The Indianapolis journal., 1904-05-15
School Children Are Coached
In Gardening and Cleanliness
Is in lnda
Association. este Of School
No he ME in TheirW Work.

the work of the coming fall with renewed
energy and vigor.
A potent example OF the influence these
little children can exert in promoting the
good work of the Civic Associatio was given
last week by little child. The girl is eight
years. who attends the Nathan Morris
Home, commonly known as little Helen,
said to an official OF the Associated Press,
Ihere was naughty man the other day
| went right up to him and said. Mister,
belong TO the Civic Improvement Associa-
tlon and you must pick that paper up The
man turned and looked at me, smiled,
picked up the paper and walked on. l
thought perhaps 1 had been impoite so L
asked mother If it was all right. She said
yes; yes, >, Do you think | was polite TO the
one, he said, ''and do it again..
rms girl had been regular attendant at
the talks given by her teacher on the
SUBJECT or gardening and like the rest OF
her classmates was stimulated to take in
terest in the work. She attended the stere-
optlcon lectures and her little mind was
filled with the visions OF beautiful houses
covered as ii were by trailing masses of
vines, of beautiful green lawns and pictur-
esque flower gardens. Her mind grasped
beautiful and clean?" The other day she
kept a sidewalk clean. This shows that the
plans OF the association amount to more
than talk-they amount to fact. These
members of the Civic Association are by
their example making a pathway which
their mates and their elders will tread. The
ultimate result attained will be that chill
Cren ana adults who now by their careless
ness and their lack of interest are destroy
ers of property will become its protectors.
vast amount of moral good through the
bettering Of the environment of children
will be wrought and the sanitary conditions
OF indianapolis will be infinitely improved
In reference to the Improvement of the
sanitary conditions. much can be said which
has direct bearing on this very question of
gardening. The picture accompanying this
article is but one of many of the alleys in
the city which are used by thoughtless per-
sons as receptacle for tin cans, ash heaps
anG rubbish of all sorts There seems to
be no excuse for the existing condition. A
great English writer once said. Show me
mans back yard. and l will tell you his
character" If the great writer's philoso-
ply is sound there is but one conclusion to
draw
A GOOD APPEARANCE.
The hustle and hustle of this busy world
has so completely enwrapped the minds of
citizens that as long as a good appearance
is put up ii is sufficient. Merchants do
not wait on their customers in rags and
tatters. They wear respectable e-looking
clothes and keep their stores neat and
clean. But take look behind some OF the
stores. In the alley boxes and barrels
sweepings and garbage are piled up Men
keep their houses clean. Costly furniture
to the modern home. The civic association
thinks the same spirit should apply to back
yards.
The unanswerable argument offered in
protest against the present condition is that
II men would only take time and perhaps a
little trouble the manure would ali be
cleaned out of the alleys at no cost. as
farmers are anxious To secure it. The Civic
Improvement Association will furnish
names of farmers who will carry 1t off TO
all who ask for them. This, 1t seems
should promise immediate ameliora ton
or present conditions. Notwithstanding this
TACT, IT is the bOunden duty of every citizen
TO clean UP his back yard and alleys Dis
ease or all forms turks in these heaps of re-
fuse, and the Roard of Health's efforts to
stamp it out effectually crippled by the
persistent careessDess of thoughtless citi-
Zens.
Pages of newspapers have been utilized
demanding that the city take the matter in
hand. Officials have been roasted" city
administrations have been criticised for the
seeming negligence. If one stops a moment
to reflect he invariably asks himself. Does
the burden of the blame rest on the off,
cialsY' If they ask people to clean up
places, it would seem that their part was
done Public sentiment alone, it is claimed
can effect remedy and a cure for the ex-
listing conditions.