Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-09-10


The disgraceful fact has been brought out
and Indignantly commented upon by at least
one Of the Memphis papers that while the peo-
pie of the north, Wl,nout regard to age, sex,
sect, nationality or financial ability, are daily
feSpOr ding in the most liberal manner to the
cries o. that city for help, not few Of her own
citizens who are blessed with great wealth and
large capa city 10 do good have conspicuously
failed to do anything. either by personal as.
Sistance or pecuniary contributions, to aid
their suffering and dying friends and neigh
bOrs.
1t is very easy and quite common also to
find fault with the rich for not always doing
" 1T other people conceive to be their duty ;
ed it seems almost incredible that such an
natural state of things as Is complained of
VI Ibis instance should exist anywhere. I'm
T. urately, however, this is not the first time,
/; is Memphis the only place in regard to
Y Eich such charge might be made with ap ,
~ ant Justice. Ii has too often happened that
c. the first appearance of the yellow fever
cor plete decentralization takes possession OF
CT officials and the inhabitants of afflicted
] ces, impelling those who can do so to fee at
once, without any thought OF those left behind
IhIs leaving the whole duty Of caring for the
sich and destitute to be performed by persons
OF slender means and strangers. upon whom
the demands of a common humanity.
1t need not be added here that the existence
OF such state of things should not for an in.
slant be allowed to close the ear of any one to
cries for help from any quarter; the urgency
Is too great to allow leisure to learn what any
one else is doing or not doing, or to inquire
whether the plans which have been adopted
for affOrding relief are or are not the very
best that could be devised. Nevertheless,
there are one or two considerations CLOSELY
connected with the history and character of
yellow fever which cannot well be overlooked
and which ought to be kept in mind at all
times by these most interested. Prominent
among these is the patent fact that 1t is in
large measure preventable disease. There
is no resisting the conclusion, therefore, that
if the Inhabitants of the localities likely to be
scourged by it were half as energetic In their
efforts 10 prevent its appearance, by the con-
slant employment of proper sanitary mea-
sures, and as vigorous in battling with it when
1t first appears. as they are prompt in calling
for help,-generally when prevention is 20
i)nger possible, and some times, as is alleged
before local means are all exhausted-the
horrors of the disease would be greatly miti-
gated, it, indeed, compete immunity from it
could not be secured.
To some persons the expression of reflec-
llOuS SUCH do these udy appear HARSH ana QQ.
called Tor at time when only active sympathy
and substantial aid seem to be needed. Not
so, however. 1t often happens that it is only
when individuals or communities are con-
fronted with a great peril that they will
take the necessary measures to avert its re-
currence. These observations are made,
therefore, in the best spirit conceivable; and
II they serve, as they are meant, to show that
it Is as much duty in advance OF danger to
take every step possible to prevent suffering
as 1t is to call for and give means for its alevi-
alton, they will not have been made IN vain.
The lesson is always timely one. 1t cannot
be learned too soon nor too thoroughly.
With that deferential humility which should
always characterize the observations of lay.
men In regard to professional subjects, we
venture to remark that the exterior view OF
proposed plan for putting an additional story
on the patent office building Is about as miser.
able piece Of architectural and artistic
botchery as 1t is possible for the mind of man
To conceive,-thas Is IL the Illustration in a
recent number Of the American Architec,
represents it correctly. Every person in an,
way connected with this deformity who ha!
not filed his written protest against 1t ought Il
be locked up in the building when the mex
file takes place. And the sooner this happen
the better.