St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1897-01-09
roo MUCH NOISE.
People Would Find 1t Easy to Have Ear
Moro Tranquil Time.


If the sufferings which have been
caused by too much noise could be der
scribed and given their due degree OF
Importance, the great masses of people
would be filled with amazement, and
noisy ones would resolve never agaiu
to indulge i'm unnecessary racket, anti
to make as little noise as possible. IND
doing necessary work. How many head
aches, congestiens of the brain and ill
nesses which have, resulted fatally hare
been caused by noise, it would take a
long time TO tell.
Exceedingly interesting statistics on
this subject might be gathered, ans
their publication would possibly have
some effect in suppressing many abuses
OF this sort That noise can be cruelty
seems never to have entered into the
thoughts of many Of the world 8 work.
ers 1t is not unusual to encounter in
city streets loads Of iron pipes, steel
rails or other metal laid loosely to-
gether, and at every jolt of the enor-t
nous truck which carries it bangs aud
clangs In the most ear-splitting fashion.
A gentleman who had for years been
subject to the most excruciating head-
aches one day by the merest accident
was brought TO realize that in most
cases his sufferings had been caused by
some unusual noise, and were more or
less severe as the cause was more'or less
extreme in character.
He mentioned the subject to number
Of his friends, and was greatly edited
by the varied opinions expressed by
them. One laughed loudly and long at
such an absurd notion.
"Why, it was simply ridiculous. He
had often noticed loads of iron, and bad
heard them now and again when he
didn't see them, and there wasn't any
thing in the idea but inag gination- just
pure fancy and nothing more"
Another insisted that it must have
been mere coincidence. 1t had just
happened so. The headache must have
been coming on, and possibly the sound
aggravated it. It was out of the question
that any sound could really have caused
any such pain as a headache. OTHERS
fell back on the effects Of the imagina-
tion, and argued that there are .excit-
able people who can work themselves up
into any condition that they have in
their minds. Especially is this the case
when the person Is annoyed or angry at
the thing in question. Unconvinced by
all of these arguments, the victim OF
noise kept on Investigating until nc
found several sufferers like himself. ard
learned that they. too, had BEEN ridi-
culed and sneered at, and been accused
Of too vivid imaginations. or working
themselves into q fever over some fan
cied abuse or annoyance.
Some years later the subject OF noise
came up In scientific discussion, when
couple of these unfortunates and
| some of their unbelieving friends were
present. It was great satisfaction to
hear some of the most noted authori-.
ties of the day declare that not only is
noise productiyeo headache, orcerebral
congestion, but insanity, softening Of
the brain, general debility and death,
the latter much more frequently than
the public would willingly believe.
Persons of good health and robust
constitutions are ordinarily quite In
different TO the effects Of sudden or un-
usual noise, save, possibly, a start or
sharp exclamation. and an apologefic5
remark in consequence, as though the
fact that they exhibited any degree Of
nervousness needed excusing.
They look upon all exhibitions OF such
q character as evidences of weakness OF
childishness, and never seem to imagine
that the possession Of q finely organized
| temperament Is something to be proud
Of, as it indicates q higher degree Of in
telligence and susceptibility, as well as
keener perceptions and more extended
capabilities.
It need not be said that the more re-
fined and intelligent people grow the
less noisy they are and the more quiet
| their tastes become. IN. Y. Ledger.
\ y : ~ r