Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-10-29
TRAVELS IN PHILADELPHIA
BY Christopher Morley

are posted statements of stores and mate
rials needed by the Federal departments.
One f1nds such notices as this: Sealed pro-
posdts piH be received b. the undersigned
until O'Clock p M. October 80, for supply
ing this building toith three dozen scrIbbing
brushes. And the Navy Yards bulletin board.
near by, always has interesting require.
ments Wanted, for United States naval
training camp seuenty-fve bmbblng heads
sanitary drinking fountains. Qmagine how
amazed seamen Of the tarry pigtail era would
be at the idea OF drinking from a sanitary
drinking fountain y The Inspector of En-
gineering Material, U. s. NJ, Cleveland, o.,
announces that he desires space for storing
one five.passenger Ford touring car and wash
Ing 1t at least once each week for the period
ending June 80, 1919. 1t would be bit in
convenient. We think, to store the flivver
here in Philadelphia. The Navy Yard de-
sires bids for supplying submarines with
copper-Jacketed gaskets which has a business
like sound. The Public Works Department
admits that one dozen mouse traps. revolving.
are needed, to be delivered and inspected
at Building No. 4, Navy Yard. Wanted for
overseas uessels (here our heart leaps up at
the prospect of something exciting) erepen
rc"ofo'n9 once chairs, oak finish. and eleusn
dozen pencils. The Naval Hospital at League
Island asks bids on 100 poinsettias, SO
cyclamens. 100 primroses, 100 carnations I2
hydrangeas, all in pots And there are
acquisitions posted for wires and shackles,
for anchors and propellers, for chemicals
and talcum powder and vast radio towers
to be erected at naval base In France.
War. you see is not all a matter OF powder
ana shot II you are ever tempted to Won
der what the Government does with the Lib
erty Loans, go UP to the Federal Building
and look over few of those invitations for
bids posted on the bulletin boards.
NINTH street. as l said, often seems to
IN me. the most alluring street in town.
iy hnno Df IL.
perhaps 1t is because at table dhote res
taurant above Market street first learned
the pleasant combustion of cheap claret and
cigarettes iGnited by the tune OF youthful
converse. To these discoveries Of dozen
years ago ] am happy to add others for
example. that the best spaghetti have ever
eaten Is served on Ninth street and that
there is secondhand bookstore which Ia
open at night. Nor am ! likely to forget
set-to with sausages and corncakes and
srup that ! enjoyed on Ninth street the
other evening with a. certain soothsayer. We
had been motoring In the suburbs. Q crisp
and bravely tinted October afternoon, and
getting back to town after 8 O'Clock a.
hungry as bolshevik commissioners we en-
tered into the Joy of the flesh In a Ninth
street hash cathedral. Here and now let
me pay tribute to those blissful lunohroonA
that stay open late at night to sustain and
replenish the toler whose business It is
TO pass along the lonely pavements of mid
night Walters and Mattresses OF the all
night shift. we who are about to eat salute
you Let it be a double portion Of corned-
beef hash and coffee with plenty" And
many a midnight luncher has blessed you
for your unfailing good humor Is It not
true. admit 1t. that most Of the happy recol-
lections of mankind deal with food we
have enjoyed?
VOU will hnd It well worth while to take
i stroll up Ninth street some evening.
You will usually fnd . roasted chestnut cart
at the southeast corner OF Market street.
The noble SAVIOR of cooking chestnuts 10
alone worth the effort Of the walk. Then
you can pass on northward. by the animal
shop where the dogs sleep .uneasily In the
window. agitated by the panorama outside
past the cuckoo clock shop and the old
Dime Museum. A. the street leads on 10
less exalted fauboufGs You will notice that
II grows more luxurious. Windowu glow
with gold watches. diamond studa. cut glaas
carsfss. Hsbsrdashers sst out So elk shtrta,
striped with tho rn3nbow. ia1uitely nAePe
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