Evening star., 1948-10-27
Readers Clearing House


no money to buy treats for mobs of
children and the first year I refused
to do it they gave me all the
tricks" in their bag, but the worse
were the boos and ridicule which
they gave my children. So the next
year-and every year since-I have
been weak-minded enough to spend
money which I need for food and
clothing for my children to buy
treats" for pampered and lawless
young gangsters to add to their loot.
exhibit gleefully or disdainfully If
the quality or quantity Is not to
their liking, and then, many times,
throw away.
To children "trick or treat" seems
like a harmless way to have a little
fun, but parents should be able to
see that the principle of it is all
wrong-the principle of the protec-
ton racket that Little Orphan
Annie has been fighting. We think
our children could never become
involved in juvenile delinquency.
but not all the II, - and 13 year.
olds who are arrested for theft and
murder come from underprivileged
homes. Many of them have we'll
to-do parents who provide good
clothes, education and even religious
training. When their cases are
investigated it is almost invariably
found that they got their gangster
ideas from comic books, cheap f1c-
ton, the radio or the movies. It is
the parents responsibility to know
what influences are shaping their
children's future. Even If your boys
do feel different" Mrs. G. c. c.,
stand for what you think Is right
and thus teach them to do the same,
it is a lesson they must learn some
day. Perhaps they can have a Hal
loween party at home so that they
can have their share of fun. even
though they don't run with the
trick or treat" rowdies.
(From Mrs. r. w., Washington.)
In order to have pleasant eve
ming, we plan to take our child and
60 out to dinner and then to the
movies, as last year there were over
so youngsters at our door asking for
treats, and the entire evening was
spent just answering the door bell
and giving out candy.
No, Mrs. G. c. c., you aren't being
"mean," but you are being a very
sensible mother who wishes to en-
courage her children from, and not
into. the path Of juvenile gangster-
ism.
From Mrs. G. E. T., Washington }
This is my first letter to RICH,
though I have enjoyed reading it
for some time. To have Mrs. G. c. C.
use the term Juvenile gangsterism"
in connection with beggars' night
showed such a lack of sympathy and
understanding that felt I must say
something. I remember as child
what a wonderful night beggars'
night was. How heartwarming 1t
was to find so many kind and gen.
erous people and how exciting it
was to watch our bags grow fuller
and fuller of candy, nuts, and fruit!
I wouldn't for the world deprive my
three children of that delight.
They're small, so will only go to a
few neighbors' houses, but we all
look forward to having the children
come to our house and shall leave
the porch light on as q welcome.
However, shall teach my children
that "trick or treat" is only a con-
ventional phrase and to take the
goodies and the refusals with equal
good humor.
from Mrs. B. w., KenSington.)
Good for you, Mrs. G. c. c., I am
glad you have brought the question
of treat or tricks" up before the
RICH. I don't like the threat in
volved in the youngsters begging.
This year we (our four children and
we parents) are going to movie
together on ''beggars' night" and we
are planning a party for the children
on Halloween. Try to persuade your
boys to substitute some other spe-
cial fun for begging and tricking.
It's hard, I know.
From Mrs. E. A. p, Falls Church,
MY husband and I both disap-
prove of the treat or trick" activity