New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-27
Foreign Women Learn That Tbai,
Help Is of Value and That
Cleanliness Pays

know less. A careless person endangen
everybody's welfare. You may be a very clean
woman and a very devoted mother. You see
your neighbor throw watermelon rind on,
of her window, but you say nothing. In a
few minutes the watermelon rind win be
covered with those disease-bearing pests, flies.
which poison your baby's food when your bach
is turned and then you wonder how baby got
typhoid or the summer complaint.
"Your work, then, in helping US is to obey
the few rules which explained to YOU and to
see to it that your janitor, your neighbor, your
child, your landlord, obey them. Try to DO
this in peaceful, tactful manner, by reason
and not by ordering.
"At your weekly meetings you will report
to your chairman what you have tried to 10
during the week, where you succeeded and
where you failed to achieve results. If you
find persistent offenders, communicate with
US. The department has other methods by
which such persons can be reached"
After the address complaints against the
department are listened to and cheerfully ad.
justed.
complaints" remarked my companions
"mean merely lack of sufficient explanation
between two parties"
Excellent and deep philosophy.
SAVINGS MEAN IMPROVEMENTS.
In asking the cooperation of the women
special emphasis is laid on the fact that they
can reduce the cost of the upkeep of the depart
ment by hall if they but will. The city could
then buy the most modern appliances for the
oh = ic Zoo m IN.
vest in at present.
Stories of plague ridden cities os ancient
times-wped out by plaques because Their
citizens did not heed the laws of cleanliness
and health-maRe deep impression.
Also, the women are told of the dire results
of the mere dropping of piece OF paper Ii
the street; how it flies from block to DiocA'
through filthy puddles, to, perhaps, be picked
up by little child who puts it-germ-laden
by this time-on its head for hat
My companions told of the pleasure 1t was
to see that the women were learning to take
them into their confidence. Only just now are
the poor foreign housewives beginning to un-
derstand that there is remedy against toll
cts which have not been working properly for
months, and for the other disgraceful condl'
tions allowed by the landlords. Timldly they
ask how to address complaints to the Health
Department, which the inspectors only too
gladly help them to do.
Impromptu speeches are resorted to when
all else fails. For instance, in one neighbor-
hood the collectors complained bitterly that
for months they had tried to induce the women
not to break the rule of overfilling the cans
An explanation from a soap box to the crowd
that soon gathered had a magical effect.
THE APPEAL THAT COUNTS.
It was interesting to learn the difference
between the Jewish East Side and the Italian
quarter. The Italians were more volatile
was told, and only needed the personal Sen''-
mental appeal The Jew, however, once I'm.
pressed with an ideal, never forgets It, ana
does not allow others to forget it either.
Apropos of the Jewish quarter, how many
of US know that each Passover the Jews nave
a wholesale clearance of rubbish and dirt ac-
cumulated in their homes for one whole year.
The simplest method of getting rid Of TINS -
to throw it out of the windows.
The dread with which the Street Cleaning
Department views the advent of Passover can
we'll be imagined!
And so / reached my journeys end, nHed
with the idea that truly was Commissioner
Fetherston a wise prophet regarding tns
needs of his own personal department.
But perhaps he has proved himself even
more than that, in showing that by slow de-
grees the efficiency we have learned to prem
with German" can be produced much better
and more lastingly by sheer reasoning cou''
tesy and understanding than by the mitan'
word of command.
In fact, the militant word of command never
works in building permanent foundation i"
citizenship any more than'it does in promoting
efficiency.
The larger. proportion Of the Immigrants
who come to this country regard It as lsa'
of promise, where the restrictions and oppf~
sions of the old lfeswill be forgotten and waels
it is possible for them to become free and sen
respecting citizens. Among the Jews especl'p
this ideal comes to be only less precious VA"
religion. The swift progress from the P'',
cart and the tenement to the larger mercsH'".
establishment and the comfortable home pfV, :,
this every year. The one sure way TO "''
these people into the body polite Of this.'0D
try is 10 put them upon the footing OF citi+e",'
teach them that they are depended upon
their share. Commissioner Fetherston Wv
IDENTIFY understands this, and his policy Is o0'II
more than any uplift experiment TO renON
the strangers within our gates INTO s
American citizens.