
science.
The block from Fifth to Sixth on
Market street was referred to a 8 great
mems row" Luckily there We're no mem
hers of the Pennsylvania Historical So
ciety on board, for the guide pointed out
the early homes of several Presidents
half a dozen famous statesmen and resi-
denCcs of others who helped make history
in the days Of the city's early struggles.
At Seventh street he was obliged to
drop history for commerce. All the de-
partment stores got the fullest praise
and the prices of hats and gowns were
not forgotten. In describing one, the
lecturer remarked: There Is a store so
large that If a woman bought a hat at
the Market street entrance and carried
il over every floor the hat would be out
of style before she left the building"
Just then building hove in sight In
which a white coated cook was turning
aCrobatic cakes That" shouted the
guide. rs restaurant where a hungry
man may get anything from a roast dim
ner TO piece of bread II he has roll"
This brought a smile and. encouraged,
he went on There Is the worlds
1o-r 10
cost 50. no to hold Billy in place. Even
at that he becomes impatient on account
of the deeds which 20 on under him"
Up Broad street the car then wabbed.
When the suburbanites on board We're
surrounded by batch of beautiful build
inEs the meGaphoned speaker let his ora
tory on lt full speed No stenOgrapher
could have followed him. A food of SUI
nnrlatives was applied IN the surround
ing architecture. The facetous talker
could not resist the statement that Venus
de Milo on the Academy Of Fine Arts
lost her head on account of praise"
"BROTHERLY LOVE" EXPLAINED.
According to the guide, this is called
the City Of Brotherly Love because tho
Girls Commercial School is opposite the
Boys High School. at Broad and Green
streets
NOn" OF Ihllan"lInlaS & nnanClCrS and
the amount Of their fortunes was forgot
ten on the remainder Of the trip up Broad
street When asked about a particular
ornament which protruded from the sec
ond story Of nearly every house on an
other street, the guide looked wise
They are busy-bodies," he said, "and
on account of present financial conditions
they are placed there so that the resi-
dents may learn if there's bill collector
al the door"
Later tho passengers learned that a
large plot Of ground containing tomb
stones was A cemetery, nd more enlight-
ering information along this l'ne was
doled cut until Fairmount Park was
reached. He showed the Fairgrounds for
children 10 the right, and the Fairgrounds
for policemen and nurses" To the left
Pointing 10 the statue Of an Indian which
faces both places. he said; Even the
viRi!ant medicine man cannot devise a
cure for this condition"
Bv way Of educational instruction, the
guide announced, NO fruit trees can he
planted in the park vet the guards often
find peaches In pairs on the benches" As
rhe car was then very near the Schuyl-
kn River, the speaker again became SER