Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-02-12
THE STATES MISTAKE
II Should Have Purchased the Penny
packer Collection, but II Did Not.
AS to Motion. Picture Censor.
shIp-Mr. Trlpler's
Retirement
Ry GEORGE NOX Mccain

A UBREY PENNYPACKER says that
"A while the executors of the estate of his
father, the late Governor Samuel w. Penny
packer, have disposed of the great bulk Of
the Governors fine collection of Pennsyl-
yaniana and relics of the early Pennsylvania
Dutch settlers. there still remains n con-
siderable amount undisposed of.
This will not be sold.
1t consists exclusively of family heir.
looms, documents and furniture that have
come down from the early Pcnnypackers,
the Governors ancestors.
The state of Pennsylvania made one of its
characteristic and penuriou~ mistakes when
it failed to secure the Pennypacker coec-
ton at private sale before it was put under
the hammer.
State Librarian Thomas Lynch Mont
gomery, with several public spirited citizens
of Harrisburg who appreciated the value Of
the offering. held au option on it for the
state until it became apparent that nothing
would be done.
1t was fortunate for the Pennypacl lcr heirs
that the state did not make the purchase, for
when the hundreds of books, curios and au-
tographs were sold they brought n higher
price than that at which they we're offered
to tho commonwealth.
THE Pennypacker mansion at Schwenks-
l. vile will ultimately share the fate,
presume, of the Governors library and
relics.
1t is one Of the important historical land
1t was WaShington's headquarters, while
all around 1t are the hills upon which the
continental army camped after the retreat
from Germantown.
Several years ago the Citizens AssCcia-
tion of the Perkiomen Valley had bill in
troduced in the Legislature for the purchase
of the Pennypackcr mansion and thirty acres
of ground surrounding it,
The bill was defeated because OF fac
tiOnal fight in the House.
II was during thp dehotn thnt u uOmbCr
from Philadelphia sueeringly alluded to the
PCnnypncker collection. the finest of its kind
in the country. as "a collection Of junk"
The remark was the measure of the in
tGllcCtuality of the man who made it.
LIENRY STARR RICHARDSON, in the
IL course of talk on motion pictures,
recently disclosed the fact that the State
Board Of Motion Picture Censors does not
pass upon every film that is exhibited in the
state.
This may appear as a startling statement
in view of the battle that has ragged around
the heads of the board for months past.
it is, however, not q new disclosure.
Nor is it as startling as it might appear
from the casual utterance of Mr.. Richard
son.
Any thinking person who will stop for n
moment and consider the matter will readily
understand that it would be impossible for
any single board of censOrs TO view and pass
upon every film that is exhibited in the
state.
Separate and apart from the theatres and
established motion picture houses, there are
thousands of films that really require little
or no official inspection or approval.
They are exhibited in churches schools,
colleges. y. NJ G. a. audtOrums and COM
nunity houses.
They embrace travel. educational scion
titic and religious subjects.
Under the state law, however, they must
- have the approval of the state board.
Such as these are first viewed by in
spcCtors engaged by the board.
The average run OF films intended oven
for the regular trade. and put out by the
great picture corporations, are also viewed
first by these inspectors.
Wherever there is the slightest doubt as
to the character of the films, or any scene
or incident in it. it is turned over to the
state board for final inspection.
Under this system il will be seen that
there are really two inspections Of films be-
fore they reach the production stage in this
state.
1t IS now a matter of public notorety that
the films to which the very worthy gentle
men who constitute self appointed board
of ccnsors have recently objected were passed
by the old board. of which Mr.. Ellis Ober
hoitzer was a member, and not by the pres
cnt board
1t is curious sdelght in the campaign
against the present board that the gentle
men interested have failed to consider Mr..
ObcrhOltZers position in the matter. 1t
places him in n rather embarrassing posi-
tiOn.
1t unquestionably, however, has had n
wholesome effect in directing attention to
lcfrcts in a number of films that have found
their way into the theatres OF the state.
TTENRY f. TRIPLER, assistant real
II estate agent Of the eastern region of
the Pennsylvania Railroad, has been retired
from active service under the pension regu-
latiOns.
lie has been connected with railroads for
forty eight years.
Ills career has been an unusual one be-
cause of the varied character of his cX-
pcriencc.
engineer in charge Of construction and
thence to assistant real estate agent of the
eastern division Of the Pennsylvania Rail-
road.
lie was one of the best known officials
around the general Offices in this city, where
he had been located for period Of almost
thirty years.
Mr.. Triplcr was pcn>oncd on age. having
reached seventy years last December,
Although he had been connected with the
I.ehigh Valley and the Reading and Potts
Vile, his term Of active service with the
PENNSYLVANIA Railroad was thirty-fve
Wore it not for the cornmlNory rule Of the
pcnsion regulations. which require the re-
Iirement of all officers and employees Mt the
ngc of seventy years. Mr. Triplcr would
stil be at his desk and in charge Of his Office
force in this city
John IL. Hartman. Of BordontOwn, ~ j.,
retired at the same tim" rs Mr. Tripcr with
"A record Of fifty-l two years and ten months
with the company.
Rairoading with III" Pennsylvania must
certainly tend to longevity
WATCH YOUR gasoline tank
w This is good advice under any cir
cumstance. 1t IS particularly pertinent in
this period OF banditry and auto hold-u
4 few evenings ago an entire neighbor-
hoGu III itcb 81 cxritrTpcmt hccansn corcIeea !,
Negro chauffeur had neglected this precau-
! tiOn.
II was between II and 10 o'clock when
succession of what appeared to he revolver
shots startled the CmiII" community in the
~ L-..,.t. .r-. AL,-...I =.