The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1935-08-09
NOW
Leaving Beach
A Big Problem
FERRY'S LURE
BY HELEN ESSARY

Emerson C. Harrington was
sitting on the deck of the Al
bert c. Richie, one of the An
napolis-Mattapeake ferries, hav.
ing his shoes cleaned. The for
mer governor of Maryland is
always exquisitely neat. 1t
seemed unnecessary to add
more white to his already spot
less costume.
But Mr.. Harrington is presi'
dent of the Annapolis Malta
peake- Claiborne system. He nat
urally had to sample his own
Shoe-shining department. ESpe-
cially since there is imminent
chance of a bridge being built
across the Chesapeake Bay.
Such a bridge will shrink the
tide of ferry goers. And I think
half the fun of a holiday at
Ocean City, Rehoboth or any
where on the Eastern Sho' will
be taken away when there
isn't the ferry to make"
We made the nine-o'clock-
ferry yesterday morning on our
way home from Rehoboth. And
let me say that closing a cot
tage, leaving it reasonably tidy
for on-coming occupants (the
Raymond-C. ClappersD getting
and eating breakfast, packing
three daughters, a house guest,
aged nine with long yellow hair,
q husband who doesn't like the
beach, Alice Washington, a
yellow cat Samson, beach and
city clothes-sandy, wet and
gummy-curtains, pillows, bed
ding, glassware, table fixingS,
cocktail shakers and beach
chairs, lamp shades. and vases
into two automobiles, and then
driving ninety-three miles before
the milkman comes, is a job
that makes the transportation
of Black Shirts into Ethiopia
seem as easy as encouraging a
boy to go swimming in August.
The house guest with the long
yellow hair, at five-thirty-
dressed and smiling. My own
youngest, I regret to say, was
in chaos until breakfast time.
She couldn't see why there
wouldn't be room in the cars
for the three great bullying dolls
won on a paddle wheel. For
the magazines, newspapers, sets
of cards, match boxes and sea
shells she had collected in a
month. She was also wailing
for her favorite sneakers, left
on a picnic the night before at
the inlet where Henlopen Bay
joins the ocean.
Peggy was insisting on taking
home two huge posters of Grace
Moore, wheedled out of the pro-
prietor of the Blue Hen, the
Rehoboth moving picture pal
ace.
Phyllis and I dashed about.
Stripping beds, rolling sheets
and pillowcases into duffle
bags. Presenting them to the
Head of the House TO be car
ried to the cars. The H. Of H.
grumbled a little about the junk
people think they have to take
away with them. But on the
whole was pretty obedient. He
stored suitcases, beach UNI
brellas, bags and boxes on run
ming boards and in rumble
seats. In between times, Phyllis
and I busted furniture and
emptied ash trays, preparing
for the newcomers. Were hur-
rying around like industrious
ants, when the H. of H. inter
rupted with isn't it time for
breakfast yet?"
It was seven o'clock, and
Alice Washington was just
scrambling eggs. She had been
waiting for the milkman! And
packing up her own chattleS,
meanwhile. Seven o'clock.
Breakfast to eat. Dishes to be
washed. And almost hundred
miles to drive in two hours!
We gobbled a bite or two.
Then damned the kitchen
helping Alice. Elaine cut her
finger. Peggy packed the cot
tage frying pan at the bottom
of a basket. 1t had to be re-
packed. Somehow we got every
thing that belonged to us slowed
away. Then the H. of H. said:
we would wait two hours for
the next ferry. He refused to
drive fast. Don't be foolish,
we said, and gathered him up.
And threw ourselves and each
other into the cars.
Elaine dragged Samson out
from underneath the house.
The breakfastleSs and missing
Alice Washington was dis
covered putting her hat on with
one hand and gnawing a piece
Of dry bread with the other.
At this point I remembered
that the back door hadn't been
locked. Beach robes were on the
line. Phyllis said she had no gas
in her car. She had not packed
Peggy's radio, and the beach
umbrella. And a humble bee was
in her car!
We made the ferry! AS we
sat and watched the crowd Of
pallid firSt-of-AuguSt vacation
lists leaving the Albert C. Ritchie
at Mattapeak on their way to-
wards sunburn and a holiday, I
grieved over the possible passing
OF the ferry.