Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-07-20
NEED THE TOWN IN SUMMER
BE DREARY AND SOMNOLENT?
Recollection Of Vanished Charms Sus-
gests That PhiIsdeIphians Have For
gotten How to Entertain
Themselves

IL exit now
Philadclphians possessing the requisites
OF a summer escape seldom need to be
enjoined twice. The individual cherishing
the fancy of vacationing in town has OBJ
viously eaten Of that insane root which takes
the reason prisoner.
AS for the odd million and a half Of resi-
dents compulsorily detained here--for the
number Of refugees. even in mid July, Is
proportionntely smnll-their menger portion
is a casual and condC ascending sympathy
from the scnmperers
In sense such pity is misplaced. The
fault. rs with Bnrric's and Shakespeare
Dear Brutus," lies not in our stors, but
in ourselves What is held to be a tradi-
tion, but is in reality a feeling of compare
lively recent growth, is the belief that Phil
adelphia as Il summer resort is hopclessly
and irrctrievably dull.
The last word Is valid. but not the de-
spair Heat and humidity are convenient
excuses for the grim inertia which a!llicts
this community but those annoyanccs fail to
cover the cnse.
There are cities in the tropics--Rio is
one--which hnve not utterly forgotten how
TO entertain and lcgitmately to divert them
selves during the seasons of trying weather
From Chicago, by no means immune from
"hot SPELLS comes the alurng tale OF nr
open air opera company. indianapolis sec
onds the motion. Similar entertainment is
provided in st. Louis by the municipality.
Is 1t not. upon reflection. shamefully alb
surd that Philadelphia in midsummer. sun
baked, humidity soaked though il may be,
so dppressingy resembles the sterile prom
cntory Of metaphor?
That conditions were not always thus
many a resident untouched by a streak OF
,riy lf,Ily L., tho far
distant past the notion of vacation in
town did not necessarily staggrr the i'm
aginaton.
The sources Of recreation at hand we're
neither elaboratcly organized nor costly.
Steamers. less attractive than the
sprightly 'bateaux mouchps" Of the Seine.
piled between "Farmount Landing" and the
confluence of the Wissahickon and the
Schuylkll.
Summer theatrical performances have
been known 10 thrive here. notably in the
lusty days of the Castle Square Opern Com
pany. Gardens and al fresco cafes were
Rrtfully seCre.ed within the hcnrt of the
city itself.
The automobile had not come to bring ioy
md profit TO rural roadhouses. Diversion
was obtainable at short range. Nearby
parks on the Delaware prospered. and al
though displaying certain crudities. they
were oascs of a kind. unpretending outlets
for relatively simple holiday tastes
Year by year have the pleasures of sun.
mer in town suffered steady crrtailment
The situation is not properly appraised By
reference TO the inevitable and deserved
growth of seaside resorts, nor to the devel-
opmcnt Of the motorcar. which has rendered
exit choosing so popoular pastime nor to
the alleged limitations on revery imposed
nrnhihIfinp oil has
factors of change and Philadelphia still pre-
sPnts n lamentab!e and needlessly barren
spectacle.
Fairmount Park, largest md loveliest Of
all municipal pleasure grounds. is made
quately furnished either with first class res
taurnnts or those catering to modest tastes.
There are tcmpcramcntal and social reasons
why the innocent gaietics in which so many
cities of Continental Europe rejoice cannot
be faithfully initiated here. But certainly
the dreary desert which Philadelphia has
become in summer is incxcusablc.
Is the imagination of its inhabitants at
n standstill? Attempts at reform are greeted
now with protests, now with the Stolid and
stultifying accumulated deficiency of en-
thusiasm that distinguishes the summer sen
timent of this metropolis.
Witness the reception of the transit com
pnny's project of new amusement park at
Sixty third and Market streets. Allowing
for such opposition as is certain to arise
from the clash Of personal interests, should
not the development Of the recrentivc posi-
blites of the community be otherwise vel
come? Can there be too many Of the met
ropolitan amenities properly directed and
appropriately patronized?
by its failure to entertain It's citizens
along conlmendRblc and stimulating lines.
Philadelphia urdcrG0cs annually a huge
financial loss. Charm may br undefnabc
but its effects arc often exceedingly definite.
Philadelphia in summer presents the un-
! inspiring spectacle Of a city unable TO min
| lister to the delight Of its inhabitants. The
days Of it's grG"iousncss were by no means
unvcxcd by the weather mans disma
prophecy of mo relief in sight" The
| change therefore, has been one Of tenn
permanent rather than temperature.
1t is high time in this peak Of hot
summer for revival of the old hopeful
| mental attitude Maine breczcs We shal
ever lack. hut the want of them need moi
| make Philadelphia tomb.
|