The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-12-17

The two enterprising young ladies who
rified the schools of the city, carrying
off any spare change or jewelry that the
school ma ans may have left in their
desks, do nos deserve the least credit
in the world for originality. They en-
tered upon their unique career in the
most commonplace manner imaginable.
diamond scarf pin belonging to the
brother of one of them, and 1913, was the
original temptation, and they turned
next TO the desk in their own school,
probably because they saw the teacher
put away something OF value in 1t. So,
famous as the young ladies have be,
come. there is nothing in their exploit
to inspire hopes of a brilliant future.
and they would do well when released
from their present pTeticament to turn
to honest ways Honestly is the best
policy. unless one is q positive genius.
The President and Mr.. Riis seem to
nave resolved themselves into a mutual
admiration society. and bouquets fly
back and forth with sreat rapidity.
Well. there is no objection to that They
are both good citizens.
The plain talking which Mr.. Riis has
been doing in this city cannot fail of
good results. What the noisome places
Of the earth need is to have the sun
light let in. Reform is always the re-
suit of letting in the light and of agi-
tation. The apathy which permits evil
conditions to go on from year to year
is dispelled as soon as somebody be-
gins to tell the truth in clear, ringing
tones. Jacob a. Riis is so well known
and his charges as to the slums of
Washington are so sensational that
they will be read with interest and
amazement. not only in America, but
in foreign countries. Washington has
had the reputation hitherto among
diplomats Of being the cleanest and
prettiest capital in the world It's
broad. well-paved streets. its beautiful
residences. its long, clean vistas have
given it the name of being an exceed
ingly, well-kept town. But it seems that
it is in reality n whited sepulcher that
all this cleanness and prettiness is for
the eyes of the more fortunate classes.
and that the real cleaning up. which
| searches out the haunts of the very
poor. the careless, and the hopeless. has
never been done. This condition exist
/ ing here is more than a local matter.
Citizens all over the country will feel
| indignant TO learn that there are dis
tricts in the Capital City as bad as the
Whitechapel in London. and It will
become the fashion now for people Wis
iting Washington to Ego stunning" and
see for themselves. But the death
kneH of Washingtons slums has been
sounded. The conditions described by
Mr. Riis will not be permitted to re-
main unchanged
| Can we not make some such similar
claim with regard TO the cakewalk? As
a dance # originated here. and is as
| truly American as the fandango is
Spanish. 1t is n compelling dance, too
for 1t has crossed the water and taken
Paris by storm. its grotesque and whim-
steal abandon having a peculiar appeal
/ for the French mind. We lonk to the
colored people to preserve the cakewalk
and the coon song in all their classic
purity. and IL the African preachers be-
gin to thunder against these things. we
are in danger Of losing the only two
really original features Of our American
civilization.
4 The life of Jacob A. Riis. by tn.
way, has much in II Of inspiration t
the young man. just starting out on hi