The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-01-26
vIsIoNaKiEs AND HAPPINESS.

The growth of public sentiment IS al
ways slow, and though it may require
long time to make its effects felt the
ultimate outcome of a strong public SEN
timent is always :. to produce some
&esinite results. The steps in this growth
are of interest, no less than the accom-
plished end. First comes the visionary
agitator, as that landscape gardener OF
Babylon. who would not be content with
a city park in less than seven stories
We have no doubt that he vas called by
every name with which the public now
reviles the refornlers before the reforms
are made effective; and yet that Baby
Ionist artist left one of the wonders OF
the world as the result of his wild
dreams. When Appius Claudius started
the first Good Road" Association at
Rome, the wiseacres must have thought
that there would be an end of new-fan-
gled notions. But the public had begun
TO appreciate the value of improvements,
and the next thing that local Roman
politics had to deal with was the cry
for clear water. The historic Tiber was
ali very well as a tutelary divinity. and
even as a commercial asset, by furnish
ing a satisfactory way to the sea, 1t was
not to be despised; but, as to drinking
it? Oh, MOI said the reformers, that
would be both sacrilegious and unhealthy
To-day the popular religious exercise OF
worshipping rivers and mountains has
somewhat declined, but the appreciation
no
cry of ''sacriege'' sounds hollow beside
the cry typhoid germs" Now one re-
suit of this change of sentiment has been
the growth of the popular comprehension
Of the fact that what makes an individual
man sick will certainly not be healthy
for whole community, and that in order
to prosper a community must be COM
posed of healthy members.
All over America we see citizens going
to the polls and voting for officials, who
are willing and able to give the city
clear water and clean streets, with
vigor that is rarely seen in national af-
fairs. This spirit is bound to increase,
and the first results of its increase will
be lessened death rate, better schools,
better streets, better lights, better libra
ries. and those two great necessities of
life, pure air and pure water. Looked at
apart these items of advance do not seem
very wonderful, nor does their achieve
ment seem so formidable as to be hope
less And yet the sum of these various
steps means happiness and health and
enjoyment of life to thousands who would
otherwise live in darkness and ill-health
and misery.
The reformer who applies himself to
such practical results may not be able to
pose as one who has 'llitched his chariot
to a STAR but he will give happiness to
thousands, and he will save lives that.
are beyond the doctors help. Surely this
is a result that none need despise; surely
this is an end that is worthy the best
efforts of the visionary and the practical
man alike.
Our City Government has serious ques-
lions 10 deal with; but none are more so
than the establishment of a broad and
comprehensive system of street repairs
and street-making, and the building of a
water system that will give US the real
benefits that the James River water holds
for us, after it has been treated in "a
tional way.