Elizabeth Cady Stanton Speeches & Writings File 
Article: "Home Patriotism" [n.d.]

Home Patriotism. 
An article in the July Forum, on civic duties, by Mr. James Bryce, is wise and timely. The abuses in small matters of which the American people take no note he considers a lack of "Home Patriotism." The phrase is suggestive and should arouse women to the fact that every individual in a republic has some civic duties, and the one first to command attention, is that which lies directly before us. 

The first thing that attracts the attention of foreigners coming to our shores is the filthy condition of our cities and traveling conveyances, from street cars and railroads to the steamers plying our magnificent lakes and rivers. They see papers of all sizes and colors, nut shells, apple, orange and banana skins sown broadcast in all public places, mixed with catarrhal, consumptive and tobacco expectorations, enough to nauseate anyone not accustomed from infancy to these disgusting sights. Cars, especially in the west, are more like pig pens, at the end of a day's journey, than traveling conveyances for the sovereign people of a great republic. We can no longer pose as an infant, and make youth an excuse for all our shortcomings, for foreigners will judge our civilization by the cleanliness of the people, not by the number of years since Columbus discovered America. 

If our villages and cities are ever to be kept clean and orderly, and the manners of our people in these respects to be improved, women must begin a radical educational work with the children. The men have tried two or three centuries; they have wriggled, twisted over the problem, talked, petitioned, legislated, used strong language, held street commissioners up in their metaphysical tweezers in long editorials, but all to no purpose; because they forthwith empty their scrap baskets, full of papers, cigar stumps, toothpicks, red tape and all, into the street. 

But to take up the nuisances in the order of their obtrusiveness, let us begin with the papers, which are most easily disposed of, though most glaring in appearance. They are an element of danger, too; blowing about, they frighten horses, and carry diseases from one neighborhood to another. We fumigate letters from vessels that have had contagious diseases on board, and then let papers from hospitals, asylums, jails, prisons, tenement houses and the slums of our city sport with the winds from the four points of the compass. Every housekeeper should see that all refuse papers in her domain are burned on her premises, either in the range, the furnace, on the pavement in her back yard, or in the gutter in front. They should never be thrown into the ash barrel to be blown through the streets as soon as the ashes are emptied. Women should teach the men of their families to do the same in their places of business, and not allow their janitors to sweep out bushels of paper to litter the street, as is often the case just after they have been nicely cleaned. If we have city ordinances forbidding people to throw refuse into the streets, they should be printed in large letters and posted in all public places. 

Returning from Europe some years ago, I was more than ever impressed with the filthy streets of our Metropolis and the creative habits of our people in public conveyances. In London and Paris you never see papers thrown into the streets, and even in the third class cars in England not a scrap of paper or crumb of anything is ever thrown on the floor. I have often noticed foreigners eating their luncheons on a train and admired the care with which they gathered the crumbs in a napkin and returned all to their baskets. In America well dressed men and women shake napkin, basket and all on the floor. Foreigners returning from the Exposition, while expressing unbounded praise of the magnificent buildings, park and lake, the varied and wonderful exhibits, manifest the greatest surprise at the filthy condition of the city and the habits of the people within the Fair grounds. A lady remonstrating with a picnic party for throwing their refuse on the grass in front of the public buildings, told me that one of the party exclaimed with surprise, "Why, what could we do?" The lady replied, "Put it back in your basket or throw it into the lake, or burn it on the shore, but do not deface the entrance to this beautiful building."

In these minor civic duties our people have no training. Our children are brought up like vandals. In Parks and Horticultural Gardens they pick the flowers, break limbs from the shrubs, cut their initials in the trees, and deface the statuary. On Monday morning Central Park and the Museum are covered here and there with papers and the debris of picnic parties after their Sunday jollifications, in spite of stringent ordinances against such abuses, and most men and women act as if they had no responsibility in the matter.  


In London and Paris, order and decency prevail in all public places ;  in their
Parks, Depots and Halls of Legislation, you seldom see any one expectorate
even on the sidewalk ;  cuspidors are not seen anywhere in Europe, while in
all our Hotels and in the magnificent Capital at Washington, they meet the
eye at every turn like so many china peck measures.  " Well, what can we
do ?" say the natives.  Cure yourself of the bad habit, and if stern necessity
compels you now and then to expectorate, use your handkerchief and hide
it in your pocket.
Do not attribute this habit of American men and boys to the climate, so
long as women are not affected in the same way, and many gentlemen rise
superior to the prevailing custom.
In answer to an appeal I recently made to Mr. Depew, president of the
New York Central, in regard to enforcing some stringent measures against
all these nuisances on our cars he replied :  " The subject which you present
has worried me more than almost any other connected with the railroad
business; I shall certainly give it renewed attention."  With this promise we
need not be surprised if in due time a special car be provided for cuspidors
and expectorators as is now for those who smoke and chew tobacco.
Here is a sphere in which women might exercise their Home Patriotism 
to great advantage.  If they will begin now to clean up the entire continent
they may safely leave the Behring Straits difficulty, the annexation of Hawaii
and Canada, to our statesmen.  The moral effect on our children in being
trained to habits of decency and order would manifest itself in all rela ions
of life.  Merely changing Street Commissioners will not effect what can only
be accomplished by radical educational work.
On our elevated trains one may often see gentlemen and ladies toss to the 
winds the papers from which they have just gleaned the daily news.  These papers
float along the avenues until landed in the gutter, where they seem to hold
a promiscuous convention with representatives from butcher carts, candy
shops, peanut stands and gaudy advertisements, torn by boys from conspicuous
places as fast as bill posters display them.  In despair one exclaims " is
there no remedy for all this ?"  The old adage, " let each one mend one, and
the world is mended," gives a triumphant answer to the question.
Ever and anon the press of the nation wakes up on this subject and sends
a few rounds of hot shot into the public officials and then relapses into a drowsy 
inaction.  It is in vain simply to criticise and chance officials, for no commissioner,
with all his cohorts, carts and boats, could keep this city clean,
while two millions of men, women and children do their uttermost to make
it otherwise.
A few mild protests by the press might do, if the disease were acute, to be
cured by surface treatment, but unfortunately our trouble is chronic and we 
need most radical thorough measures to secure good national manners.  Teachers
must give some lessons on this subject to pupils in all our public schools. 
they should have cards on the walls forbidding the children to expectorate or
throw refuse of any kind on the floor.  Railroad authorities should do the same
in the cars and depots ; landlords in the hotels ; statesmen in the halls of Legislation ; 
Bishops in their churches, and the owners of theatres and concert 
halls the same in all their respective places.  If at every turn mottoes
enforcing decency and order could meet the eyes of young and old we might
hope in time to make our country an example for all nations.  At all events,
if mothers will begin now to train their children in good public manners 
the next generation will pass strenuous laws against all the abuses we suffer,
and see that they are enforced everywhere.
We have reason to hope for some speedy reformation in this direction.
Sanitary Leagues of women are already formed in Chicago, New York,
Brooklyn and Washington, and several nuisances have been abated through
their influence.
We hear too of successful attempts made by philanthropic individuals here 
and there to improve various localities, though the hostility of people in
general to all change is as obstinate as surprising.  A striking instance of
the indifference of a community to their environments may be seen in the
little village of Mamaroneck in Westchester county.  Mr. Constable spent
many thousand dollars in building a beautiful stone church, artistic and perfect 
in all its parts, exquisitely carved pillars, stained glass windows, a fine
organ and a chime of bells.  Outside, the grounds are neatly laid out with
gravel walks, trees, shrubs and flowers, altogether an object lesson to the
community that might suggest some artistic touches to their respective 
habitations, streets and gardens.  But alas ! as yet no one takes the suggestion ; 
the church stands there like an oasis in the desert, while beyond its
limits disorder and desolation prevail.  The Rev. Mr. VanBokkelen, the
rector, has a task before him, not only to save the souls but to cultivate the
" Home Patriotism" of his people.
Mr. Bryce well says : 
" American citizens are capable of working themselves into a fury of jingo
patriotism over some trifling international incident, like that of a row among 


drunken sailors in the streets of Valparaiso, or like the unthinking hullabaloo
over a proposal to annex Hawaii, but they bear with complete indifference
the constant scandal of an ignorant and corrupt municipal administration
which brings disgrace upon the name of popular government the world
over."
In Green Cove Springs, a beautiful watering place in Florida, the ladies
have formed a village improvement association, with a brigade called the
" STAR BRANCH," composed of about forty boys and girls whose motto is : 
"CLEANLINESS IS NEXT TO GODLINESS."
The Pledge, which they repeat at the opening of every meeting, is as 
follows : 
" I promise not to litter the streets with papers, fruit-skins, or anything
that will make the place untidy ; neither will I mutilate or deface fences,
kill birds, or rob their nests ; and will also use my influence to prevent
OTHERS from DOING SO."
They have a regular organization, officered from their own members.  The
weekly meetings are conducted under parliamentary rules, and enlivened by
singing, recitations, readings and calisthenic exercises.  The benefit of such
training to the children cannot be overestimated, and the work they do and
save by keeping their pledge is no small factor in the problem :  " How
shall we keep our city clean and healthful ?"  At the weekly meetings,
 each one of the children reports, orally, what he or she has picked up and
deposited in the barrels.
 A philanthropic gentleman, who has taken a deep interest in beautifying
the town, has placed boxes with covers, neatly painted with appropriate
mottoes, at the corners of the streets.  Into these everything that would
deface the village is promptly consigned.  The association hires a man with
a wheelbarrow to patrol the streets and the ladies in turn see that he does his
duty.  Fortunately all the inhabitants are pleased with the experiment and
do their utmost to preserve the order and cleanliness of their streets.  Here
are some specimens of the quaint mottoes that meet the eyes of visitors at
every turn : 
" You are welcome to everything you find here ; 
Use, don't abuse and to all good cheer."
" When the matrons and maidens of a nation are BUSY and VIRTUOUS, that
nation is rising ;  when they are NOT SO, it is on the rapid decline ; for wise
and virtuous women are God's modelers on earth--of a nation's heroes and
sages."
" It is with many enterprises as with striking fire ; we do not meet with
SUCCESS except by reiterated efforts, and often at the instant when we despaired 
of success."--Madame de Maintenon.
" Energy will do everything that can be done in this world." --Goethe.
I am indebted to Captain E. C Garner, of Jacksonville, for these facts.
He writes me as follows ;  " There are quite a number of associations now
in existence in this State, all growing out of the one at Green Cove.  The
work they have done is valuable, is practical, and it is the only incorporation 
that I know of that is entirely in charge of women."
The Women's Health Protective Association, organized lately in Brooklyn,
N. Y., is making great efforts to keep the streets clean.  The women that
belong to this association ask their neighbors to be particularly careful about
the ash barrels, a duty that demands no ordinary care.
The women make complaints to the authorities where there is gross untidiness.
The protest against the throwing of fruit skins on the sidewalk.
They themselves use barrels " of hard wood varnished, of handsome appearance,
with the initials of the association on the side ;" and they provide
barrels for those who cannot afford to buy them.  The members promise to
burn up waste paper ; to hire men to act as inspectors in the streets ; and
they have issued a circular that is a Macedonian cry to men.
Unlike the good people in Florida some will not second the efforts of the
Women's Association.  Obstinate neighbors tell them that they will put
anything they choose into their ash-barrel and that they wish other folks
would attend to their own business.  These untidy housekeepers forget that
papers from their ash-barrel may be blown into the area of some member of
this association, and thus it becomes her business to educate every one in
that neighborhood into the duties of Home Patriotism.  One disorderly
person on a block  can mar the best efforts of all the rest.
Miss Ada C. Sweet, formerly president of the Women's Municipal Order
League of Chicago, writes me :  " The League has found two great obstacles
in its way ;  first, the complete self-satisfaction of the American people as
regards their administration of public affairs, and second, the poison of our
vicious spoils system which enters every atom of public work or business,
from the President's chair to the country road commissioner.  The formation
of small societies in the different wards of the city has proved to be a 
very beneficial step in Chicago ;  in these societies such practical matters as 
the burning of household garbage in the kitchen stoves, the providing of

proper receptacles for such waste material as must be sent away through the
scavenger, the proper plumbing of homes, the question of drinking water,
the responsibility of property owners and householders for the condition of
streets, sidewalks and alleys abutting upon their premises, are discussed by
the members of the association, and a great deal of good is done in this
quiet way.  Our public work last year was mainly in the direction of trying
to secure facilities for the destruction by fire, of all garbage and refuse gathered
by city authorities ;  we obtained an appropriation of $75,000 from the
City Council for the erection of garbage crematories, but the whole year was
frittered away by incompetent health and public works officials.  We established
a great many drinking fountains throughout the business portions of
the city by our appeals to the commissioner of Public Works, and we are 
establishing free bathing places for the poor.  We have caused the city to
place waste boxes for paper, etc., on the streets, and this has made quite a 
saving in the appearance of the down town district.  We have caused a very
strict examination to be made as to the sanitary condition of the public
school houses and have quite thoroughly aroused public opinion on this subject,
but our work lies before us a vast and herculean labor ;  as yet we feel 
we have just skirmished around the edges."
The University Settlement Society, 26 Delancey Street, New York, is doing
a most important work in this line.  They are looking after the sanitary condition
of the homes of the poor and the education of their children, and trying
to compel the city authorities to clean the streets and the alleys where
those who do the hard work of the world now dwell.  Let those who live in
palace homes remember that they are not safe so long as the dwellings of the
poor are neglected.  Diseases engendered there are wafted far and near, robbing
many a family circle of those they love best.
Mr. Lester W. Clerk, secretary of the New York University Settlement
Society, says in a note to me :  " We are fighting against filthy streets, with
moderate success.  Our active work this summer has been in home sanitation.
We hope to reach the streets, in time, and even now are crusading against
garbage and litter."
Mr. J. C. Pumpelly, secretary of the New York City Improvement Society,
says that the objects of their organization are :  To secure better service in
the cleaning of streets, that ash and dirt-carts be covered, that sweepings be
sooner removed after being collected, that ashes and garbage be kept in separate
receptacles and be promptly and regularly removed, and the receptacles
be kept within the stoop lines, that barrels on wheels be immediately used
to hold the street sweepings until collected by carts.
To enforce the laws prohibiting the throwing of papers and refuse in the
streets and secure the punishment of offenders.
To secure the adoption of improved methods for the disposition of ashes 
and garbage--that garbage be incinerated and ashes and sweepings be used 
for filling in, where practicable.
To remove the necessity for the payment by many citizens for work which
should be properly performed by the authorities.
Much has been said as to the difficulty of disposing of garbage in our large
cities.  The following experiment now going on in Boston shows how easily
and at what small expense it can be done : 
The crematory there is about twenty-three feet long, ten feet wide, and
ten feet high, and has fire-brick walls a foot thick covered with boiler steel,
braced with great iron rods to keep them from being forced apart by the heat.
The receptacle for the garbage has a capacity of several tons, and is fed
through openings in the top with iron covers.  The furnace in which the
fire is started is a part of the structure and is fed with crude petroleum conducted
by means of pipes from a large tank a considerable distance away. 
A wood fire is first started, and then the oil is turned on, and with other devices
for generating inflammable gases an intense heat is soon produced.  A 
blower, run by a six horse power steam engine, forces this fiery mass into
the receptacle for the garbage which is slowly fed until it becomes a burning
mass.
The combustion is very rapid, the garbage disappearing as fast as shoveled
in.  There are two chambers for its reception and a system of drafts by
which all the smoke and gases go from one to the other, making a complete 
circuit of the crematory, what is left escaping to the air through a high
chimney.  In the test all kinds of stuff were fed into the furnace just as they
were collected, tin cans, bottles, bones, and similar matter being disposed of.
From twenty-five to thirty gallons of oil, costing about three cents a gallon, 
were used each hour, consuming from four to five tons of offal an hour.
Scarcely any ashes are made.  The amount of garbage collected by the city 
each day is two hundred tons, and it is estimated that this can all be consumed
by four furnaces at a cost of about twenty-five cents a ton.  The
whole operation is remarkably free from odor, and scarcely any offensive
smell is noticeable coming from the furnace.
ELIZABETH CADY STANTON.

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