Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-08-19
PUNGENT ODORS LEAD
OLFACTORY EXPERTS TO
WEST PHILADELPHIA
Punk, Fire, Smoke and Abattoir
Fumes Mingle Merrily With
Anti-Mosquito Lotions
Across River
VISITING EXPERT QUITS

Has West Philadelphia a little odor all
its own?
This question is ono that has been
argued time and time again In this city.
not only in private life but in the courts
Residents Of that section assert positively
that It has very emphatic and exclusive
odor To prove the point several enthusi-
asts recently placed wager that a
stranger in the city could and West phil
adelphia by following his nose
The services OF stranger were easily
enlisted. He was taken To the plaza OF
City Hall and directed to hud West
philadelphia by following the dictates
OF his olfnctory nerves. The stranger
shifted A faint aroma, such as might
come from vast quantities Of oil of citron-
ella and Chinese punk. blended with
quantity of rottinR cabbage was wntted
to his eager nostrils by a gentle breeze
Come" he said. Il will take YOU TO
West Philadelphia
with the stranger in the lead and the
investigating party folowing close be
hind the delegation strobe rapidly out
Market street. over tho SchuylMil River
20 33d street. south and west on ga
street and Woodland avenue and into the
residential section. Finally the stranger
paused.
SCENTED IT IMMEDIATELY.
This must be West Philadelphia" he
asserted. But why the belatcd Fourth
OF July celebration"
"It is not a celebration" he was told.
"It is just the West Philadelphians hurn-
ing punk. incense and smudres TO Keep
the mosquitoes away, and that swapping
noise is made by the men and women
slapping at the pests that arc not fright
ened away by the smoke Of the odor of
citronella and other lotions"
Az that moment cloud Of the Jersey
nightingalcs" descended upon the party
with such vicousness that they might
well have persisted had not passcrby
come to the rescue with smudRe burn
ing in an old dispan. Thus equipped. they
continued their tour OF the nognborhood
and finally. in the vicinity of tho Grays
Ferry bridge. were almost overcome by
the odor suggesting rotten cabbage. which
they had detected when on the City Hall
plaza
REsPIRATORs CALLED FOR
81 refuse to 30 further" the stranger
objected unless YOU provide rCspirators
to protect us from these poisonous
gases"
After some discussion and much expert
menting handkerchicfs We're bound
tightly about the heads of each member
OF the party in Il manner that conf
pletcly protected their noses. Cautiously
they crossed tho bridge. Upon the oppo-
sjte shore of the river they discovered
long rows Of pens filed with pigs and
sheep. Nearby was great building
which the stranger learned was the
Grav's Fcrry Abattoir company, and
from which the horrible odor seemed to
emanate.
What is it, the stranger aasped
choking despite the !mprovised rcSpirator
Fertilizer" one Of his companions
coughcd IT'S made there
Nearby was great chemical plant.
Poout block away a building devoted
70 tho salo Of fertilizers and some two
blocks away n second chemical plant,
from which a penetrating acid odor was
emitted
CLOUDS OF MOSQUITOES.
"Tet's get out Of this - ON, r,cp,ber NJ
The mart, suggested ms no hoilcd n dersIict
.'iitnev"
1nor,enf r,tor the deIe-otiop had ra-
crossed tbe river tn VVest Tlbiin,I.IrI,i,
On The hanks Of tbe ScbuyIl,iii ~ am
street tbav saw tho Mani ~ n roInc,ior,
Wastes. was less oyerpowerinE, YER " within - 10 mn- Tdn-