The times., 1899-05-21
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are amusing themselves with the erection
OF spite fences, and a circumstance which
makes it the more interesting is that one
of them is a clergyman. For the benefit
of those who do not know what spite
fence is it may be explained that ii is
wall or fence several feet high. put mp TO
prevent ones neighbor from getting light
air, pleasant view, or something else he
wants. II is also monument, more or
less lasting. to the inherent mulishness of
the human animal. In this case. the Pater-
son clergyman wished to build porch.
His neighbor objected. and the result was
brick wall. twenty feet high, between
the two houses built by the man who
was not a clergyman. While the wall was
going up the clergyman was writing
verses. it appears, for on the completed
monument of spite one day appeared this
sign-posted on the minister's side of the
wall:
This wall OF spite and contempt
| TO build did not attempt
Titan TO devise such devili> plan
] think myself better man
When propriety forbids man to swear
it is sometimes good thing to have
talent for poetry One day the sign dis
appeared, and the minister promptly set
his verse machine to work and evolved
this:
To steal this sign. please do not bother,
] For vanished had It's elder brother.
More stubborn maybe, this may make the people
who have made the wall.
: But porch viii stand, may the wall. and
neither viii this end II all
IN the country this predilection sometimes
takes different form Two neighbors who
own adjoining land are always supposed to
cooperate in keeping up the fences When
they quarrel there is difficulty in doing
this. since fence building is a matter hieh
should be undertakes in calm and equa
{ bic spirit. Therefore, one may sometimes
see two fences. built as near together as
possible. running along the line between
the farms a monumental evidence OF i'll
feeling and foolishness
This sort of thing makes the intelligent
smile. but there are more kinds Of spite
fences than the concrete kind. When an
Invisible barrier is erected between two
persons who might derive great happiness
and benefit from one another's acquaint-
ance. is not that often spite fence?
/ When pride forbids a man TO apologize,
when he knows he has done wrong. and
keeps him from renewing pleasant and
profitable relations with his former friend.
what sort Of fence is that When several
families depending on one another for en-
tertafnmeut. living under simple condi-
tions in a small town. refuse 10 have any
social life unless they can observe certain
ormalities-uniess each can set as good
a table" as her neighbors. is not that some
sort of fence which is q waste of timber
When five churches are employed to do the
work mat one could do as we'll. at cost
of four extra buildings, four ministers
salaries, ana innumerable jealousies ard
envyings and evil speaking. it seems as
if there was d waste OF fence material
somewhere and woeful lack Of it else
where.
The fact is that what we need more
than anything else in this country at pres
ent is mutual friendliness kindness, and
comprehension between those who have
and those who have not, whether the pos
sessions be riches, education. culture, OF
ability TO work. There are too many spt'
fences set mp to separate the people who
ought to help one another. 1t is not nee
essary that those should be intimate wht
are not congenial-human nature viii taxi
care of that-but there should be as few
artificial barriers as possible. Everyon'
should be free to help and TO seek hell
wherever there seems to be opportunity
Thee is no Use in trying to solve all thu
problems of the day at once. Let each lool
after his own natural tasks. and let La
spite fences stand in the way.