Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-06-21

CPRING GARDEN STREET is pleasant
~ thoroughfare for wandering. on a cool
summer morning about eigm-thirty of the
clock 1t has been my diversion lately to get
Off the Reading train at the Spring Garden
Station and walk to the office from there
instead Of pursuing the too familiar route
from the Terminal. Try 1t some day, you
victims of habit To start the day by a little
variation of routine Is an excellent excite
ment for the mind.
THAT after-breakfast period, before the
l. heat begins. has freshness and easy
vgor Of its own. Housewives are out scrub
bins the white marble steps secondhand
furniture dealers have spread their pieces on
the pavement for better inspection and sit
in their morris chairs by the curb to read
the morning paper. Presumably the more
ease and comfort they show the more plainly
the desirablity. Of secondhand morris
chair will be impressed on the passcr-by
such ia the psychology OF their apparent
Incidence A fire engine with maroon chassis
and bright silver boiler rumbes comfortably
back to it's station after putting out a fire
somewhere. The BARRIERS are out winding up
the clock-work that keeps their red and
white striped emblems revolving And here
and there on the pavement reclining with
rich relish where the sunlight falls in white
patches, are gray and yellow cats.
N1IIE cats of Spring Garden street are
i plump and of high cheer and they re-
mind me Of the most famous cat that ever
lived in that neighborhood, She was big
tortoise shell puss called Catherine (kate for
shor) and she lived In little three-story
brick cottage on Brandywine street, which Is
just off Seventh street behind the garage
that now stands on the northwest corner OF
Seventh and Spring Garden. Catterina
played distinguished even noble, part
in American literature. ] am the gladder to
celebrate her because ! do not believe any
one has ever paid her a tribute before. You
see she happened to be the particular pet
and playmate Of Mr.. and Mrs. Edgar Allan
Poe
TT is curious that Philadelphia pays so
L little honor to that house on Brandywine
street, which is associated with the brief
and poignant domestic happiness of that
brilliant and tragic genius. Poe lived In
Philadelphia from 1888 until lS44. and during
the last two or three years of his stay he
occupied the little brick house on Brandy
wine street, One of those who visited 1t then
described II as "a small house. Ia one of the
pleasant and silent neighborhoods far from
the center of the town. and though slightly
ana Cneaply IuTHlSneu eNeTyttiHs III " was
SO tasteful ana so fitly disposed that it seemed
altogether suitable for a man Of genius.
What is now only a rather dingy back yard
was then a little garden full of roses, grape
vine and creepers Perhaps the pear tree
that is still the most conspicuous feature OF
the yard was growing in Poe's tenancy. II
was double tree. with twin trunks. one OF
which was shattered by lightning quite re-
Gently.
MRS. WILLIAM OWENS. who has lived
1V1 IN the house for eight years. was kind
enough to take me through and showed me
everything from attic to cellar, The house
is built against larger four-story dwelling
which fronts on Seventh street now numbered
as $40. In Poe's day the two houses were
| separate, the larger one being the property
| of well-to-do Friend who was his landlord.
| Since then doors have been pierced and the
| whole Is used as one dwelling. In which Mrs.
| Owens takes several boarders II would in
| terest Poe, perhaps (as he was once in the
| army to know that service flag with three
stars hangs from the front Of tho house,
| The stars represent John Pierce, Harry
| Bernhardt and Dominic Dimonico the first Of
| these being. az ! understand foster son
| OF Mr.. and Mrs Owens.
| 1t Is not hard to imagine the charm of this
| snug little house as Il may have been ~ tho
/ dxxs whom Poe I'm his early thtrttee} AID
~ y 3es2s ss q = y.