New-York tribune., 1908-05-29
RREAkLNG 4 MISTY H1RIT.

The letter from the Director of the Geological
Park published in yesterdays Tribune. ought
to be translated into twenty languages and
posted at public expense on every street corner
from Tottenyille to Wakefield. The commu-
nicHtion puts American slovenlinesS in its true
light and makes threat which the, Board OF
Health and the Street Cleaning Department
might we'll repeat in sterner tones The picture
which Mr.. Hornaday gives Of the filthy care
lesSncss of many visitors at the Geological
Park is one which has frequently aroused the
disgust of the cleany and the lava bding But
it is high time that the habit of throwing
refuse promiscuously about in streets and parks
should he met with something severer than
sentiment If economy were not sufficient
motive for the vigorous action that Mr.. HOrna-
day promises orderliness and the inculCat ton
of wholesome habits would be. However un-
happy the thought may be, it is true that the
New York City taxpayer and his public ser
wants must undertake the education of a
million or more dirt lovers and slovens. Fail
ure TO assume this responsibility betokens a
degree of hygenic tolerance far too broad to
be admired as charity.
Mr. Hornaday's uneXaggerated account of the
litter of torn newspapers, paper boxes fruit
skins and peanut shells that by mid-after
moon bestrews the walks and grass borders Of
his domain might well be a story of Constan-
tinope In its most inglOrious moment. But
we doubt whether even a party of Turks could
in the course of one brief outdoor luncheon,
throw more than a bushel of rubbish on the
greensward within twenty feet of waste
basket Yet this the Director assures US, is
commonly achieved by an American family.
And to this statement many visitor to the Zoo
can add his personal confirmation. Why such
practices have been tolerated long is only
superticially mystery. 1t is not that officials
love dirt more, but the effort of compelling
cleanliness less. One Of the most ordinary
sights in New York City-and in many other
towns, toO-is that of a policeman or street
cleaner idly watching a passerby toss banana
SKINS orange pees whole newspapers under
foot. Passengers subway and elevated
trains leave thousands OF newspapers on the
seats or floors OF these vehicles. and the trac-
tion company never Whimpers. Only the other
day Il member of the traffic squad and Il col
Cred emplOye of the Park Department de
rived a few minutes fun from the spectacle
OF wagon boy carrying across a park thor
oughfare barrel from which excelsior was
drifting most generously to the pavement. This
is typical OF the attitude of most city employees
toward minor offences generally, and slovenli-
ness in particular. 1t is probably the result Of
many influences, among which are the firm
resolution of the ordinary municipal servant
10 exert himself no more than necessary, his
belief that laws are not supposed to apply be
tween friends and his conviction that rubbish
throwing is too trivial and too deeply seated
u habit 10 suppress
With this last thought many other citizens
agree They may keep the public from lit
.cring the streets and parks in Europe but
then. Europe is not America" How common
is this note of resignation, And vet how falls
Europe may not be America, but America is
Europe. The worst sinners against Cleanli-
ness in every large American city ure Euro
peans and their children; and when they were