The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-11-30
By FREDERIC ]. HASKIN.

by thousands. They sent to manufac-
turers simple statements OF the oppOr-
tunities in Norfolk. and because Of the
enterprise Of this CRANKY street Office
Norfolks manufacturing interests will be
increased by many millions in the coming
decade
The Ladies' Auxiliary to the Citizens
Commission was formed nearly two years
ago and numbered 250O members. They
realized the dangers that might arise
from disease among a large negro or
poor white population when the city be-
came full Of guests, so they set about
avoiding such dangers. These women
were the leading society and club women
OF the city. and felt the responsibility
Of the situation. as well as a pardonable
amount Of civic pride They visited
among the very poor. black as well as
white. and in a kindly fashion taught
lessons of cleanliness and health They
endeavOred TO awaken civic pride there,
and did. for even the poorest woman I'm
the city tried 10 make her humble homo
as attractive as she could.
These ladies went to the merchants OF
Norfolk and begged all the empty dry
goods boxes that could be spared They
had them carted 10 big vacant lot. and
there several old negro carpenters made
them into flower boxes for use on win
dows. or on doorsteps. or in front yards.
Mr.. Hyman. who was secretary of this
club also. went to Washington and from
the Department of Agriculture secured a
quantity OF hardy flower seed. The ladies
met in back room of the CRANKY street
Office and put the seeds up into small
packages, and when this work was done
they went down among the poor and
taught them how to plant these seeds in
the boxes that had been distributed The
people went to work with a will. So many
had not been able To afford the boxes
and the seeds before. and SO many had
not really thought about H. The effect
wss highly gratifying. and visitors to
Norfolk will recall with pleasure the flow
ers that hloOmed in the little cottage and
cabin windows all along the car tracks
while white washed walls and clean back
yards kept the flowers company and
showed that lessons Of health and clean
Illness as well as of beauty had been
learned.
The school children Of the city-always
a municipalities best allies in matters Of
I
clubs to help carry on the work They
reported bad places in the pavements
they picked paper and cans from the
streets, and kept a jealous eye on the dis
tributOr of fruit skins They made their
school grounds into flower gardens and
! filed the windows with blooming plants
contributing greatly 20 the appearance Of
the town. The good thing about their
work is that it is lasting. The need OF
/ their existence was great and the chill
dren are still making a crusade against
dirt and disorder in Norfolk
SO. even II the exposition has enriched
Norfolk. Norfolk deserves IL, for she has
two years hard work back Of her. when
her best men and women gave cheerfully
Of their time. money. and influence to
make il a comfortable and attractive place
! for the thousands OF visitors. She lies Sc
rene and confident within the greatest
Atlantic harbor. The nations greatest
shipyards and the greatest dry docks in
the world are just across the roads The
largest and most impregnable fort. next
TO Gibraltar-Fortress MonrOe-guards the
entrance to the bay. eight miles away.
! Locked in her harbor she fulhlls the
! prophecy Of John Smith. OF jamestown
made three hundred years ago: so. then.
| here Is a place-a nurse for soldiers. a
/ practice for mariners. q trade for mer-
chants. a reward for the good
TO-mOrrOw-Sixty American Con-
crosses.