Time to bulldoze the Jefferson Memorial?

[Michael Perelman]

> Yes, by all means let's forgive Jefferson for this, too - an excerpt from a
> Sep 23 1800 letter to Dr Benjamin Rush regarding yellow fever epidemic in
> Philadelphia:
>
> "Providence has in fact so established the order of things that most evils
> are the means of producing some good. The yellow fever will discourage the
> growth of great cities in our nation; & I view great cities as pestilential
> to the morals, the health, and the liberties of man. True, they nourish
> some of the elegant arts; but the useful ones can thrive elsewhere, and
> less perfection in others, with more health, virtue, and freedom would be
> my choice."
>

I just read Starr's book, Blood, which had a wonderful description of Rush's heroic
actions during the epidemic.  He was fearless, selfless, although he probably
killed more than he saved with his excessive blood letting.
--

Michael Perelman
Economics Department
California State University
michael at ecst.csuchico.edu
Chico, CA 95929
530-898-5321
fax 530-898-5901