Evening journal., 1893-04-04
A VICTIM OF SPEAKING TUBES.
Sad Fate of a Man Of Peace Who Is Stu.
ated Midway on Vocal Route.

Sad Fate of Man Of Peace Who Is Stu.
ated Midway on Vocal Route.
There is a man in this town whose
work keeps him sitting at his desk all
day. He thinks himself fortunately sit
uated, for his employers are considerate
in their requirements and liberel in the
matter Of pay, and his work is enjoya-
Bile. The others who work in the same
room are busy men. They seldom speak,
but when they do have something to
Soy it is Of a pleasant nature. His mod
est nome has been all that heart could
wish, so far as comfort and contentment
go. All these things are sources of
grateful satisfaction TO Him, for he is a
man Of middle age and is no longer con-
sumed by youthful ambition to possess
the unattainable. He is Of a placid dis
position and is, above everything else, a
lover Of peace. Thus situated he ought
TO be one Of the happiest Of men, but he
is not. He is wasting away, the helpless
victim of continuous and violent conten-
ton.
Close to his desk, inclosed by a thin
wooden sheathing, are some tin speaking
tubes that run from an upper story Of
the building to a lower story. These
stories contain departments Of the same
business, and the tubes are in almost
constant use The tubes are cracked at
about the altitude of this mans desk,
and the wooden sheathing is split in
places. The cracks in the tubes give a
curious querulous sound to every voice
that ascends or descends through them.
A feud Of long standing exists between
the Office boys and others who speak
from the upper floor and those who
speak from the lower story. A pleasant
word never ascends or descends. All the
harshness of infection that accompanies
the harsh words is strangely multiplied
by the cracked condition Of the resonant
speaking tubes, and this man Of natural
ly peaceable inclinations has to sit and
hear it ALL.
Unfortunately his is a somewhat sensi-
tive and sympathetic nature. 1t is i'm
possible for him TO remain undisturbed
when this continuous war Of words is
going on through the speaking tubes.
A provocative voice from above causes
him to side with the floor far beneath
him, and tho reply that comes up grieves
him, and he thinks that the upper floor
has been assailed with objectionable Vi
olence. Then there is a rattling exchange
OF warlil1e expressions in angry tones
made more angry to the ear by the
cracked speaking tubes-and the man Of
peace groans and sighs for the quiet of
lodge in some vast wilderness. He has
heard these savage exchanges so long
and so continually that his conception
rs TO the sound of the male human voice
is like that which comes to his ears
through these diabolical speaking tubes.
This has been going on year after year,
and tho feud shows no signs Of abate-
ment. It's effect on the helpless man of
peaceis is deplorable. He feels constantly
as if he were a party TO a never ending
quarrel. He goes out to his luncheon
feeling like n man who has just been en-
gagged in q riot, and he docs not enjoy
his food. He scolds his most obliging
waiter without cause and gives him an
increased tip by way of apology. When
he goes home, he kisses his wifo and chill
dren in a perfunctory way and is irrita-
bic at the dinner table. His wife says
sadly, MY dear, you are working too
hard" He is not working too hard but
he is ashamed to tell what ails him, for
he knows that it would be difficult for
even his considerate helpmeet to under
stand the effect of the continuous speak
ing tube strife on his nervous system.
So he changes the subject and endeav-
ors to make amends by his best behavior
His wife notices that his playfulness is
forced and is a sorry imitation of the
genuine article, and this is more alarm
ing to her than his irritableness.-New
York Sun.
Tho Charm OF Dickens.