The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-10-15
BY MARGARET s. sANGSTER. 1905, by Joseph B. Bowles.)

RY MARGARET s. sANGSTER. i(Copyright, 1905, by Joseph B. Bowies.) ! The charm of having neighbor is that he lives where you can get at him next door or across the way, or around fine corner, or down the street. You meet him in the morning when you run for the train. You slip into seat be- side him at night when you come home Sometimes in the evening you slip an arm into his and go. walking and talk .inr under the trees on the way to the spostofiice, or you often sit by his fire and as often he sits by yours, and to- gether you discuss the affairs of the village.
 A never-e tending source of interest is afforded by the canvassing of the slight probability that you and he and others may one day combine to awaken con- science in the particular corporation that professes to serve you, and really picks your pocket. Whether this hap pens to be gas monopoly, a water board. a street car system or whatever else, Is of no consequence. You will never vanquish that resourceful foe. But 1t is a slight alleviation of suffer ing to fancy that eventually you may succeed. Your nelghbor relates his ex- perience. you relate yours. and the mu- tual disclosures do good to both. Mis- cry loves, company, in such phases as this.
 If your wife has no near neighbors. nobody to gossip with, nobody with whom to exchange dress patterns and cook receipts, nobody from whom to borrow cupful of sugar or a spoon full of lard in time of need, and nobody to chat with in the gloaming she is badly on. There is danger of her drift ing into melancholy from sheer loneli- ness. A woman with no neighbors is pitiably foriorn. unless she has whole housefui of children,
 The fundamental basis. the deep root of the club Idea is contained in the one word. fellowship.
 Men and women have clubs, and en- joy them, because clubs epitomize the spirit of reciprocity which is the es- sence of neighborliness. A man goes forget his business perplexities and put a new set of faculties at work. A wo- man who is rusting out and losing her freshness in a routine of necessary, but monotonous duties, is frightened up and made younger by her mornings or afternoons spent in the pleasant inter- course of her particular club.
 The disadvantage of most clubs in village life is that they segregate men
 
 and the women to theirs. The ideal club is one in which husbands and wives meet together, informally at each others houses, having light refresh ments and little organization. the min imum of expense, and an utter absence of red tape. If a haif-dozen families whose incomes approximate the same amount, and who are on a similar social plane, combine to form a neighborhood club. they can have enjoyable times in their meetings, and they will be bound by tiss of friendship almost invisible, but strong as silken cords.
 To make such a club a success, there must be some occasion for it's existence. This occasion IS sometimes found in a diversion, such as cards. or an intellec- tual game, such as chess. or 1t may be found in music, which has a subtle way of uniting those who love 1t.
 When frankly the object of club Is mental improvement, and the members make out a program for study, and