The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1908-09-29
THE OBSERVER.
An Appeal to the Ladies.

An Appeal to the Ladies.
Since the Observers first published
uttel ances on MOrristown matters
} there has been placed in his hands,
the report of the MOrriStown Civic
association for the current year. 1t
seems to him an admirable document,
: filled with the spirit of progress in
J good citizenship, and otficered by able
managers. Its scope is large, and,
given time and encouragement, it
should renovate the town. That its
field is so great, however, encumbers
and binders its action in what may be
thought to be small matters, presum-
ably the details of clean streets, and
sanitary conditions for the people.
The Observer sees with regret that
the assistance of the women residents
: of MOrriStown is not solicited in any
way Women are by nature and ira
ditiOn, aggressive enemies of dirt low
ing, disease breeding bacteria. By ma
ture and tradition too, they are adept
: as housekeepers. What more desira-
BILE than to have them apply these
. important characteristics to the
broader field of civic administration,
and become the houSekeeperS of the
town? Allied with men in these en-
deavors, a cooperative scheme Is thus
formed which brings about better
service, and more far-reaching results
than when men work alone along
these lines.
In the village of Nutley in our own
state, Town improvement society
was organized by the men, but after a
veal s unsuccessful struggle, the y called
I the women to their assistance, and
the undertaking, just on the point Of
failure, become a marked success.
All work together to make model
: town" has been the motto of the
Good Citizenship League" of Homes
! dale, Pa, the alp in this case being
/ distinctly men, women and children.
! In foreign countries they attend to
these matters much better than we.
Their people seem to be alive to the
!. necessity of unpoluted atmosphere,
y and the moral effect beautiful sur
!, roundings. and every inch of "out
door land" is utilized, beautified and
/ kept Scrupulously neat. In some cases
t this desire for cleanliness becomes a
: craze as in the odd old town of Erlek
] in Holland, where the nails and metal
bands of the carts and agricultural
), implements are polished until they
shine like silver, where the cows are
!. Scraped, combed and washed, and
their tails held mp from the ground by
a cord and where there appeared not
: long since at the entrance to the viii
lage this inscription Before and af-
( ter sunset it is forbidden to smoke in
r the village of Brock without a cover
I to the pipe bowl"-this last to pre-
vent the scattering OF ashes. rms
a painful pinnacle of neatneSs is not for
r the aspiration Of busy comfort-loving
e Americans, but surely clean atmos-
q phere and hygenic surroundings are
r the birthright of all.
u Women's societies auxiliary to those
of mems improvement organizations,
, have sprung up in many places. with
e the most beneficial results. The lad
r les resolve themselves into inspectors.
seek OUT neglected and offensive spots
0 overlooked by the busy men, report
j them to the proper authorities and in
Sist that they have immediate atten-
n ton. One MorriStown gentleman re-
3 ported to the Observer his desire tC
do away with certain holes in the
:, streets which required filing in order
: to prevent accident to horses and ped
,. eStrians. He approached three differ.
l ent committees whose titles would in
. dictate that they were organized fol
: these purposes, asking assistance from
+ each successfully, but he was meet
!, with disayowal of authority from
!. all. This shifting of responsibility re.
suited in no action being taken, ano
! life and limb are still in jeopardy.
e Men are not so imperviouS to the
r insiStant appeals of women. The surly
taxpayer will grumble at the expense
3 of Improvements generally, but LET
3 him be approached by woman, eager
: in retaining bad localities, in build
: ingAup and identifying and making
conditions wholesome, and he will
!. finally consent to the extravaganza.
r The private residences of Morris
: town, are of course exempt from criti-
ciSm. Here the individual frontage is
: always swept and garnished," and
/ the physical environment all that can
be desired. But the business centre
of the town with its qualifications of
side streets, alleys and avenues, where
the people daily congregate in the
pursuance of their avOcations, and
where the children pass and repasS in
: their attendance upon school isl in a
state of lamentable disrepalr and dan
ger.
The Observer has noted with inter-
est the ability and successful deter
mination Of the Morristown ladies in
J whatever line their energies are 6i-
rected. The hospital committees are
famed for their marvellous accomplish
ment. Other charitable organizations
managed by women. receive like COM
mendation, and in church work the
results are amazing in their magni-
tude. The financial assistance from
their male friends form a factor in
these matters of course, and these can
always be relied upon. Will not these
women, so Signally able, so enthusiast
tic, so adept at g Bridge, 4" so resource
full in all good works, come to the re-
scue? Let them organize, and by
studying together the. sanitary and
hygenic conditions of the town. by
taking steps TO inaugurate children S
societies for this purpose in the
schools, by aiding the citizens through
precept and example to maintain a
high standard Of order and cleanli-
ness, they will make this favored
spot OF Gods country the envy of be-