1884.] CIVILIZATION AND ITS "WASTES. 265 



The last half -day of the convention — and I shall never believe 

 that this serio-comic drama was not contrived before hand — when 

 the excitement for public health was at its highest, some one arose 

 and stated that five — or was it seven ? — cemeteries were draining 

 into the public drinking-water ! The city powers were present, 

 and doubtless very supple at such a time upon such a subject. 



''Of course — certainly" — they stammered, and "steps would 

 be taken at once," or words to that effect, " to remedy the evil." 



We must imagine how long " notional " local " fanatics " had 

 been " scolding " about these cemetery leachings. The report gave 

 no hint. Supposing the authorities — chained to the shafts of lum- 

 bering city horse-carts — knew their duty well; it may be they 

 couldn't do anything until the people were waked up to their duty 

 too. 



Private grief, having no remedy, is scarcely wholesome to bear 

 in secret. To endure pubhc injury in silence brings us to shai'e in 

 public crime. The total of popular wrongs, long repressed, breaks 

 out sooner or later in dynamitic revolutions. The great stupidity 

 of this generation of business men lies in thinking goodness don't 

 know every sin against goodness, while the least peccadillo is being 

 branded on some human heart. Secret injuries to popular hfe 

 stand out in letters of fire with any increase of heat or light. 



To abate social evils in a republic we must "agitate — agitate !" 

 said Mr. Phillips. In this matter of the waste of civilization by 

 polluted streams, no one need dream that we have an easier task 

 than he had, whose work seems not yet thoroughly done. The 

 price of '■ purity," as of " liberty," is '' eternal vigilance." 



Rouse a board of health meeting if you can, or if that is impos- 

 sible, call the doctors to talk in sickly districts. They have ideas 

 fit for a healthy meeting which they do not care to speak at a pa- 

 tient's bedside. 



"We are trying the latter remedy in my district, and I must say 

 our physicians respond nobly. The people may not be able to see 

 who tells ''the whole truth" at first — some testimony may lie like a 

 witness-box — but people will see plainer after a little. It is for their 

 interest to see, and the truth will make them free. Unrighteous 

 opposition serves to stiffen the faithful, and mistaken evidence 

 raises the facts sometimes, as a sliver is raised by running square 

 against the point. 



Bear with me, if you can, while I tuna your attention to a mat- 



