Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-08-05
REFORM WAVE HITS HAUNT
OF DUKE OF GLOUCESTER
Famous old m Once Scene Of High links and Wild Rerels
Being Turned Into Community Center by er.W alter

Five miles or six miles below
little curve on the eastern side. 1t is
here. behind a thin stretch of beach,
studded by peach trees and poplars, that
the City Of Gloucester lies; ; q front line
boathouses; clutter of small and
middle sized cottages and at the far
reach string OF stores and the anproxi-
nations of modrrnity.
Il is a city with ghosts: an impress
sion that no sensitive stranger. no mat
ter how little he may know of its his
tory. will fail to gather. IL Is full OF
temples whose dPitieS have forSaken
them, bur whose legends grow between
the CObhleS with the very weeds
The ground was the site of the
first Dutch settlement in New Jersey.
and later If the capital Of the British
Province OF West Jersey. Until this
winter there was on the beach an old
poplar tree from which were executed
pirates and other criminals. For some
reason, two and n quarter centuries
afterward. this tree offered n favorite
shade for the burning medtations Of
Walt Whitman.
Almost literally overnight years ago,
Gloucester became Il cosmopOlts--a rem
devious that in Il season collected as
many epicures and pleasure seekers from
as many lands as Baden or Monte Carlo.
This Transformation was owing to the
genius Of William J. Thompson. sur
named. and with very good reason. the
Duke of Gloucester.
He was born near Belfast of an Ulster
Cathol" family. He emgrntel alone
as n boy of twelve. and when he landed
in New York had hardly IL dollar in
his pockets.
lie came 10 Philadolphia-walk
here some Say-Hnd got his first
job ns Il sweeper of floors in the billiard
saloon Of the old Continental Hotel.
Found Time to Study
In the little time that was allowed
him he studied. He grounded himself
rigidly in all the elementary branches
md proceeded 70 history and literature.
It is said that when he was eighteen or
so he was reading such books as
plutarch'S "LivrS."
lie saved. In few years he was
able 20 open n saloon on Chestnut street
near Sixth. He married young woman
from Gloucester. and that j. how his
attention was called 10 the town. and
how the great idea began to crystalllze
in his mind.
There was II fad just then be-.
ginning for "SLorc dinners" Thompson
built great fran" hotel at Gloucester
and called it Bu"na Vista. though there
was nothing to sec but the League
Island marshes across the river. lie
was one of the first to perceive that
shad should be "plnnked'' instead OF
roasted or boiled, and the very first to
see that the properties of a shad diIner
should include liquors, music and liver
air.
Among the regular habitues Of his place
were United States Senator Sewall, John
MacCullough. the actor Major General
Hancock, John l.. sullivan and the
JoromeS. of New York. Lord Randolph
Churchill spent part of his hOneym oon
in the waters just off the beach, coming
Off the Could yacht with his brid" rmrh
evening for IA sh0r" dinner and Il con :
versation with The Duke.
Walt Whitman became an appendage
Of the place. The Duke, whose literary
influence counted for more than might
be supposed, was one of the first 70
recognize him.
The Duke" had In his employ at
that time young waiter, who was, in
cidentally, his godson and prOtege. The
boys name was James McNally, and
he wns destined. after career vt
extraordinary adventure, to inherit the
beach.
Wearics OF Waters Job
Young McNally wearied of his
walters job, though II had enabled him,