The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-30
Soap and Water and Citixenship.

A New York Judge administered repri-
mand to some foreigners the other day who
applied to him for naturalization papers,
and whose appearance indicated that they
were strangers 10 soap and water He
said: u regard cleanliness as one OF the
most important qualifications for American
citizenship
This is remarkably good advice, and
might well be followed by some millions
of people In this country. 1t has been
claimed by pro-Boer sympathizers that
civilization does not depend on soap, and
that a man may be a good Christian and
worthy human being in most respects
without ever having acquired habits OF per-
sonal cleanliness. The argument is some
II crit Civilization is a matter not of in
dividual character, but of the character and
customs of a whole community. There may
be individuals here and there In any coun-
try who combine with high moral standing
and intellectual brilliancy extraordinary
disregard for the laws of sanitation; but
when a whole community exhibits such a
grade either morally or Intellectually.
There seems to be a subtle connection be-
tween a wholesome regard for soap and
water and a capability for intellectual and
moral development. The man who, in a
society composed of people who are clean,
INDUCES a prediction for dirt, may have
many fine qualities, but they should be at
attributed to the influence of his clean and
intelligent neighbors and TO the caprice of
heredity, not to his unsanitary habits. The
condition of the nations OF the earth today
shows that the highest development, gem
orally speaking, is to be found among peo-
pie who are well acquainted with the
bathtub and the laundry. and the lowest
among those who have no use for either.
When these things are seriously consid-
cred il becomes obvious that as was sug-
gested by the Judge. candidates for Ameri-
can citizenship should understand that
bathing is fashionable in this country.
| There Is some excuse for an immigrant
who comes from the poorest quarter OF
some European city being ignorant of the
laws of health, since in many large cities
| il is almost impossible for people to keep
| clean even If they try; but the children of
such immigrants should be made to see
the beauty and necessity of cleanliness.
Thus danger from infectious diseases will
be lessened, the death rate will be low
cred. and the number OF the sick and help
less decreased, since many diseases are ad-
mittedly caused by filth. and the treatment
of others Is rendered much easier II the
patient has been neat in his habits.
1t is clear that in no American city, large
or small, should there be the slightest ex-
cuse for uncleanliness. The water supply
should be pure and abundant, the sewerage
system as nearly perfect as the general
perversity OF mundane things will permit
and the streets and public buildings kept
clean. The trouble with many city slums
is that it is made so difficult for the in
habitants TO get water either for bathing
| or laundering purposes. that In their place
| a great many people with better training
and advantages would not be exactly i'm
maculate When a woman, not OF strong
physique. with three or four small children
| to take care OF, and perhaps to support,
/ has TO bring every drop of water she uses
from a hydrant half block away, and
then carry il up one or more flights OF
stairs, It is not very surprising that she
economies on that item of household sup
niles. She has only certain amount OF
strength. and II she uses all of that in the
mere effort to keep her rooms and. chill
dren clean, where is the cbldren's bread
TO come from" Such a condition Of things
is disgrace to the common sense of any
| city which spends large sums Of money
annually to improve the condition of fits
poor. They do not need instruction and