Rensselaer Union and Jasper Republican, Volume 8, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 June 1876 — Neighbors. [ARTICLE]

Neighbors.

It is one of the necessities of life in these modern times that people shall not live alone. It is well, therefore. to accept the inevitable, and be apiiable even under trying circumstances. No doubt one’s immediate neighbors are hot always exactly what one would like them to bd; but it is certain that if they arc'trefited 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 misunderstanding each other, and so are led to adopt offensive attitudes. Thus it happens that while everybody who knows Robinson and his family intimately are fond of sounding their praises, Smith, who reales next door to Robinson, has nothing but condemnation to bestow upon the much-be-lauded individual and bis belongings. Snilthjitoo, may be the recipient of many flattering encomiums from his associated, yet it is certain that. Robinson can find nothing to say in his favor. The truth may be that both Robinson and Smith are thoroughly well-meaning fellows at bottom, and that-their little tribes are up to a fair average of excellence, but it is certain that in nine cases out of ten Robinson has no cause to think well ot Smith nor Smith to become devotedly attached to Robinson. The chances are that the pair, though they meet on the avertimes near the hum of voices through the walls which divide their respective tenements, tail to display any mark of recognition when tiiey are brought face to face with each ojiier-- Robinson evidently feels that he is bound, in justice to himself, to ignore Smith, while Smith is assured that- he would deservedly forfeit his selfrespect if he were to show that he is alive to the fact that the world is graced by the prcsenccuff a RobinsOn, the opinion of’ Robinson being that he is comparably superior to Smithj.while it is the unalterable" conviction of the latter individual that he is of immeasurably more importance than Robinson. Naturally, the families of the two houses become imbued with the same views as those which are possessed by their respective heads, and thus there is presented the singular spectacle of one set of human beings apparently failing to realize the existence of another set of human beings, albeit that the two sets are constantly flaunting and parading before each other. At the same time, though the houses of Robinson and Smith act in this remarkable fashion—though when Smith is not trying to “cut” Robinson, Robinson is on the alert to administer a snub to Smith —there are times when they become profoundly agitated, and show that such is the case. It may be that Robinson keeps liens, and that these hens trespass on the land of Smith. Then is there a terrible 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 demolished by a savage dog belonging to Robinson. In the event of such a catastrophe as this occurring war to the^khifeTs invariably the inevitable result. During the course ot the hostilities the dog has, naturally, a very hard time, ami Smith and Robinson are, perhaps, persuaded to enter into con versation with each other. Whether, however, mu eh pro fit results from the intercourse which is thus brought about, is doubtful—except occasionally, so far as certain gentlemen of tile legal fraternity are concerned. Failing in any other cause, Smith and Robinson can get up a 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 skirmishes and not a few pitched battles. Robinson, perhaps, vows That the interloping branches shall be cut down; whereat Smith fires up and, after a while, discovering that Robinson’schildren 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, thoughthe sky is ever overcast, nothing 1 serious happens in a general way, with the exception that a vast amount of ill-feelingds engendered. Neighbors, of course, may be a comfort to each other; but if they prefer to be constant sources of aggravation and discomfort, no one lias, perhaps, any right to complain. Nevertheless, it may be pointed out that when people have to live side by side they may as well try to please as to displease, especially as one provocation invariably provokes the other. Thus, if a man encourages his children to make a noise which he knows will nearly drive his neighbor to distraction, and if he persistently turns a deaf ear to all the complaints which are made to him on the score of the n u mnee, he cannot be surprised if, in despair, his neighbor starts a cornet, or sets his daughters at a jingling piano. Again, if Mrs. Smith circulates all the offensive gossip which has its origin in Mrs. Robinson’s kitchen, it is but to lie expected that Mrs. Robinson will find a number of unpleasant things to say at the expense of Mrs. Smith. Now all-tire petty quarrels which take place between neighbors seem to have their origin either in paltry greed or. the exaggerated opinions which many people entertain as to their own importance, and, accordingly, are undeserving of merciful consideration. Indeed, most neighborly feuds-being the result of that detestable snobbery which seems, unfortunately, to have an immovable -clutch on English society, the one satisfactory feature about them is that they add one more link to the existing chain of proof that people are invariably cursed by their own folly. Now, while many neighbors are snobbish to a preposterous extent, and refrain from rendering those little services to -eachother which they might render without any loss to themselves, others rush to an extreme in the contrary direction. In their desire to be friendly, or, as they put it, neighborly, they well-nigh pester the life out of you. They drop in to see you -fttodd times and with astonishing frequency; they borrow your property Io an extent which should prove Ifiatlhey have perfect confidence in the strength of the bond which biuds them to yoti, and they impart to you things of a confidential nature which are continual sources of anxiety, inasmuch as you fear~tlrat you will some time ' inadvertently let them slip. All this is, no doubt., very gratifying, but it is probable that if the good people were less assiduousiff their attentions, the fntimacies which they form would be of a rnpre permanent character than they are. As it is, those to whom they limply themselves are apt to find their favors rather, .irksome, and are inclined to get the opinion into their heads that houses, grounds autke,battels are not quite common property i— Liberal Review. The (r<i4-<lener'» Monthly says that a temperature of 55 deg. will give more flowers to the common window plant than a higher teniperature, and names such oldfash kmed sorts as Mignonette, Stveet Alyssum, Zonqle Geraniums, Cupheas,. Fuchsias, Violets,. Roses, Chinese Primrose, etc.., as among the best for this purpose.