Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-07
WnshinGtOn's Missionary Influence.

| Washingtonians endowed with proper
ser Sc of local pride have always regarded
| this city as a missionary among municipal
| tiles While its progress has been in some
ways slow. il has been steady, always to
| the advancement of municipal ideals and
always tending to the goal of local hopes,
| the creation of a capital of perfect thor
oughfares, universal cleanliness, ample
parks. handsome structures. adequate
transportation facilities and healthful sur
roundings. In the matter of cleanliness it
| is steadily advancing to the standard which
has been set in the minds of the most en-
| terprising citizens. Its streets are the sub
| ject of close study at all times. Expert
! ments are tried to the end that better
cleaning methods may be devised. That
| there is yet some ground to cover before
| perfect condition is thought TO have been
| attained is proof of the high requirements
| Of the people. A singular tribute to the
| stimulating effect of Washngtons enter
| prise in this regard upon far-away COM
munities is just at hand in the form of
| a single sentence in a new book, entitled
| America in the East in which the au-
| thor. William Elliot Griffis. tells of the
var oas centers 81 American activity in
| Chi i. Japan and Corea. Writing of the
! influence of our countrymen In the enlight-
4 eminent of the hermit nation, he says in
| passing:
The renovation of the capital city from
! the simlitude Of a pigSty to one of the
| brightest and cleanest cities in the east is
| the work of native officers who had ex
| perienCe in Washington
! This city falls under the eye of repre-
| sentatives of all the world, The diplomats
| here assembled cannot fail to observe de-
/ tails Of civic administration. The Coreans
| came here primed with curiosity and eager
! ness to learn They have carried with
| them to their own country many lessons
| which have unquestionably sprung from
| their experience at this capital and which.
as in the matter of the street cleaning. have
| redounded to the benefit of their own peo-
| pie. 1t thus appears that this city's mis-
| sion is 1wo-fold. both to care adequately
| for the comforts and the health of its own
| residents and to furnish Inspiration for
| betterments abroad. For some generations
| Europe has taken the style of Paris as
| the standard of municipal advanca ment.
| Washington today reflects much Of this
| same spirit which Is so splendidly en-
| bodied in many of the features of the
J French capital. But with the advent OF
| new prestige for the United States, tn.
result of its entry upon the world field
| as a power, comes a broader opportunity
| to send forth from here enlightenment re-
| spactiEg the process of capital making.
| If Washington can influence the Coreans
! sufficiently to cause an effective cleaning
| of one Of the dirtiest cities In the world,
| why cannot 1t proceed with such vigor
| upon its chosen course of betterment that
| II will in time affect favorabiy the stand
! ards of greater and more consequential
capitals? The fact that the capital Is be-
| Ing observed and copied should prove an
! inspiration TO our legislators and admin
| istrators to pursue with greater zeal
the ideals which have happily been set
| high for this city.