Evening star., 1948-10-27
TRICK OR TREAT.

from Mrs. C. r. ~, Arltngton.)
For Mrs. G. C. c.: My answer to
your problem of trick or treat is to
search your own mind for your
answer and then ask your heart to
come in with a little expert con-
sulting. The youngsters don't ex-
pect much, and the sparkle and
shine of happy little eyes should be
some compensation. I think it's fun
and we usually manage to have as
much fun as the children. Granted
that there are few older ones who
attempt to abuse the custom; we've
had them, too. To them we say:
"You look little old for this child
ish custom, but I'll see If I can find
something to interest some one as
old as you" They Immediately look
sheepish and lose their belligerency.
hope you say yes" and If you
try to have fun you will.
(Fron, Mrs. !. F., Washington.)
For Mrs. G. C. c., Rockville: I
give three cheers. I am absolutely
"agin"' beggers' night. I refused last
year to let my three youngsters
60 out begging because it is abso-
lutely crime to waste food. The
bags they bring in after a night
making the rounds are one grand
mess. Everything is thrown in this
bag and when they get through it's
q mass of crumbs all over every
thing. I've always found it just
something else to throw out. The
children don't need the food and
our homes would be much more
peaceful that evening without the
door bell ringing every minute.
Mrs. G. C. c. has the support of
myself and my husband to put
stop to this unnecessary custom that
only started few years back. Not
only should we canvas the teachers
and schoolmates, but get radio pro-
grams to help stop beggars' night,
too!
RICH has helped in so many
projects maybe it will do the trick
in this case.
(From Mrs. w. H. H., Ke1isington.)
In answer to your question about
beggars' night. My two daughters,
my husband and I have always en-
joyed beggars' night. We put a jacks
lantern in the window; we make an
attractive table of cider, cookies and
fruit. We receive each caller and
invite him into the dining room and
serve him. No one has ever been
unpleasant. We enjoy their costumes
and remarks. They like it, too!
Why shouldn't we open our homes
to the children of the neighborhood
occasionally?
From Mrs. E. G. D., Suitland.)
You are entirely right in regard
to beggars' night. If all mothers
would take the same stand you have
taken, maybe We could break up
this fad Until a few years ago we
did not have this craziness to put
up with. Then we had it for one
night. Then the children began
making it a two-night event. Last
year we were annoyed for three
nights. Children do not know when
to stop and as long as some parents
permit the children to do it, it will
keep up. The laxity of some parents
makes it hard for those of us who
would like to remedy this undesir-
able situation. Our children nat
urally think us 'meanies" when
some other childrens' parents permit
them to continue beggars' night. So
mothers and dads, put a stop to it.
(Fron Mrs. E. C.. L., Blddensburg.
Most emphaticany I agree with
Mrs. G. C. C. of Rockville in the
matter of Trick or Treats graft be-
fore Halloween. My 12-year-old boy
did my heart good the other day by
quoting back to me, unsolicited, the
sentiment which I have stated to
him each year heretofore. feel
that coming from a child who is
"full of fun. it may convince others
of his age or younger, better than
just hearing that we staid "old
grown-ups" do not approve. The
tTav he said it was this, Mother,
st he of the younger kids are al