Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-01-02
THIRTY.NINTH iNSTALLMENT

THIRTI.NINTH iNSTALLMENT
A DAY or two after the Inauguration an
ostcnsibe lady drove up in carriage
to the mansion and sent up her card to Mrs
Pennypacker, who was an entire stranger
in the city and did not know It's people. In
the reception room tho woman hogan To
talk, presently mentioned public affairs
and began to ask questions. This awak'
ened suspicion and she was dismissed n
few days later n full.page portrait of Mrs
pennypackcr. secured by making sketch
in pencil while she was on railroad train.
appeared in the North American, accom-
panied by what purported TO bc portraits
Of my daughters, which had been probably
taken from tho stock of actresses on thc
shelves, and a long rlgmarole was printed
under tho lie In huge headlines; Tho First
Lady Of Pennsylvania Writes for tho Sun
day North American on Live Current Prob.
lens" What could be more dcspicablc?
The woman ought to have been trouncod
and Van Valkcn)urg. the editor Of tho
sheet, ought to have been given severe pun.
ishmcnt.
almproving the Library
The State Library had long been nee'
lccted. with tho exception Of Ehronfeld
and Ege, tho librarians had either been
politicians. pure and simple. or incompe-
tents who neglected their work. Tho
archives, consisting Of papers tied up in
loose bundles. had long been tho stamping
ground OF literary thieves. I put at the
head OF the library Thomas Lynch Mont
gomery, trained librarian. who had been
in charge Of the Wagner institute in Phila-
dolphia, n member OF family OF high
social standing aud a man of great eff1.
cheney. I likewise had arrangements made
TO have the archives that remained and all
of the papers of the departments. prior TO
certain carly date, repaired, chronology
cally arranged, bound into volumes and
put in tho library. Carson, Wharton and
Montgomery, who came with myself and
DR.. Samuel 6. Dixon, president OF tho
Academy Of Natural Sciences, and John G.
Groomc, captain of tho First city Troop,
whom drew along later, werc referred to
as the influx Of gentlemen into tho political
life of the state.
Believing that Improvement, like all Of
the virtues, begins at tho home and would
he best advanced by setting proper exam.
pie began the work Of reformation with
the Governor. All the passes from the
railroads and all the free privileges from
express companies and other corporations
which were poured in upon me- were re.
turned, with expressions of Appreciation
nj Y
expenses Of the mansion. paid by the State
were cut down from about $4,000 a year
to about $1,000. I kept no horses and rode
in cab ! declined to toss the first ball
at the opening of the baseball season and
the like not that there was any harm in so
doing, but it seemed to me that the office
ought not to be used for advertising pur.
poses and that it was we'll to let people
see that the incumbent had regard for It's
dignity ! made it point to be at the
Executive Department at Q a. m. and 10
remain there until y. m, and to see that
no papers were issued under the authority
Of the Governor without my personsil
knowledge of their contents. While Wood.
row Wilson, as Governor, was stumping
through the West denoupcing the methods
Of the Standard Oil Company, chartered
in New Jersey. no doubt other charters
granting like powers were being issued at
Trenton. The world would be ever so much
better IL we could only succeed in prevail.
ing upon each man to attend to his own
duties and look after his own conduct And
now, after having, along with some moral
lzing, indicated the groundwork upon which
the structure was to be built let the nara.
tive proceed,