New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-06-28
CITY NLGUT NOISES.

Physicians assert that the nervous sensibiiity oil
the dwelcrs in great cities is on the increase anu
they cite proof OF this the spread OF nervous CTS
eases But If n judgment may be formed from inc
paticut popular sulerancc of ceaseless noise ana
cattor in centres of population the conclusion
might DO reached that use was rather dnllng ana
deadenng the general sensltveness to nuisances OF
this character. Certain it is that great deal OF
both business and pleasure in cities seems to be con-
ducted ON tho theory that the public stand in no
need of sleep or else it is supposed that they can
sleep through anything When tho elevated raiI-
roads were first built the companies appeared quite
surprised that the residents in the streets through
which the trains passed should complain of the
noise. Thi, surprise was possibly due to the fact
that Ncw-Yorkcrs have always been accustomed To
ab,olute neglect of their by their municipal
oocnts IL may have been thought that apeople
all of whose streets have been 80 paved rs TO pro
duc the greatest possible noise ought not % SHOW
soucamishness because OF little more racket
But though this is q long suffering community,
and though the ordinary day noises are endured
without n murmur. It does occasionally appear TO
tho harassed citizen who courts slumber vainly
during hot summer nights that the city noises be-
tween sunset and sunrise rather the result OF
diabnical conspiraces against Deaths twlh-
hroth,rv than unavoidable incidents of a great and
restless current Of life. IL has been SAID often
cr,uyb and n if somehow il "A matter for
Boosting that Now-York never goes to sleep. AS
snredly there are people in Newiork who do their
hest 10 prove the assertion. but still more certainly
those whom they deprive of rest will never approve
thar yocifcrous perambulatlon As to the neither
| harmless nor necessary cat. whose midnight mus
mrs pierce the heart and brain OF the tired worker
| EVERYWHERE of course argumcntatve appeals are
futile Nothing less forcbc than the steaithy air
pnn the cratic boot-jark. or the deadly dynamite
/ cracker will meet tho demands OF tho subject But
why should the numerous and perlpatetic pedier
wake the echoes of the urban streets at o'clock IN
the morning Why should he thus unSeasohaDiy
advertise his wares with yells as dscordant as they
arc unintolligiblei No doubt It takes mach prac'
ure 70 attain in perfection those mystic shrieks
which never by any chance suggest the nature of
the miscrcaut howlers dark and midnight business
INIT who wants to purchase vegetables or fish or
frnit OF milk or any other thing in the dead waste
and middle OF the night
The rumbling laundering wagons which stream
in ond procession over the barbarous cobbles Just
at that period of separation bet ween night ana day
when Natures vital powers are ut their lowest ebb,
must have put the finishing touch to many poor
vrctch battling for life upon sck-bed at that
eeric hour but suppose this evil IS inevitable IN
the present backward state of civilization But
there are creatures so compact oil thahhess 'aith is
10 strum pianos long after midnight, while other
abandoned ruflians practise quartets on the curb
stone or add insult TO injury by atrocious efforts to
sing Sweet Violcts" TO the accompaniment OF that
Infamous machine the accordion or concertna.
That the finest police force in the world should per-
NIT such outrages, and should saunter calmly by
while they are in progress. is cutting satire upon
things in general. But it is clear that what is
needed is tho digcnt dissemination of that gospel
of Altrnism which teaches consideration for the
feelings of other people, and the lack of which leads
TO all and moro than all the abuses here outlined.
Failing this remedy 1t is to be feared that nervous
diseases will increase until generation arises
which has sufficient regard for it's own comfort TO
abae such of the current night noises IA are capable
of alienation. and which will doubtless inaugurate
an era of reform by DISCRIMINATING the cats, peders
and midnight piano players.