The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1916-04-27
NV Brothers Keeper.

some time ago conducted a contest for
the best answer to the suggestion,
nThings I Wish My Neighbors Would
Not Do.u Here is the answer which
was awarded the first prize:
.fHer mother IS death left her
with no near relatives, and we were
married the following week SO she
could accompany me to my new
territory out in Kansas.
She had been away from home
but little, and the idea of new
country thrilled her - new sur
roundings, new people under new
conditions.
Our little rented home was in
good neighborhood. | wanted her
to have friends in plenty, as my
work allowed me home but two days
a month.
But no friends came. Absorbed
in their older friends they forgot,
possibly, to call on or include the
little stranger in their pleasures.
She never mentioned it to me
the "spunky" little body had too
much pride-but I saw that the
hunger for friendships and ac-
quaintances was telling on her.
She had always had them back
home,and she wondered why not
now.
Finally miniature duplicate of
her came-but for a few days only.
And when she left she took the
mother with her.
Then the neighbors came, guam
titles of them and full of sympa-
thy, but too late.
And honestly, perhaps migrate
fully, [ wished they hadn It come"
This little sermon on the NEGLECTED
Strange" is one that will appeal to a
lot of people in Kenosha. Our shifting
population-the really good people who
come to Kenosha and go away from
Kenosha without breaking over the
barriers of our old established social
the tragedy of many a
neglected stranger. Of course it is the
old question, "Am I My Brother IS
Keeperg" and it suggests the other
question, "Has the idea of human SYM
pathy and human helpfulness gone en-
tlrely out of the hearts Of the peopleg'
The selfshness of the modern day
life is emphasized in little tragedies of
unfriendliness. Not that anyone means
to be cruel to the neglected stranger
ard many would resent the suggestion
of cruelty, but they sit idly by and
ask, Am / my brothers. keeper?o
while hidden away in the darkened
rooms of house near by is the little
woman who is simply starving today
for the touch of human sympathy that
marks the difference between existing
and living. 1t ism It necessarily to be
chummy to be neighborly. The stranger
that comes into your neighborhood and
mine is entitled to the interest of the
people there. Many of these little
women have wonderful treasures of
community interest which they are
longing to open up to you if you will
out break down your old long standing
reserve and give them chance. Thew
are pining away from loneliness lust
because you and are begrudging them
that smile of helpfulness which costs
us nothing but which means everything
to them. They come to feel the milk
OF human kindness has soured in Ke-
nosha. That the people are cold and
unsympathetic and withal unthoughtful
OF the stranger within our gates. Thew
get to loathe the city and its people
Halt the sweets of life, the pleasures
OF companionship Of community inter
est are lost to them just because they
may not break into the charmed circle
OF neighborhood life. How many hun
dreds OF these neglected strangers there
are In Kenosha it would be hard TO
tell. They come here to give what
there is in their lives toward the adj
vancement of things which are maxine
kenosha and yet the cold societyn of
Kenosha, the thoughtless, heartless So
c1ety of Kenosha refuse them the place
In It's work that they are entitled to.
This is not meant as criticism of anv
system, it is just aimed to call atten-
ton to thoughtlessness. Dom Won
think that the stranger within our gates
Is entitled to be taken into the charmed
circle Of friendship and made one of
uss Are the barriers SO high that thew
prevent you showing these bonds of
human sympathy and human interest
In fellow man and swomang Ism u II
worth while to look up and down your
own street and search out the NEGLECTED.
strangers and make one resolve tn on
and see what you can do toward BRING
ing into that life the sweetest thine IN
llfe-the element of human friendship
and comradeship2 There are Jewels .
plenty to be found for the seeking
Don't let it be said that the tragedy Of
the lonely man and woman is BEING on
acted IN Kenosha simply because YOU.
IN vOnF cn1f1ch 4o,o14