Page:Morley--Travels in Philadelphia.djvu/145

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TO LEAGUE ISLAND AND BACK
129

Between October and April, however, it is quite safe to walk at a leisurely pace on the sunny side. By all means observe the great number of places where soft drinks may be obtained, characteristic of the American sweet tooth, but expensive (war tax, one cent per ten cents or fraction thereof). The dignified edifice at the corner of Ninth street is the federal building, often carelessly spoken of as the postoffice. An entertaining experiment, often tried by visitors, is that of mailing a letter here. (See note on Albert Sidney Burleson, elsewhere in this edition.) The visitor who wishes to make a thorough tour of Market street may cover the ground between the river (Delaware, a large sluggish stream, inferior to the Rhine) and the City Hall in an hour, unless he takes the subway. (Allow 112 hrs.)


TO LEAGUE ISLAND AND BACK

Yesterday afternoon the American Press Humorists visited League Island. When the party boarded a Fifteenth street car I was greatly excited to see a lady sitting with a large market basket in her lap and placidly reading The Amazing Marriage. "You see," I said to Ted Robinson, the delightful poet from Cleveland, "we have a genuine culture in Philadelphia. Our citizens read Meredith on the trolleys as they return from shopping." "That's nothing," said Ted, "I always read Meredith on the cars at home. I've