The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1893-06-23
A VICTIM OF SPEAKING TUBES.
Sad Fate of n Man of Peace Who Is Stir
afed Midway on 4 Vocal Rnufe.

Sad Fate of Man of Peace Who Is SItu-
ated Midway on n 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 hberel 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 10
say it is of a pleasant nature. His mod
est home has been all that heart could
wish, so far as comfort and contentment
go. All these things are sources Of
grateful satisfaction 10 him, for he is a
man Of middle age and is no longer con-
surned by youthful ambition to possess
the unattainable. He is of placid dis
position and is, above everything else, q
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 Eis desk, iuclosed BIZ thin
wooden sheathing, are some tin speaking
tubes that run from an upper story of
the building 10 q 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
curious qucrulous 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. = pleasant
word never ascends or descends. Ali 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
" peaceable incIinations has TO sit and
hear it all.
Unfortunately his is somewhat sensi-
tive and sympathetic nature. It is i'm
possible Tor 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 the reply that comes up grieves
him, and he thinks that tho upper floor
has been assaulted with unpardonable vi
OF warlike expressions in angry tones
made more angry to the ear by the
cracked speaking tubes-and the man Of
peace groans and signs for the quiet of a
lodge in some vast wilderness. He has
heard these savage exchanges SO long
and so continually that his conception
as 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 the feud shows no signs of abate-
ment. It's effect on the helpless man of
peace is deplorable. He feels constantly
as if he were q party to a never ending
quarrel. He goes out to his luncheon
feeling like man who has just been en-
gagged in riot, and he does not enjoy
his food. He scolds his most obliging
waiter without cause and gives him an
increased tip by way OF apology. When
be goes home, he kisses his wife and chill
dren in perfunctory way and is irrita-
BILE at the dinner table. His wife says
sadly, My dear, you are working too |
hard" He is not working too hard, but |
be is ashamed to tell what ais him, for |
be 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 |
YOrl; SIM