Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1888-05-19
THE USE OF WHISTLES.
THE PART THEY PLAY IN THE LIFE
OF A CITY.

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Few people stop to think of the impor-
tant part played by whistlers and whis-
tling in the daily life of great city like
New York Yet II all the whistlers and
whistles that add to the din OF the city
during a single twenty four hours could
be gotten together. say in Union square,
and made to blow a simultaneous blast,
the uproar would probably be SO great
that it would deafen for life any man W no
CHANGED to be within block of the place.
Among some of the lesser whistlers. in
point of noise Llade. are the drivers of the
street cars and the postmen, yet many
precious moments are saved by the use of
whistles by these individuals A heavy
truck gets on. the car track. and the pas
sengers grow impatient as the car crawls
along in consequence Then the whistle
gets in its work. and it's shrill peal re-
minds the driver of the heavy wagon that
he Is violating a city ordinance. and he
pulls off the track. and the car bowls
along once more
Without whistle. said car driver
to the reporter, I'VE couldn't get along at
all IN the crowded parts of the city, where
the noise is so great that drivers of heavy
wagons can't hear our bell We buy the
whistle ourselves. and pay about half a
dollar for it whistle with good shrill
tone is needed for our business
LETTER CARRIER AND POLICEMAN.
81 don't know how | could ever cover
my route, said a letter carrier. without
my whistle 1t blow it at an interval of
every few houses and the people hear 1t
and are ready for me, SO don't have to
wait moment after ringing the bell.
People are always looking for letters and
anxious to get them II was a peddler
or book agent and known by my whistle,
| would never blow it. for every one would
hide in the cellar
In some cities the policemen summon
assistance by the aid of whistles. but in
New York they are only used by some
policemen on street crossings for arresting
the progress of reckless drivers The
bicyclist. too, always has his whistle at
handy place, so he may warn the pedes.
trian of the approach of his silent steed
Then there are the butcher, the baker.
and the candlestick maker who. in nfakine
their rounds of apartment houses always
whistle up. to announce their arrival pre-
paratory to taking orders through the
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Before the advent of air brakes railroad
engineers used to use their engine whistles
more frequently than they do at present.
and the familiar ''toot" of the engine
meant put on the brakes" while the
quick double "toot toot' of the whistle
was followed by rattling of the brakes
as they were let off with a jerk Today
the whistles do service principally at |
crossings. where they attract ones atten.
tion to the familiar legend Look out for |
the engine while the bell rings Aside |
from its practical use, there are many |
stories told of the locomotive whist le |
serving as bearer of tidings of love and |
comfort Some engineers have a regular |
system Of signals arranged with their |
families. by which they can send a mes
sage when their engine passes near the |
home OF the loved ones One engineer IN |
Connecticut, whose wife lived near the |
track on certain part of his route which |
he reached every night about IL o'clock. |
was in the habit of whistling good night
message to his loving wife as he passed |
his house She would be watching for the |
familiar greeting, and when its welcome |
sound reached he ears she would place a
lighted lamp in her bedroom window SO i
that her lord might know that all was
well with her The custom became known
to the regular passengers on the train.
and they. too. would watch eagerly for the
light to appear
WAITING IN VAIN
At last there came a night when the
engineers wife waited longingly for the
familiar sound. but waited In vain The
fond heart which suggested that odd way
Of giving token of his love was stilled for.
ever. and the hand that had so often
pulled the cord that opened the steam
valve was clutched in death The engi
neer had been killed in the Meadow Brook
disaster He died. however as only brave
men die. at his post of duty. having re-
fused to leap from the engine and when
death overlook him his hand was still On
the throttle
Few people pursue the art of whistling
with a view of making il means Of earn
ing living, yet there are quite a number
of professional whistlers who make good
pay by displaying their proficiency Is
whistlers on the variety stage Some of
these people show wonderful skill In lmi.
tating the notes of different birds
There are a number OF superstitious
connected with whistling The small boy
whistles al night TO keep his courage up;
many men whistle for lack OF thought.
sailors whistle for favoring breeze o
speed them on their way Whistling girls
always attract attention
That whistling is useful accomplish.
ment every one must admit who has seen
a horse car pass him by because he could
not whistle loud enough to attract the
drivers attention Perhaps the whistle
that attracts the most general attention Is
the factory whistle which calls thousands
of people from their beds to resume their
daily toll In some factory towns the
working people. who do not carry watches.
depend more upon the whistles for their
knowledge of the time of day than upon
the public clocks All New Workers TOO.
are familiar with the whistle OF the tugs
ferry boats and steam craft that make
their way through the various waters ad
jacent to the city On Il foggy day the
noise amounts almost to pandemnnium.
and the mouruful sounds are always sug
gestive of the crazy loon whose peculiar
cry is as familiar to people in the country
as the steam whsle is To metropolites.-
New York Sun