National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-01-19
SPLITTING.
A New Reform Movement.

To the Editor Of The National Republican:
SIR: Not Q very pleasant heading for a news
paper article, Mr. Editor, but the Board of Health
has taught US that We must not shrink from the
disagreeable when there arises question Of pub
lie reform; and on this ground 1 beg a hearing
to-day. belong to that much-abused band
fsVOring woman suffrage, and believing that the
time is not very far distant when our city coun-
ellis will he provided with mothers as we'll as
fathers. And when that time does arrive, some
mueh-needed reforms will be introduced into local
governments, reforms impossible while all the
power rests In the hands Of men. Liquor and
tobacco and their attendant evils will be looked
after, you may be sure, and many little prtYt-
lege dear to the masculine heart curtailed. But
upon not one of these will more prompt or decided
action be taken than upon the one against which
this article is directed-that is, II the con-
slant complaints Of WOmen.ot all classes mean
anything. ! have frequently wondered why
there appeared no public protests against the
filthy habit so common among American men,
and which stamps their nationality abroad as
clearly as does the accent Of Frenchman or
German with rs. We see hung up in public
rooms and eonVeyapces cards with the words,
mo smoking allowed why not WITH quite gu as as
tho naturally dirty, or is it only thouKhtless-
ness which leads them, while sitting bv an open
their expectOrafions? or course 1t is the use Of
tobacco which infiets American men with such
an excess Of saliva, but II they must chew the
nasty stuff let them not abuse the consideration
of decent people by flooding the street cars and
sidewalks with their filth.
SSome plan ought to be adopted for modifying
the effects Of the habit for Of course II Is Of
to expect q radical reform as long as women will
tolerate men who use tobacco. Remember, how
ever, girls, that no truly refined man can use 1t,
for 1t befouls the breath the lips, the teeth and
the clothing, and keeps man as restless as 9
6sh out Of water unless he has constantly beside
him one Of those denominations called spittOon.
1t might be good idea for every tobacco eheWer
TO wear one Of those things hung around his neck,
or attached to his guard chain, novel but de-
cidedly convenient charm. It could be made as
fanciiul as desired, and would give room for any
amount OF variety and taste In decoration. Or
all tobacco eheWers might be required to walk on
the curb-stone, where the gutter could be made
serviceable. Then elegant ladies would have
only the ordinary dust Of the streets to mop up
with their costly silks, which would be decidedly
one step further on to goodness. have heard
Americans berate Frenchmen for their untidy use
of the p0ekethandkerchief,b but rather think our
kettle Is the blacklist, for the Frenchmans want
of cleanliness is o private matter between him
and his washerHOmam, whereas that OF the
American is a public nuisance, and should be
abated as such. VIII not some man be manly
enough to inaugurGte new system Of things
set an example SO bright that his fellOw-man
cannot help seeing it? And will not the presi-
dents Of city railroads take some means to remind
men passengers that q very little care on their
part would render the cars much more agreeable
places for women and children? y.