The Detroit times., 1917-07-16
mo Trespassing"
ny ~. ApDINGroN BRUCE
Author OF The Riddle Of Person
Atty" Psychology and
Parenthood." etc.

You have been out TO spend a day
in tho country. You have taken
the family with you. by train. or
trolly. or motor car.
The picnic basket has been heap
ed TO OVERLOOKING with good things
10 eat and 10 drink The weather
has been superb. You have had a
delightful time.
One thing. however, has vexed
you After arriving in tho country
YOU found II somewhat difhcult to
l get access 10 cool. shaded, pictur-
esQue spot for your picnic
The places that attracted you
most were closed 10 you by no
| Tresspassing" signs. Aud similar
signs decorated the wooded. verdant
slopes over which you most desired
TO wander,
You felt personally afrrontod by
! this. Even now, back in your city
home. you glow with indignation az
the thought OF having been debarred
from full liberty 10 make use OF the
open country.
Descriptive terms such as "selt'
lsh." mean" "hoggish" rise In your
mind when YOU think OF the proper
; " owners who put up the NO Tres
passing sigma
But let ne ask you few cues
lions.
Yol ala finally discover a suitable
place where you might picnic undis-
,urbed There you settled down 20
cat The fine luncheon you had
brought with you.
When you finished your luncheon
what did YOU do with the pasteboard
boxes. the sandwich wrappers, the
paper napkins. the paper pic plates.
the sanitary paper cups
Did you direct the children 20
gather them all and put them in NE
basket for later disposal? Or did
you leave them 10 litter the ground
and 10 transform from slightliness
30 unsishtliness the spot where you
launched?
II. FOR any purpose you used
matches, did YOU carefully exiin'
guish them before tossing them
aside? II YOU had 20 light fire. did
you make sure that no embers re
mained after your departure
Recall the fields thru which YOU
strolled with mother and the chill
dred There were gates 70 De open,
cd. perhaps stones 70 be removed
from the tops of walls. or rails from
fences.
Did you put everything IN place
exactly as you found IT. or did you
hurry on. leaving An opening thru
which cattle might make their way
10 get lost or 20 stray into fields OF
growing erain'
Were Won. perchance. none toe
careful yourself when you came "a
cultivated land? Did you skirt
arounG the border OF H. or did you
stride iestructiyely over IL?
Perhaps you obeyed all these un
written laws that ought 20 govern
people on picnics. But. let me tell
YOU. there are a great many people
who do rot obey them.
And IL Is chiefly because of this
that mo Tres passing" signs are Sc
numerous In the country.
In most cases Il is not. seliishuess
OF meanness or hoggighness mat
caues the owners 70 put up these
signs They put them up as safe
guard against the damage that may
be done by thoughtless visitors.
Keep this in mind II you have
Yourself been one OF the thoughtless
Behave better the next time YOU &c
to the country And. instead OF feel
ing indignant al country property
owners. appreciate that they have
a right TO feel indignant al you.
Preach picnic etiquette amonf
your neighbors. The elimination OF
he NO Trespassing" signs is up "a
YOU and UP 70 them Regard the
rights OF those who own land in the
country. and. With few exceptions
\ they will gladly grant privileges now
refused