Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-01-31
TRAVELS IN PHILADELPHIA
BY Christopher Morley

Ncrsation "IIc was wounded and gaSscd,
aud he says If they send me back to that
stuff it'll he n.a box" SheternG behind
a stout telephone pole, perhaps the very
one which was ninging the peddler'H an
Guishcd cry for more pretzcls. sought
light for my pipe and found myself
gazing on n red-prnted dodger: "NoltkING
CLASS, KNOW THE TRUTH. The workers
of Russia have done away with the capital
istic, distrOctvC, parasitic sistcm, which on
one hand creates MillOuares and luxury
and on the other hobos and misery
TNllE longest way round il usually the
l. shortest WV home. and it occurred to me
that the graveyard of Old Swcdcs Church
would be useful vantage point. found
my way there down the quaint little vista
of League street and the oddly named cham
mel OF Reckless street. Apparently tho same
thought had occurred to several other wise
acres, for | got TO tn" gates just as the
sexton was locking them. Ignoring the gen
crous offer that the church makes ON several
sgnboards-"Sl0 Reward for Any Person
Found Destroying the Church Properly
! took my stand at one corner Of the church,
yard, looking out over the docks and the
thousands crowded along the pavemcuts be
low, Reading the tombstones passed away
tho time for the better part Of al hour
DuT still there was no sign of the IIaver-
- ford. strollcd up the waterfront stop
ping by the barge Victor to admire n very
fat terrier fondled by the shippers wife. |
was about to ask If I could step aboard
thinking that the deck OF the barge would
afford rather better view of the hoped-for
transport, when ! saw the ferry Peerless
one of tho three ancient oddities that ply be-
tween South street and Gloucester. And at
the same moment tho whistles down the river
began to blow deep. vibrant chorus Obvi-
a hos
was to take Il deep sea voyage to Gloucester.
A Np so it was. When the Peerless pulled
~ away from her slip the first thing We
saw was the reception boat City Of Camden.
with the Mayors committee aboard (but
the Mayor where was heD backing up-
stream in Il iluttcr OF flags. And then we
came right abreast Of the big liner, which
had just come opposite her pier She stood
very high in the water, and seems mono the
worse for the five months ducking she is
said to have had. Her upper decks were
brown with men, all facing away from us
however to acknowledge the soar of cheer
ing. from the piers. SO they did not hear
the feeble piping set UP by the few intrepid
travellers to Gloucester. spinster next TO
me cried out cntranced: oh | would like
TO take each of those boys and hug them"
A SHIP is always a noble sight, and whilo
n
beauty, she has the serene dignity of one
who has gone about many hard tasks i'm her
own uncomplaining fashion. She has a large
and solid sateliness. Hurricanes cannot
hustle her, nor have all the hosts of TrpitZ
marred her sturdy comelihood. Her funnel
is too outraGcously tall and lean hcr bows
too bluff, her beam too broad for her to
| take on any of the queenly grace of her slim,
and swagger sisters. She is a suuaro-toed
useful kind Of creature; just the sort of
| vessel tho ~staid Delaware loves with no
/ swank or swagger And yet, in the clear
yellow light Of the winter morning she
seemed tn have a new and very lovcl,
| beauty Her masts were dressed with flags
| from the bright ripple of the Stars and
| Stripes at the fore to the deep scarlet of nor
| own Red Ensign over the taffrail Half a
| dozen tugs churned and kicked beside her as
she swung slowly to the dock. over the
water came a continuous roar of cheering
| as the waiting thousands tried to saw what
was in their hearts l-l the crude language
| OF the Board Of Health, her passengers bnd
! not been "disinfected' and we were not to he
! allowed contact" with them: but they had
| Travelled far and dared much; they had
\ gone out hoping no gain; they had come
| back asking no glory, From the low dock
| Of the Peerless We could see them waving
| their brown caps against the bright blur
| nothngness Of the skyline, They were home
\ again, and we were glad