22 COME INTO THE GARDEN 



there are the neighbors. Not what they think 

 — be emancipated from that, in connection with 

 home building at least — but how they and their 

 grounds and houses are actually to be affected. 

 Neighborliness is an old-fashioned quality to be 

 sure, almost lost to the city dweller, but it is a 

 very worthy one, nevertheless. Doubtless the 

 folks next door are queer — I think none have 

 ever been heard of who were not, indeed, al- 

 most suspiciously queer — but even this consti- 

 tutional eccentricity of theirs should not and 

 need not inhibit the true measure of neighborly 

 courtesy and consideration. 



They are not of necessity hereditary enemies, 

 suspicions to the contrary notwithstanding; and 

 an actual application of the golden rule is pos- 

 sible in all ordinary cases, as well as a most 

 satisfactory standard of measurement. City 

 neighbors, living on either side of their party 

 walls or piled one above the other's head, tier 

 on tier, may be less than nothing to each other, 

 but suburban neighbors are bound to play each 

 a very definite part in the other's life. And 

 well begun is a great deal more than half ac- 

 complished in this complex relationship. 



So, if the neighbors are there first, plan not 

 to impair their beginnings if it is possible. 

 Avoid an arrangement which will bring kitchen 



