Page:Morley--Travels in Philadelphia.djvu/128

---

I fear I have committed what Don Marquis used to call lèse-McAdoo in often halting to scrutinize the bulletin board in the north hall of the postoffice. Here are posted statements of stores and materials needed by the Federal departments. One finds such notices as this: Sealed proposals will be received by the undersigned until 2 o'clock p. m., October 80, for supplying this building with three dozen scrubbing brushes. And the Navy Yard's bulletin board, near by, always has interesting requirements: Wanted, for United States naval training camp, seventy-five bubbling heads sanitary drinking fountains. (Imagine how amazed seamen of the tarry pigtail era would be at the idea of drinking from a sanitary drinking fountain!) The Inspector of Engineering Material, U. S. N., Cleveland, O., announces that he desires space for storing one five-passenger Ford touring car and washing it at least once each week for the period ending June 30, 1919. It would be a bit inconvenient, we think, to store the flivver here in Philadelphia. The Navy Yard desires bids for supplying submarines with copper-jacketed gaskets, which has a business-like sound. The Public Works Department admits that one dozen mouse traps, revolving, are needed, to be delivered and inspected at Building No. 4, Navy Yard. Wanted for overseas vessels (here our heart leaps up at the prospect of something exciting) eleven revolving office chairs, oak finish, and eleven dozen pencils. The Naval Hospital at League Island asks bids on