The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-17
"A NEIGHBORs PHONOGRAPH.
Reflections Aroused by His Apparent
Preference for 0 Doc Fight Record.


Preference for Dog Fisht Record.
To THE Epiron OF THE suN--sir: Adj
Joining my place In the country ID q family
which has lately acquired phonosraph. IL
seems TO be large specimen Of that wonder
ful invention, for when II Ia set Ii motion IL
makes loud noise. all the more resoundins
because otherwise the country In my neigh
borhood is as stlll az II II was an Adirondack
region. though II IL only about twenty miles
from New York BY the way, my neighbor
always operates his phonosraph Ia the open
air.
Tho mere din the machine makes. how
ever. IL not matter Of which would speak
80 much a. che sort Of noise which the taste
OF the family seems to prefer TO act from u.
Generally this IL cheap and vile concert hall
music. made the more distressing because OF
the metallic sound given TO " by the ma
chine. Hearing II has the compensation Tor
me that II tends 10 induce q philosophic mood.
is II possible. lrehsct. TO listen to such music
without debasement. moral and intellectually
Docs not tasts for II. as preference. indicate
lamentable moral depreesion7 May II not
be taken a. ono OF the symptoms Of the race
deterioration Of which THA Sun has written
recently
The most remarkable suggestion Of that
sort, however, appears in what seems to be
the favorite rendering Of the machine for this
family. Half dozen. . dozen times day
dog fight In its most realistic form 10 per-
formed. apparently to the unalloyed delight
Of my neighbors. A hoarse voiced tough
announces the terms Of the fight In tones only
possessed by the variety Of mankind Of which
he 10 a representative. Stop that dog.
pleased" he calls out again and again. a. his
eloauence IL interrupted by the barking and
yelpins OF the dogs. and the crowd he 10 adj
dressing yells in impatlence for the fight to
begin. At last the fight Is on. and II You were
actually assisting at 1t. in defiance OF the
Penal Code, you could hardly get . more
realizing sense Of the elevating amusement.
The phonogra tells the whole story.
II the dog fight was actually taking place
on the lawn and the refuse Of humanity had
gathered there to see 1t the proceedings would
hardly be more real than they seem In this
machine reproduction. l have never had
the privilege Of witnessing dog fight. but
report l feel as II had now subjected myself
to criminal arrest for violating the law By
sneakins into that sort Of ring.
Moreover, a. 1 have said. the reflections
which the hearing Of this performance dszen
times day arouse are somewhat depressing.
What does enjoyment OF such peformanoe
ing Of the dog nsht performancs have on the
d. ret write Of this matte, n th ss. wy ..S q
under the law to ct their phono graphs maxi
ing any noise which suits them without re.
gard TO their nelshbors. You can't. indict
q man for bad taste. You. can stop his having
q dog night on his lawn. but dog night By
phonograph seems to be within his privilege.
He cant 60 to a dog fight without inviting
interference by the police with his liberty OF
taste, but II he wants to fanniliartxe his vile
and his children with the details Of . dog
fight as interpreted by phQnohaph 1t seems
to be mere exercise Of ta9te on his part and
not criminal under the Penal Code.
The question arises, however, whether Z
committing nafrsnt offences ssalna.st . mer a.
It's metaillc tones the most offensive Ian suags
be made to teach tie vilest doctrines. the
most subversive, the most forbidden. Set
In motion II could shrek out defiance Of every
law. moral and statute. and load the air with
every filth Of which human language 10 cap
able. An anarchist photograph might
preach assassination, free love phonoRraph
contempt for the marriage laws Of civiliIa-
tion.
Such philosophlo thoughts as these are
a solace for me while my neiehbor's phono-
graph IL working at the dog fight for the de-
isotaton OF himself aud his family. Such
TeaectiSn1 serve to draw away my attention.
an unwilling listener; Now when !! get home
dog fight in their many repetltions my mind
refuses to take In all the details-the barks. the
yells and the yelps. l am up II the clouds
meditating on the curious manifestations OF
human nerverslty. CONNUTBA.
NEW YORK, Aug. 10.