The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-05-02
For the Dispatch.
SalsatOry.

70 The Ehiors Of the Dispatch As. a con
slant reader of your raper, have not failed
to notice various articles which you bay.
published upon the subjects Of diet, cleanli
hess, and the physical well-being Of human
ity-especially crowded, city humanity
Now, as the representative of large clas,
who are confined, not only to city limits, bu,
in close Offices and shops, day by day an(
year by year-alike during the froSts of win
ter and when the May flowers are blooming
and the new grass springing-I wish to join
my voice with yours in plan for an honest
and intelligent care of human bodies as well
as human souls.
Why may not the various places Of labor
be made more cleanly and pleasant, and con
sequently moro hcathfuI? These places are
the homes of thousands ofthe people. They
eat and sleep with their families, but lice in
these workshops and Offices. Many Of these
places are diSorderly and dirty, and sonlr.
times ill-vcntiated. Here is Il field for refOr-
nation worthy Of the intelligence and energy
OF our best and most enlightened citizens
worthy of the love and patience Of our most
earnest Christians. "Dut," you may say,
"Why doyou appeal to these: Why do not
these worllnen help themselves Ianswcr.
Many Of them arc too dull to appreciate their
own interest In this matter: and it is to the
intelligence and kindness Of our 'einpluyc cls
we must look for the needed reformation.
One word from those who command would
effect beneficial changes in some Of our cstlb-
llshmentS which 10 amount Of argument Cn
the part of interiors could accomplish. Will
not our manufacturers and others who have
control Of large numbers of men look into
this matter? And not these only, but per-
sons who have charge of male or female en-
ployes. in watcver capacity, will they not
consider this question, and speak the magic
word which shall make cleanliness and order
a recommendation in those they employ?
Shall we look in vain? In vain, doubt
less, if we look to certain quarters. TO illus
trate: When the cholera was last in Rich
mond the daily press teemed with articles
urging various sanitary regulations to retsrd
its progress. Among others, daily news
paper which l may call the Fair Exterior
was loud and persistent in its appeals in
favor of the strictest hygienic measures. TO
prove their faith by their works, and give
good example for the imitation of their
readers, the proprietors of the Exterior
caused lime to be literally sprinkled in the
street cutters in front of teir Office and had
the outside facings Of their front windows
newly painted. This was all that was done
(in the way of practice!) y by the proprietors
of the Far Exterior. Their type-setting de-
partment, where dozen or more OF their
tcllow-men (pcrhaps fellow-Christians p were
employed from eleven to fifteen hours in the
twenty-four, was insuflerably filthy. and they
made no effort to better its condition save
the painting of the outside Of the window
lacings! Doubtless the proprietors of the
Far Exterior are but type of a class, and
to that class a stronger voice than mine
might appeal in favor OF making the work
ing homes of ourworking people as pleasant
and hcalthful as possible.
"Cleanliness is next to godiincsS s.; and the
Christian philanthropist may more safely
hope to elevate 4 mans soul when he has
taught him to respect his body. W.
Richmond, May |.