Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-09-14

taken the trouble either to find out or tell
your friends from another city.
This condition can he changed. The
schools offer the opportunity The problem
is simple: early training of our boys and
girls in an instructive and educational man
ner as to the valuable commercial advan-
tages of Philadelphia. Start in the lower
secondary grades. Under trained guides
take the pupils on hikes through the city
Show them this and that plant: Bromley
Rug Factory. Dobson Carpet Mills. Stet-
son Hat Factory, and the hundred large
buildings making lace stockings dress
goods, silks: the clothing trade, paper
candy. toys; the shipbuilders, the steel
works, the foundres. These should be
FORMAL and compulsory visits, and not made
as they are sometimes now, once a year. by
an advanced grammar school or high school
class Each class should make a visitation
of this sort somewhere at least twice each
month.
The benefit would be mutual: and the
child would have theme for his compost
ton or grammar class OF course, these
journeys should cover the historic, rustic
and geographic parts of the entire city, in
Guiding the river front, our forts Just below
and our near-canal just above A progress
sive educational interest in all matters rela-
tive to our well-being, our possibilities and
our progress in the commercial political
and social conditions of our city must re-
suit; and this applies to the elder as well
as the younger students
Then we shall overcome our fault of being
a bit too modest
Here is a way to begin this crusade
to overcome our modesty, Every merchant
and manufacturer here can do his hit
without being bold or boisterous or boast
ful. BY 1t he can tell more about Phila-
deiphia without saying a word than by
any other method Criticize the plan, but
hear 1t first. Throughout the country
automobiiists look for the signs at the
crossroads to point their direction Tray-
elers in these parts know what impression
was made upon them when they read
Thirty miles to Zacharias," "Twenty-nine
miles to Zacharias," and so on into the
town where Zacharias has a public garage
and repair station. Ride over all our roads
IN this district and count the number of
readable signs which tell you the direction
and mileage to Philadelphia. 1t will not
be necessary for you to take along an
adding machine to keep the tally; you will
not even need pencil and paper; your
hngers total more than YOU will see
Now. for the plan A uniform sign
post Tor placing throughout the eastern
part or the State to be chosen by a COM
mittee OF citizens. The cost would be
little Then the merchants and manufac-
turers here to be appealed to, each to con-
tripute one sign. The expense of placing
them would probably be borne cheerfully
by our Chamber of Commerce.
Then We would be able to read at every
prominent crossroads, Twenty-Five miles
10 Philadelphia" "Twenty-one miles to
Philadelphia" and the weary traveller. see
ing the plain and neat but strong and dura
Bile sign post pointing In this direction,
may say to his companion, well, they are
not AFRAID to tell the world where they are
we might as we'll keep going that way and
see what they have there"
And they will certainly see that wa bay.
been too modest
GEORGE HALBERTH COOPER.
Philadelphia, September l3.