The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-01-01

can Snore upon the HlnL Wnen
rusty sloth
"Finus the down-pillow hard"
Shakespeare-Cymb
Hes an honest fellow-listen to
him snore," is thought that is apt
10 be mingled with even the deepest
sense of outrage when one is kept
awake by his neighbours rest. But just
why your Jealous worker, after labor
ING through the day--and at his meals
should also continue his labor when
gentle sleep comes to end his bodily
activities with Inconsistencies, has
been for me a long and thoughtful
mystery.
You may see and hear him almost
everywhere, this honest Snorer, in all
walks and conditions OF life. but per-
haps the most fertile field of observa-
ton is In the smoker of any ole of
the night trains Here you get human
nature in rough naivete. There lies
your working snorer in sweet oblivion.
IT is wonderful how he keeps his bal
ance on his seat. He seems somehow
to hang to it by the nape of his neck
and the small of his back and the
round crook CT his shoe ankle. He lies
twisted into curious cOntortionS that
look as though they would dislocate
every bone in his body. And yet ne
sleeps-and shores. The atmosphere OF
the car reeks with heavy smoke and
smells. Heat waves come from the
stove laden with the mingled scent of
tobacco spittle and peanut hulls. The
train lurches around curves and stops
abruptly at small stations with heave
and a grind that threatens to diSlodge
even the wakeful from their seats.
Convivial passengers pass around the
black bottle and make witful Sallies
that, bring forth roarS of laughter and
are. in themselves. strong enough to
wake the dead. The doors bang with
the nervous tribe that goes from car
to car. trainmen and occasional pas
sengers enter followed by gusts of cold
air which sweep through the ranks
of huddled passengers like chilled wa
ter from a hose. Brakemen stumble
down the aisleS flashing cleans from
their bull's-eye lanterns in the face CT
the sleeper. The conductor for the
tenth time pokes him in the ribs with
magnificent disregard for the flaming
in his hat band. Yet still the sleeper
Sieeps-and works. His breast heaves
with the labor. His face is distorted.
His body writheS now and again with
what would seem to be the agony of
red dreams of horror. One expects
every moment to hear the waking
shrek of nightmare. Yet ever there
intervals, now up. now down, creS-
ceEdo, diminunendo, expiring at times
in whistle. again with a gruff and
ratified snort, again Snorled out with
the very passion of ultimate effort. 1,
is pervaSive. assertive, unconQuerabla
by any other sound. 1t is impossi-
BILE to think of aught else in its pres
ence. 1t is monopoly and egotfSm pre-
cipitated into their basic salts. And il
is respected by the passengers. They
make illusions to its personality. ore
to another: they try to ease its inSs-
tence by merry comment: they get UP
and walk about to forget their pain:
they groan in fact and in spirit. but
they do not think of disturbing the
sleeper. Grandly he SnortS along. Dis
lance is nothing to him. Time a blank.
Troubles and WEAKNESS and pain mere
blurS upon the cloudy curtain of his
dreams And his fellows whose impa-y
ticnce grateS or every click of the ties
beneath the wheels. who would pay
good money for a five minutes rest.
respect and tolerate a slumber which
snorts al insolent superiority with
every breath!
Whether as suggested in the Shakes
pearfan lines IT is the implied honesty
and toll that the Snore suggests which
procureS the immunity; whether from
this sense of reward of merit and of
work which the snore seems to say has
come tn its master, flows sympathy
on the part of the public that will not
permit it TO interrupt the concert is
problematiCal. 1t almost seems as
though there were kind of mystic
fellowship of those who snore includ-
ing all men in its fraternity. This the
DRY, however. will vanish at q dues-
ton. For evidently there are few snor-
ers. Ask any ten men their nightly
practice and nine will tell
YOU that they sleep as soft
~ as the falling snow, as
quietly as the rain of ballots on cleo
ton day. Is the Society secret ono
like those most dread and complex
brotherhoods to tell the name of
which is. death PA Orr and more likely
near the truth, is the failing-or az.
complishment-one of those common
practices of men which it is rude to
mention and disgraceful to admit in
polite society? Is it that the trumpeter
of sleep is undisturbed by virtue of
sporting honor which recognizes the
right to the field of him who has first
pre-empted 1t. and bears with Spartan