The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-04-17
The
The Agreeable
Neighbor.

TO display the most courteous consid-
Grafton when you let him quite severe
~ alone. AT least that is the rule in
the big, bustling. busy cities, where
nobody is expected to have the time
Tor neighborly duties, and in the cOun-
try colonies also, where there is a
group of summer residents who court
only the society of their special friends
When you live In a metropolis, such
as New York or Chicago, for example,
1t is not any longer essential to cher
ish any interest or acknowledge any
responsibility for the human beings
who live in the same block or apart
ment house where you dwell. l have
been told, with something akin 10 pride,
by one who lived eight years in an
apartment house, that she has not. in
all that time, claimed even "a calling
acquaintance with any of the families
who share the shelter of the same roof.
Again, 1 have visited in pretty coun-
try homes the occupants of which
courted no communication with the
village inhabitants or the owners OF
the adjoining farms, and / know many
otherwise kind-hearted and approach
able men and women who have pleas
ant homes in we'll kept streets, and
live in blissful Ignorance of so much
as the names Of those who occupy the
houses to right or left Of them.
The Nelghboriy Spirit.
Now this may be called a species Of
independence. but il certainly is not
neighborliness, and / shall always
maintain that il is very requisite and
admirable to know how TO be an agree
able. a valuable. a pleasant and de-
pendable neighbor For my own part,
I have little admiration for the snob-
bish and self-centered individuals who
begrudge the time and effort spent in
establishing pleasant relations with
those next door, aChOss the street, or
down the road: or who ignore their
nearest residents because of a sense
of social inequality.
One way to win esteem in this world
is 90 devote considerable thought and
care to your relations with the men,
women and children who live in your
vicinity, and to evince toward them
the true spirit of neighbOrlinesS,
whether they are Italian squatters or
descendants of the MayhOwer Pilgrim
fathers and mothers. Demonstrated in
the right way, there remains no doubt
or question but that this spirit is none
other than an important phase of the
philosophy of real agreeability, and
that the man or woman who displays
it generously is sure to charm in the
other social relations of life.
The truest and best spirit of neigh
boTlinesS is first and foremost no re-
specter Of persons, and is made mani
fet by an air Of friendly interest. Your
duty toward your neighbor demands
that you consider him of Importance
because he lives near you, and realize
that in friendly enthusiasm only can
community be held together. 1t does
not make any difference whether the
Jones family next door are rich. beau
tiful. interesting, or sympathetic, you
still owe them a certain amount of con-
sideration and kindness, simply be
cause they are your neighbOrs.
When they move into your street or
apartment house, or rural locality, it
is your business to do something to
make them welcome. Extend the right
hand of courteous greeting at once.
Don't let a couple of months elapse
before you get around to that duty, for
there is no comfort or compliment in
a delayed t~st call unless you have
a very obvious and adequate excuse to
offer
If you are inclined to believe that the
Joneses are, busy setting up their
household goods, and therefore would
be somewhat embarrassed to receive
you, follow the excellent example of
friend of mine whose conduct I can
commend as that of one who is in all
things the ideal neighbor. When new
femily begin to set up their Lares and
Penates in her vicinity she sends to
the mother of the household, by the
hand Of servant, a pleasant little
note. In this she presents her cOmpli-
ments. announces that she will assume
the privilege OF calling later. and eX-
presses the hope that if in the mean
time the newcomers are in need of any
assistance or advice they will not fail
20 call upon her for aid.
The R4obt Hand Of E7e11o-r-eIi1
To those VINO take their duties as
neighbOrs very lightly I can give the
positive assurance that this readiness
with which my friend extends the right
hand Of greeting and fellowship has
greatly redOunded to her popularity
and credit. She is a wealthy, fashion
able and cultivated woman; she Occu-
pies in summer very sumptuous
country home set i'm expensive and eX-
pansive gardens. but she has taken the
pains to make the acquaintance of her
neighbors, the small as we'll as the
great.
No matter if it is the new grand
mansion on the hill. or the humblest
frame dwelling by the roadside that
claims new occupant, she takes just
as much trouble TO greet and aid the
strangers. each one according TO his or
her probable expectations and needs. I
have never known her TO wait. as some
sO-called ladies do, to inspect new ar
rivals at church, or the village post
office. or as they go down in the lift.
before hOnoring them with a call. If
neighbOr is in trouble, or any need.
sickness or distress. she is never de-
TERED from Offering her sympathy or
rendering practical aid by any foolish
fancy that she may be intruding.
There is always something that can
be DONE l have heard her insist. land
7 never sand round one Of my family
or "A servant TO inquire how Mr.. Jones
IS. and 10 ask if there is any way in
which 1 can render assistance In an
swer 10 such a doubtful offer Of aid as
that the people who are i'm trouble
usually reply with thanks and "A mega
ton. I go myself TO inquire the first
time, and if IL is a case Of illness or a
fire that has created the trouble, |
carry flowers. fruit. jelly or blankets
along with me, and a suggestion on my
own behalf for help in the emergency. -
Her advice was sound enough. and
the way to help a neighbOr is 10 look
about yourself, see what il is you can
do in the hour Of afiictiOn. and fulfill
the Office without advice from ANYBODY
If the neighbOr is a total stranger 10
you the obligation TO render assistance
IS as great as though the unknown
persons were your best friends.
The Friendly Neighbor.
Not all your friends need be your
neighbors, but all your neighbors
should be your friends. This does not
imply that all or even any of them ART
your intimate friends, and the surest
method by which you can keep your
neighboTs on a footing of the most sub