The times., 1899-08-27
A Most usefnI Book

There was once an old lady who lived in
one OF the smaller towns near New York,
and she did a great deal of good in her
time, although she was not very impor-
tant person. She kept what she called a
fuss book" When she saw anything
which needed to be amended, she put it
down in that book, and proceeded to agi-
tate the subject. AS she chose her SUBJ
jects and methods iudiciousIy, she was a
most useful member of the community.
Among the village reforms which startel
from that "fuss book were that bicycle
riding on the sidewalks was prohibited: a
new street was cut through near a school
house, so that the children might not have
| TO pass along road where fast driving
was frequent; and dangerously steep hill
was graded, and a malarial marsh drained
After these things had been done, every
body was glad, but none of those who re-
joieed would have taken the trouble to be-
gin the agitation in the first place 1t came
TO be a proverb in this old Iady's family
when anything seemed to need particular
| attention. that grandma" would put that
down in her fuss book" and it would re-
| ceive proper care.
Americans are said to be the most pa
tient people in the world in regard to GER
tain public nuisances. A great deal OF
this patience is due to the state of things
described in the proverb which says that
what is everybody's business is nobody's
business. Most people are so busy with
their own affairs that they prefer to en-
dure some trifing inconvenience rather
than take the trouble to protest against
1t with vigor and have it abolished. More
over, the average citizen has no very
clear idea how to go to work to improve
matters.
II would be good thing if several ener-
getic and intelligent people in every COM
munity would follow the example of the
old lady above mentioned, and keep a fuss
book If they would put down in this book
he grievances which they endure, which
could be remedied by efforts in the proper
direction, and then, al their leisure, study
the best way of approaching the authorities
and gaining their attention, there would not
be so many accidents, and inconveniences,
and delays, in the course of business. AS
it is, these things receive little attention
until some big corporation, which finds its
work hindered in a way that costs money
takes the matter up, and then the nui
sance is abolished. Why should not the
people do a little of this sort of thing on
their own account? They have more in
terest in It than the corporation.
One Of the things in which this institu-
ton of the fuss book" would do the most
good is politics. There are many politi-
clans whose names might well be inscribed
in such volume Maladministration in
municipal and national affairs would cease
suddenly and forever, IL the real weight Of
popular indignation and determination were
brought 10 bear upon it. The true, genuine
judgment OF the people when they are in
calm, deep earnest is almost always right
1t is always right unless there has been
a colossal system of misinformation some
where at work, and yearly, with the con-
stantly increasing facilities for publicity,
this is becoming less practicable. We have
had an illustration within the last two
years that when the people really make
up their minds what TO do, neither Congress
nor the Executive can Withstand them.