Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-09-12
Over to Camden

A DECENT respect to the opinions of man
L \ kind requires that one should have some
excuse for being away from the Office on a
working afternoon. September sunshine and
trembling blue air are not sufficient reasons,
it seems. Therefore, IL any one should bru-
tally ask what was doing the other day
dangling down Chestnut street toward the
river I should have to reply, Looking for
the Wenondh." The Wenonah, you will inn
mediately conclude, is a moving picture the
atre. But be patient moment.
TOWER Chestnut street is delightful place
IL for one who does not get down there
very often. The face of wholesale trade,
dingier than the glitter of uptown shops, Is
far more exciting and romantic. Pavements
are numbered with vast packing cases;
whiffs of tea and spice we'll up from cool
cellars Below Second street l found a row
of enormous sacks across the curb, with
bright red and green wool pushing through
holes in the burlap. Such signs as WooL'
NoILs AND WASTE are frequent. l won.
der what noils are. big sign on front
street proclaims TEA CADDIES which has
a pleasant grandmotherly flavor. A little
brass plate, gleamingly poIshed, says
HONORARY CONSULATE OF JAPAN.
Beside immense motortrucks stood shabby
little horse and buggy, restored to service,
perhaps, by the shortage OF gasoline ~
was a typical one-horse shay of thirty years
ago.
/ boat Wildwood, observing in the course
of the VOYAGE her sisters Brdgeton, Camden,
Salem and HdmmOnton. 1t is curious that
no matter where one goes one VIII Always
meet people who are travelling there ior tne
Nrst time. A small boy next to me was
gazing in awe at the stalwart tower or the
Victor Company, and snuffing with pleasure
the fragrance of cooking tomatoes that
makes Camden savory at this time OF year.
Waronloads of ripe Jersey tomatoes making
their way to the soup factory are jocund
sight across the river Just now.
EVERY ferry passenger Is familiar with the
rand tinkling of the ratchet wheel that
warns the landing stage up to the level OF the
boats deck. asked the man who was run
ming the wheel where I would hnd the
Wenonah "She lays over IN the oid Market
street slip" he replied; and cheerfully showed
Just where to Mastv sd on saturday sHe nights s
and holidays" he said, when there's big
crowd going across"
yr,HE Wenoaah, as all Camden seafarers
know. Is a ferryboat, one OF the old
tin,ars and I was interested in her because
she and her sister, the Beverly, were walt
whitman's favorite ferries He crossed pack
and forth on them hundreds OF times and
has celebrated them III seNeiai Pc, oe' ePii'
in Specimen Days. Perhaps this Is the place
to ouote his memorandum dated January IL.
1882. which ought to interest all lovers OF
the Camden ferry:
Such a show as the Delaware presented
an hour before sundown yesterday evening"
all along between Philadelphia and CAM
dem is worth weaving into an item. IL
was full tide, a fair breeze from the south.
west. the water of a pale tawny color. and
lust enough motion to make things 1roiic-
some and lively. Add to these an ap-
proaching sunset Of unusual splendor.
broad tumble of clouds with much golden
haze and profusion of beaming shaft and
dazzle. In the midst of all, in the clear
drab of the afternoon light, there steamed
up the river the large new boat, the
| Wen0nah, as pretty an object as you could
wish to see, lightly and swiftly skimming
along. all trim and white, covered with
flags, transparent red and blua streaming
out in the breeze Only new ferryboat,
and vet in its fitness comparable with the
| prettiest product of Natures cunning. and
riyaling it. High up in the transparent
| ether gracefully balanced and circled four
| or five great sea hawks while here below,
| amid the pomp and picturesqueness Of sky
| and river. swan this creature of artificial
beauty and motion and power. in its way
| no less perfect.
| You will notice that Walt Whitman de-
| scribes the Wsmonah as being white. The
| Pennsylvania ferryboats as we know than
Oe al the briclkred color that IL familiar 70
- present generation- Perhaps older navt-