Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-11-03

ave wore long, white canvas pants
and we smeared thick grease on the seat
Of them" Efingham b. Morris, presi-
dent of the Girard Trust Company, was
speaking in connection with the opening
of the University Of Pennsylvania new
boathouse along 'Boathouse Row. yes
terday.
He told Of the difference between coll
lege rowing these days and years ago.
"There were no sliding seats in those
days" said Mr.. Morris, $50 we did the
best we could. We creased the seats
of the boat, besides the seats Of our
pants. Hip pockets made convenient
grease cups.
1--WE were a sight as compared to
your modern crews. Besides the white
pants, we wore blue shirts and straw
hats. On the hats were long streamers,
which floated' prettily in the breeze when
we got up speed"
A lot OF fun in the old days, Mr..
Morris recalled, was taking five or six
ladies on board for weekly picnics up
the river. Many an old timer in the
audience chuckled at this.
That's right. Don't forget the
ladies'" shouted one.
Mr.. Morris belonged to the original
U. Of p. Boat Club.
Heavy Dues
1.-THE dues were something like fifty
cents and we had lot of rules he
continued. lone I remember was that
there was steep fine for getting intox =
icated.
1--WE named the boats we had. One
was double-scull affair. which weighed
at least 1000 pounds, as ] remember It.
We called it the Sophomore To-
THE Sapho was built along the gen
eral lines Of whaleboat. The only
shower we took was when it rained.
Otherwise we threw buckets Of water
over each other. We washed our own
clothes by dipping them in the river"
Mr.. Morris brought more laughter
when he told how the first boathouse
was built.
I'VE raised the money by means of
bonds" he stated. These bonds we
sold to our uncles and fathers and any
body else we could. We didn't own
| anything. but the bonds were guaran-
teed. There has been no come back
for fifty years, and nobody has ever
collected on those bonds, so I guess
they are still as good as they ever
were"
The new boathouse is one Of the
most commodious along the row. 1t
| has go lockers, eight showers, laun-
| dry with an electric washer and dryer
for clothes and big office. But the
| feature is the boat shed. which is 30 by
40. and has room for sixteen eights.
In the Office there are tablets with
the names Of all the crews from the be
| ginning inscribed thereon.
Tablet Unveiled
At the head of the stairway there
is another tablet, and feature of the
opening of the new clubhouse was the
unveiling of this tablet yesterday.
1t Is small and plain. but rich in
sentiment. Mr.. Morris did the unveil :
Ing. after cxtolling the man whose name
was painted thereon. DR.. J. William
White. formerly president of the Ath
letic Association, member of the Ath
letic Committee and steward of the
American Rowing Association for four =
teen years.
ITO us he was Bill White. There
ought to be n tablet to his memory in
every building of the University. He
was not only one of the greatest sur
geons in the country. but he was also
absolutely bound up In his alma mater.
He was heart and soul for athletics.
You couldn't drive him off the sidelines.
1t IS fitting that this new boathouse be
formally opened on this day, which was
his birthday"
Mr.. Morris pulled the banner from
the tribute to the dead friend Of Penn