The Detroit times., 1911-06-28


alley question, II just seemed TO me as
though my health had been restored
Tor the purpose OF enabling me 10 take
up THIS work. And. right In this con-
necuon. | have been told by several
ministers that they believed had been
called for this work just as they had
been called TO do the Lords work.
We'll, this idea OF cleaning Detroit
got into my head and IL would not
down. | looked at the question from
every angle. | wondered II | could
really accomplish anything. came
down here to my ONCE the next morn
ing and tried to do my regular work,
but ! couldn't get my mind on the al
ley question. Something kept telling
me to Get busy
Il saw there was no use In trying
to work. / couldn't get my mind on
II. Finally | took the bull by the
horns. | said to myself. You're a cow
ard il you don't get into this With
that, closed up my desk and started
out to look at my neighbors' back
yards. | hadn't gone far before my
mind was made up.
We'll. Hovey, it's a go. You're In
for 1t now said. and right there
and then | appointed myself COM
mittee OF one to go out and clean up
Detroit.
The first man | encountered hap
pened TO be an old acquaintance.
found lot OF rubbish in his alley.
Why do you keep this stu1 here?
asked him. We had quite en- argu-
ment. and l finally convinced him that
he ought to do his part toward keep
ing the alley clean. Encouraged by
my success here, kept right on and
there's going to be no let up until the
work Is done.
"Of course, | will have to take a
rest now and then. l have already
lost IA pounds In five weeks, but
shall not abandon the work for good
until l have won the support Of the
entire citizenship of Detroit. / was
away for few days on the Board OF
Commerce trip, but was not rest.
ing. That was purely business trip
with me, and l won many converts
to the cause of cleanliness on that
trip. We are going to keep this UP
until the motto of the city will be nc
longer, Detroit, where life Is worth
living but Detroit, the cleanest
healthiest and busiest city in the Uni
ted States"
That Mr.. Hovey's work Is bringing
results is evident from tour of the
alleys In almost any section of the
city, notably In the downtown dis
trict. Refuse boxes of all kinds have
been torn out and citizens quite gen
orally are taking an interest In the
campaign Where they used to scofl
and jeer in some instances, they arc
now inclined TO praise.
This man Hovey," then, appears to
be, first of al, a loyal citizen. Ten
years ago, he left Detroit, in poor
health and disguised with the con
servatism of the city that had been
his home for so many years. His
mission was two-sNd. He was in
search of health anJ also new loca
ton for a home. He visited every
large city in the United States, and
In some Of them received most allur-
ing offers, IL he would locate there
He came back to Detroit, worn out
and undecided. But on his way up
from the Michigan Central depot, he
made up his mind.
1T was half-past five in the even
ing and the streets we're almost de
serted" related Mr.. Hovey. my
heart went out to sleepy old Detroit
felt really sorry for 1t, and | made
up my mind then to stay here and bt
one OF the feilowsot6 help build 1t III
and inject a little push and energy
into 1t. l have often felt that I would
like to get away and go somewhere
else, but l felt that to do SO would
be shirking a duty. So l have re
NAMED, and am trying my best to dc
something for Detroit before / leave
IL forever"