The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-05-21
SOUNDS HEARD
IN A RURAL DAY.
The Commotion Created by Noises
Familiar to All City DweIIerS.
HAVE NO NEED FOR TELEPHONES
The Human Voice Unaidcd Sufficos
for All Purposes-The Music ofthe
Dinner Horn-Night freights
Diapason-House Sounds.
HAVE NO NEED FOR TELEPHONES

MONTTVALE. VA. May 1s-special.-
Did you ever listen, searching seriously
for the sounds thai are 70 be heard IN
a rural day2 In a city one rarely seeks
to hear any sound. except It be the door,
or Office bell. the human voice in call or
comand. the telephone. or strcet-car sig
nal a far up the avenue late AT nlsht.
But in the COUNTRY ears are important
While in the city we try 20 be oeat 10
noises. lest our nerves go crazy; in the
country We try 10 hear for comfort, Tor
amusement.
THB COUNTRY DOOR-BELh
In the country farmhouse , the rare
sound OF the door-bell is a mighty sensa-
ton. IL startles everybody. All cry with
what's that2" The dogs reply nrst,sprlng-
ing I'D from their nap, on the back porch.
The cat. with q whisk and "a rush, clears
a way through the drowsy room IN fun
retreat. Hens cackle, turkeys gobble, and
generally speaking, the door-bell tocsin
arouses the household with a. species OF
alarm.
WE ALL KNOW TT.
The dinner horn is one OF the most Inn
portant factors IN bucOlic life. Can you
not hear il. reader, oachoing adown your
memory, at least2 When hoe or scythe
was beginning 10 be twice as heavy as
in the fresh morning. When the supply
Of molasses. vinegar, and aqua pura from
a deep well. was quite empty, then the
longdrawn melody of the winding dinner
horn; was there ever sweeter music!
NO TELEPHONE NEEDED.
On the farm. we yen across fields and
yards for signals. No telephones for
neighbors. but instead the sweet music
of the high-lifted, human voice. We call
10 our servants. We order the horses by
a shout TO the stable. The high calling
Good morning" of the passing neighbor
from the highway, the cooks piping treble
10 the boy at the wOod-pile. Bring In
dem chips, you lazy niggerl' the cow
boys shout TO the herd at the
bars. the plOwman's Gee hOl'
TIE bay Of dogs far off. from diff
ferent quarter. all faint and far; the howl,
the bark, the long-drawn bay. all pleasing
cadences-you will wonder what the moon
said 20 them. which they were trying 10
answer. Then We notice the echo Of
blows-a farmer mending his gate. may
be.
THE NIGHT FREIGHT.
Did YOU ever listen 10 the long, low
rumbling Of the night freight train?
There BIS no smile for II: it Is the one
unique. rural sound of this inventive age
The winds have whistled for centuries.
Thunder is old on the ear Of But
the deep diapason Of a heavy train Of
cars. now heard. now dying into faint
traces; now suddenly lost. now as sud
denly bursting upon you again; now
tossed about by cratic breeZes til you
cannot FIX 1t east or west-this sound. I
say. a sub-bass. with the accompaniment
OF tho occasional air I'm the note OF the
whistle. is something Mozart or Bee
thoven never heard.
LABOR'S REWARD.
Everybody has heard the night hawk
and the owl. The bird sounds OF the
country are familiar topics. I suggest the
sound that a stable full OF horses make.
munching their grain. Did YOU ever hear
It? II IS very agreeable. A sound Of ami
ma comfort. Of well-deserved reward OF
plenty; yes, a rich sound. Stand and
listen 70 the grinding Of oats and hay
man should cat silently: he Is forbidden
to allow his food 10 appeal TO moro than
one sense. But your horse gratihes both
taste and hearing as he eats. Daisy
there now; she pauses az intervals lust TO
hear Maud. her mate. I'm the next stall.
Shrewd Daisy. BY that trick sho gets
a little benefit out OF her neighbours rack.
she tastes her own and hears her mate
taste hers. What else does she pause
FOR? o she goes at II again. Now they
are all at 1.-THE four horses. grind grind.
II IS n Of the most curious sounds: I
Ike to hear Il.
HOUSE SOUNDS.
After the country household has gone
10 bed. not a human sound 70 be heard.
but the sounds OF the house after 10
O'Clock AZ night are in explicabie. 1 have
listened 10 them till / began 20 have
too many nerves active for good sleep
and l was forced 10 laugh of the weird
effect.