New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-08
THE MAJOR FACTOR.

The tributes which have been paid
TO the memory of the late Miss Octavia
Hi have been abundantly deserved,
though many of them, perhaps most,
have been marred by a short-sighted
misconception OF the purport of her
work, and even I'm London itself they
have been scanty rather than profuse.
This latter circumstance is presumably
due in part to the misconception 10
which we have referred, and partly TO
II reluctance TO express the true CON
ception for fear that ii would be often
siye. II is probable that to some SEN
timentalists Miss Hill's chief teaching
is repuguant. but if so, so much the
worse for them. IL IS her supreme dis
tinctiOn that she not only perceived the
truth. as others also must have done,
but that also she dared to proclaim it
and to act upon it, as others had not
yentured TO do.
That truth was that the human fac
tor Is dominant in social reforms and
must be dealt with and brought into
proper action at least co-ordinately
with the others. She devoted her life 10
improving the conditions OF housing
and living among the poor. In one re-
spect her work was comparatively in
significant IL was preceded and was
vastly exceeded In magnitude by the
operations of the Peabody Fund, the
Shaftesbury act, the Metropolitan As
ISOLATION and other great agencies for
providing the industrial classes with
better dwellings. YET the practical eX-
perience Of nearly half century since
she began her labors has demonstrated
the intrinsic superiority Of her work
10 theirs and her title 10 somewhat
higher honor as a philanthropist.
For while they applied themselves
solely or chiefly TO the improvement of
the buildings, she devoted herself ut
least equally to the improvement Of the
tenants. Something was doubtless
gained by transferring squalid, shift
less, uncleanly families from ram
shackle slums to substantial and sani-
tary tenements: though, as most OBJ
servers will testify, the result was too
often the reduction of the new houses
TO the foul condition Of the old. There
was little good in equipping n tenement
with a bathtub if it was put 10 no other
use than that Of a receptacle for coal
as literally has been done In innumera-
bic cases Miss Hill rightly perceived
that far more was to he gained by teach
and Self-respecting. so as 10 preserve and
profit from their improved surround
ings. Her tenements were equal to any
IN construction, equipment and man
agement, while their occupants. he
cause Of her teaching. were az n rule
far superior In their mode Of life 10
those who had not come under her I'm.
fuence.
"The peoples houses are bad" said
this practical philanthropist. partly
because they are badly built and ar
ranged: they are tenfold worse be-,
cause the tenants habits and lives
ARE what they arc. Transplant them
tomorrow 20 healthy and commOdiouS
'homes and they will pollute and de
''stroy them" That may be. as we
have said, unwelcome doctrine 10 some
sentimentalists. but II IS direct and
practical truth. Man is more than
bricks and mortar. and upon him
largely depends their condition. People
should be well housed; hut over and
above that their own habits and lives
should he renovated. cleansed and en-
llghtened. "A sane mind in a sane
body Is no more imperative than Il
clean family in a clean house. II is
because Of her leadership in the prac-
teal application Of that principle thnt
Octavia Hill Is entitled TO high honor.
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