Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-18
THIS AND THAT


pride III property went hand IN hand
with property ownership.
Il, for instance. come from small
country town. where any one who was
any one saw to it that his lawns were
kept In good grass and that his hedges,
shrubs and flowers we're in a reasonable
state Of cultivation
In this small town of my youth
money played little part in the intclli-
gent care which property owners gave
their property. There was no one so
poor that he or she could not plant a
lew flowers and take reasonable care OF
| the grass.
SO l and the other children OF that
community grew up to have respect for
| property We played, but We did not
destroy.
We came to have belief in property
because We respected property. We
looked forward to owning homes of our
own some day.
We'll, gentlemen, here is one Of those
| boys, not so much Older than he was
at least, he does not feel so-who finds
tnat ne Is unable to keep his property
,ne way he believes property ought to
He finds the value of his own prop
erty run down daily by the indifTer-
ent appearance OF front lawns along
the block.
The ambitious realtors who planned
this development put two small bushes
on each side Of the walk, at the steps
Today there is but one set of these
pushes that is in good shape.
The remainder are lifcless. or torn
half way off. Some are of one height,
some OF another Yet not a house
| holder has removed them, or planted
new ones.
Nobody caresi
-Four times day going and coming,
the school children hop over them. No
one blames the kids. We would have
done the same thing when we were kids,
II we had been allowed to.
| The point iS-and this is the point
OF my addreSs-we were not allowed to!
Perhaps it is true that in those days
the boys and girls had more play space.
But the lack of play places in the city
Is no excuse for supine parents, who
Will allow their children to thought
lessly destroy property in order that the
parents may have a little peace at
home!
Sliding up and down terraces or
roller skates Is not conducive TO a re-
tention Of property values
Il ask you the plain question, Has
not this come about mostly through
the indifference of some property
owners as TO the appearance of their
lawns?
"A prospective purchaser. coming
along this block with fresh eye. and
without fear or favor. judges the in
terror condition Of homes by the outer
appearance.
| Mostly he Is right. II the child Is
never taught anything in relation to re-
| spect for property outside. he will have
no respect for 1t inside. either. Hence
walls covered with smudges. butter and
so on.
Gentlemen. believe me. believe yor;
are taking the easiest way in allowing
your children TO play constantly in the
streets, on the sidewalks and upon thf
lawns. without ever giving them a word
Of admonition.
The easiest way is never the best
| way. thank God for the instructions
which guided my youth, and shuddcr
| at what is in store for your little ones.
when they grow up without respect for
| property.
1T may seem small thing. 20 you
| now. bat l warn you: Disrespect for
! property rights leads TO diSreSpect OF
| all rights including that OF human
| life. just as disrespect for one law
| leads TO disreSpect for all laws"