MODERN NUISANCES

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 249, 20 October 1928, Page 4 (Supplement)

MODERN NUISANCES

" NEIGHBOURS' KIDS."

NOT ALL THEIR FAULT.

(By MARGUERITE.)

'Neighbours' kids," said Henry, as he tried to straighten out the tangled rose vine, "are a da-shed nuisance. In fact, they're a blight on the face of the universe." , "That's a man's way of putting it," I replied. "Say, rather, that of all the hundreds of ills and worries and botherations an everyday family woman is heir to, neighbours' kids make easily the worst!" A long, sharp thorn from the Red Rambler found its way under Henry's right thumbnail, and he made a rapid remark that didn't sound like an answer to my suggestion; so with another glance at the ruin two of the 'children from next door had caused by climbing over the fence I left the scene. Have you, wife and mother if you be, ever reflected on the great amount of unnecessary,, trouble inflicted on thousands of homes, and primarily on the mothers in those homes, by the unchecked presence of ichildren from near neighbours who come unasked "to play" and always stay to bother !; Most housekeeping women, are troubled in this manner, and if you're not, count yourself among the lucky ones; Thoughtless People. When we think of the matter dispassionately we realise with something of astonishment: how. thoughtless some people are. in regard to . .others' family feelings, and what they have to do. Here are a few living instances very much in point.' Not long ago we had neighbours who kept boarders, and had two little children; (Henry always called them "two little devils," but I think he was prejudiced.) The mother made a daily practice of sending the bairns out to one or other pf her nearer, friends to play, so that she could be free to.get on with her morning's .work.' -It-took a week to get round the sfajeetj,} then the: programme was repeated. In the, same locality lives a woman engaged in business. / , She "doesn't care where the kids go, so long as .they don't bother mej? The neighbours get the bother.> Next door to us there isa family with several young ones. These spend all their lives, except for odd moments to rush home and' eat, careering 'over our/ lawns or , damaging theflower beds.'and fences, ahd tneir mother sa'ys brightly, "How lovely it is for them to bis able to come over and play with yours!" She gives them all an. apple or a lollie occasionally, hat she never linvites mine and hers to go over the fence arid play, no matter howibnay I may be with the multitudinous duties that fall to . the 'tot of the„ housewife. Henry Hoiiwlfy'ditos that kind of inviting —for, the neighbours'.kids, anyway—And where* they! laugh at me they flee from hie black wrath. Then they come back as soon as he has returned to work.

Do these mothers—and it is really remaikable how numerous they are-r----think we rejoice to see .their children lounging round our doors or damaging onr property? Do they think- we have so little to keep occupied with onr own balrnies that ire pins ' for the extra tnrable entailed by the unsought presence of theirsT h i: -' '<.■■<

It seems to be a modem nuisance, this one of xieighbours' kMs, aind from my observations I would My it if a rapidlygrowing one. Fifteen, ten, even five years ago, parents would not—except in rare casen allow their little ones to spend every possible' minute at the house next door, and unasked at that. It seema to be a . reflex nf the present-day tendency to shirk the full 'responsibilities - of parenthood.

Perhaps it is possible to retaliate in tl» same way, but if we lo>ve our children we .^others, aim to keep them under better; control and teach them to like bung near ns. To retaliate in any way usually means making bad neighbours, but Henry says, and I am beginning to think Wis right: "It's better and easier to get slbng with bad neighbours with good neighbours' kidß! M " What 'wonld'yba dot