Year: 1876

1t is one of the necessities Of life in
these modern times that people shall not
! live alone Ii is well, therefore, to ac.
cept the inevitable and be amiable even
under trying circumstances. No doubt,
ones immediate neighbors are not always
exactly what one would like them to be;
but it is certain that if they are treated
properly, rather than aggravated, they
are not nearly so bad as first appearances
indicate. The truth appears to be that
a large proportion of those people whose
homes stand side by side seem TO have
an unfortunate talent for misunderstand-
ing each other and are so led to- adopt
offensive attitudes Thus il happens
that while everybody who knows Robin
son and his family intimately are fond of
sounding their praises, Smith, who re-
sides next door to Robinson, has nothing
but condemnation to bestow upon the
much belauded individual and his be-
longings. Smith, too, may be the recipi-
ent of many flattering encomiums from
his associates, yet it is certain that Rob
inson can find nothing to say in his "a
vor. The truth may be that both Robin
son and Smith are thoroughly well-mean-
ing fellows at bottom, and that their lit
tie tribes are up to a fair average of ex-





cases out Of ten Robinson has no cause to
think well Of Smith nor Smith to become
devotedly attached to Robinson. The
chances are that the pair, though they
meet on an average at least once a day
and can al times hear the hum OF voices
through the walls which divide their res
pective tenements, fail to display any
mark of recognition when they are
brought face to face with each other.
Robinson evidently feels that he is
bound, in justice to himself, to ignore
Smith, while Smith is assured that he
would deservedly forfeit his self-respect
if he were to show that he is alive to the
fact that the world is graced by the pres
ence of a Robinson, the opinion of Rob
inson being that he is incomparably su-
perior to Smith, while it is the unaltera-
BILE conviction of the latter individual
that he is of immeasursbly more import
ance than Robinson. Naturally, the
families of the two houses become inn
bued with the same views as those which
are possessed by their respected heads,
and thus there is presented the singular
spectacle of one set OF human beings ap-
parently failing to realize the existence
OF another set of human beings, albeit
that the two sets are constantly Haunting





same time, though the houses of Robin
son and Smith act in this remarkable
fashion-though when Smith is not try
ing to cut Robinson, Robinson Is on
the alert to administer a snub to Smith
there are times when they become pro
foundly agitated and show that such Is
the case. 1t may be that Robinson keeps
hens, and that these hens tTespass on to
the land of Smith. Then is there a ter
rible outcry, which is not decreased
when, one day, Robinson discovers that
some of his much-prized fowls have been
ruthlessly slain. Or it may be that
Smith is the owner Of a cat. which is de-
molished by savage dog belonging to
Robinson. In the event OF such a catas-
trophe as this occurring war to the knife
is invariably the inevitable result Dur
ing the course of the hostilItles the dog
has, naturally very hard time, and
Smith and Robinson are perhaps per
suaded to enter into conversation with
each other. Whether, however, much
profit results from the intercourse which
| is thus brought about is doubtful-ex-
cept, occasionally, so far as certain gen
| tlemen of the legal fraternity are con
cerned. Failing anv other cause, Smith
and Robinson can get up tremendous
amount of sensation about a tree. Say
/ that the roots OF a shrub are planted in
| the grounds of Smith, and that its
branches extend to those OF Robinson
! Well, here is cause for hundreds of skir


mishes and not few pitched battles


Robinson, perhaps, VOWS that the inter
Looping branches shall be cut down
whereat Smith fires up and, after a while
discovering that Robinsons children
have done his property serious damage
declares that he will have satisfaction
come what may. So things go on for an
indefinite period, but, fortunately
though the sky is ever very overcast
nothing serious happens in genera
way, with the exception that a vas


amount of ill-feeling is engendered
Neighbors, of course may be n comfort t
each other. but if they prefer to be con
slant sources of aggravation and dlscOm
fort no one has, perhaps, any right t


complain. Nevertheless, it may b


pointed out that when people have I
live side by side they may as well try t


please as to displease, especially as on


provocation invariably provokes another


Thus, if a man encourages his childre
: to make noise which he knows wi


nearly drive his neighbor TO distraction


and if he persistently turns deaf ear


all the complaints which are made |


him on the score OF the nuisance, he car


net be surprised If, in despair, his neigl