New Britain herald., 1922-02-04

While out strolling the other after noon l encountered n friend standing on his yernndu absorbing Il rare hit of winter sunshine. l stopped to pass the time of day with him, and while we were engaged In conversation over trivial matters, several hundred chil- dren burst from Il schoo. house across the street and began to shout and talk "even as you and l" did not so long ago. The noise became so loud that ] was forced to shout to keep up my conversation with my friend. Finally, losing patience, I said: "Dont you Ind 1t annoying living so near schoo'T' He motioned to me to join him on the vcranda and said;
 When l first moved into this neigh borhood decided that ] had made q mistake. The noise made by the chill dren while out at recess almost drove Mrs x frantic. We didn't think we could stand it but finally decided to take it philosophically by becoming acquainted with the children So ] formed the habit of coming out on the veranda when the weather was mild and while the boys and girls were out for recess It's been revelation to me. I know them all-not by name, of course,-and feel that we are all members of great big family
 See that little fellow over there scufing along and wearing out pair of shoes that didn't cost cent less than four dollars and q half? What do you suppose he is doing? I'll bet real money that he is playing he is Southern Pacific locomotive trying to make a long upgrade. And look at those three youngsters over in the corner. Don't they look desperate? Who knows that in fancy they are not bounding over the Indian ocean in search of 'piruts' or about to deliver to justice villain who has robbed the bank?
 lover here Is group of girls. ] can't imagine what they are talking about must confess my inability to read the mind of a woman, be she six sixteen and sixty. But l have mo- ticed that girls are not half so noisy as boys. They are usually satisfied to stroll around-or at the most play p-scotch-wbile the boys demand more boisterous outlet for their pent up natures.
 "Watching these boys and girls at play has made better man and bet ter citizen of me. l have never been what you would call neighborly- that is, my neighbors' affairs never interested me very deeply. But that is 1,o oh lrap God bless them. That little chap right down here, for example. IS the son of one of my neighbors. ] knew tke man in a casual way, knew he worked in one of the shops in town, stayed home nights and enjoyed the reputation of being good, steady sort of a fellow like thousands of other men. But the little, fellow there gave me a new viewpoint. began to see his father as one of the mill lions of real men who make up America. Without complaint ne works every day, comes home to hls family in the evening, probably helps the boy with his lessons and sees that he is tucked into bed. These chll- dren have been a wonderful revela- ton to me because, through them, l am able to see into their homes, to know of the struggles and sacrlhces there, to share the joys and sorrows of their mothers and fathers and to know them for human beings just like the rest of us. Children are won derful. You know (and here l thought I saw a mist in my friends eyes) we never have heard any chll- dren's chatter or laughter in our house."
 Just then the school bell rang and my friend sighed. "The fun's over | for another day. he said. Then, after a pause, 'I wouldn't exchange places with a king-at recess time
 Hearings before the board of H.
 nance and taxation impress upon the mind of the average citizen the ra-
 pidity with which New Britain has
 grown and the increase in the admin
 istrative expenses incident thereto
 Within the last decade the Hardware
 City" has become a city in every sense of the word and with its growtf
 new obligations have been thrus
 upon us.
 Tn many respects the increase IT
 population and buildings is analogous
 to the growth of a private business but a striking similarity is in the de