Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 109, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 May 1916 — J. P. GREEN WRITES FROM PHILADELPHIA [ARTICLE]

J. P. GREEN WRITES FROM PHILADELPHIA

Interesting Letter Tells a Few Things About Great Quaker City in The East.

Philadelphia, Pa., May 3, 1916. Dear Republican: Possibly a few more line- about this old Quaker city as seen by the writer after more than thirty years absense may interest you a little. ~ Easter Sunday was a revelation to me. Years ago a little attention was paid to church holy days by Protestants and especially by Baptists. The weekly Lord's day and Christmas being the only exceptions. But today Lenten services are held in many churches and Easter is generally observed with special services. The week previous to Easter is a school holiday week. Easter Monday is a business holiday, on which banks and other business houses close. The rush of Easter excursionists to Atlantic City began on the Friday before and by Sunday morning over 25,000 Easter celebrants from outside. Atlantic City and mostly from Philadelphia werd crowding its walks and thoroughfares. The walk along the water front, which still goes by the name of “the board walk,” although it is now a solid cement. walk, sixty or more feet wide, was literally thronged with sightseers. The Pennsylvania and Reading railroads each have a double track iine running to the city by the sea, besides ,n electric line. These were taxed to their utmost to handle the throngs that clamored for transportation. Long trains w r ere run, often not more than three minutes apart, at a speed of from 40 to 45 miles per hour, all day Saturday and until late into the night. Sunday was a day of gaiety . seldom equalled. The above facts I gleaned from the Monday daily papers. Philadelphia still retains the enviable distinction of being the city of homes. That is, a larger porportionate number of As inhabitants own their own homes than any other city i# this country. It is claimed that this is due directly to the very large number of building and loan associations that do business here. Philadelphia, it is said, was the birthplace of the building and loan idea; the first association being organized more than 50 years ago in Frankford, (23d ward of the city) and proved to be> such a success that they sprang up like mushrooms all ove rthe city, rapidly spreading to other cities and states. Their popularity here has grown with the growth of the city.

In my former letter I spoke of the nervous rush that seemed to characterize the Philadelphia of today. This impression was gained by the writer as he witnessed the rush on Market street. Imagine then his surprise, when, upon going only one block soutn to Chestnpt street, he witnessed the old time, leisurely stroll of the Philadelphia of 40 years ago. The two streets might have been a thousand miles apart, so marked was the difference. It was like passing in a moment from a state of nervous restlessness to that of restful composure. Chestnut street is the old city over again. Market street is a section of New York transplanted to the city on the Delaware.

One experience here has forcibly taught me how a city may grow away from its own inhabitants, even some of its officials. I wanted to Visit the American Baptist Publication Society’s headquarters. When I lived in the city this was located at 1420 Chestnut street. Later new quaiters were built but I had forgotten their location. So I appealed to a traffic policeman and he directed me to 16th and Chestnut street, hut the place I sought was not there. I asked a storekeeper on the corner and he directed me to 34 S. 16th street. Again a disappointment. Another policeman was equally at fault. Finally, at the corner of 17th street I accosted another officer of the law, and behold, I was standing in the shadow of the place I sought. So much for this time. I expect to visit Atlantic City some day this week. If I do you may. get a line about this great resort by .the sea. Yours truly,

J. P. GREEN.