Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-03-10
CITY NEIGHBOUR.

From the London World.

From the London World.
The jewellers in great cities are generally dis
posed to adopt an attitude towards their neigh
bOrs which may be described as one of armed
neutrality. The occupants of the immediately
contiguous house are regarded as persons who
at any moment may be belligerents Prudence
dictates to both parties a punctillous respect
for the conue,,dnce of social life Each. If he is
discreet, will be on his best behavior, and will
scrupulously minimize all possibility of collis-
lon. The best way Of doing this is systemati-
cally to eschew any personal acquaintance with
those who live on the other side OF the partition
wall. and in all matters which can possibly af-
feet them to bear oneself as inoffensively as NAV
be. Hence, 1t has become q tradition of orr
social lie that London neighbOrs not only
should be, but as matter of fact are. in a happy
state OF mutual ignorance. To know nothing of
those who dwell next door is unQueStiOnably
convenience and safeguard
Anything like intimacy between two families
who live In such close geographical contiguity
Is certain TO involve embarrassments, and likely
to end in open hostility. One of the two house
holds presumes upon the privileges of friendly
Intercourse, and makes, very likely in pure in
nocence, some indefensible prOpositon-re-
quests the loan OF some article that ought not
TO De asked for; expresses the hope that bed
room may be granted to friend of the family
who has casually arrived; or displays an incon-
venient and inconsiderate propensity to drop
INTO Iuhci IL these Overtures are met in
friendly spirit at the beginning, and are even
reclprocated, the relations established between
the two houses will be for a while those of per-
sonal friendship; but it is friendship that will be
a sure harbnger of war. The rupture between
the attached neighbOrs is as certain as the little
storms which vex the married life of the turtle
doves of the pre-nuptial era.
Nothing Is more certain than that people who
are closely connected, either by ties Of family
or neighbOrhOOd, cannot afford to take liberties
with each other. Half the quarres which
estrange and embitter kinsmen arise from the
fact that they presume upon their consangunty
The mere circumstance that they are related BY
blood ought to make them exhibit toward each
other a most scrupuIOus respect. For this very
reason they should beware of requesting little
loans at impecuniOus moments. or of sending
telegrams suddenly to say that they are coming
up from the country and will be grateful for
dinner and bed. The point Of honor is said
to begin where compulsion ends, and pre-
clsely because the usages of society would
not allow the knsman impOrtuned in the man
ner just described publicly to reprimand his re-
lative. his relative is guilty of an offence against
the laws OF family honor if he pleads the privil-
eye OF relationship. So 1t is with neighbors
AS long "a they do not make the mistake of sup
posing that neighbOrhOOd implies familiarity
all viii! go well. Directly that truth is ignored
the prospect OF civil war Is assured. The nhabi-
tants OF one OF the crescents or squares devoted
TO middle class LOndOners will exist in state
of mutual peace and good will go long as they
Keep each other at arms length; but when once
any project which involves community Of action
is brOached-such as the painting the house.
fronts In one color, or reorganization of the
garden misunderstanding and finally
feuds, become inevitable