The Washington herald., 1909-08-15
SLEEP DISTURBED
BY STREET PIANOS
Tenement House People Up
in Arms Against Them.
AFFECT BABIES AND INvALIDS
Expected Formal Complaint VIII Be
Made 90 District Commissioners,
with View OF Putting End 90 Nuis-
nnce-NOfses Kept Up Until as Late
as o O'Clock in the Evening.

Those persons who are fortunate or un-
fortunate enough to live in apartment
houses in Washington are up In arms,
many Of them. against the men who grind
alleged music out OF street pianos. The
law Of the District permits these grinders
OF street music TO stock musical ears as
late as o'clock at night
Children. II is set forth. are awakened
from their slumbers and invalids toss un-
easily on their beds while the street plano
gives forth It's tearing strains Of distorted
music
ComplaInants lay particular stress on
Mai. Sylvester's "noiseless town" edlct
and his efforts in the past to silence the
horn and bass drum OF the Salvation
Army. They wonder why some effort is
not made 20 stop the miserable noise and
bang Of the hurdy-gurdy-the street piano.
A Choice Position.
In the vicinity OF Fifteenth and L streets
northwest, where three apartment houses
are located on as many corners. the street
plano serenedes have long been regarded
as nuisances Of tho most aggravated sort.
in all probability. the tenants Of these
apartments will lay their grievances be-
fore the Commissioners. with a view OF
having the nuisance abated.
The hurdy-gurdy Of the 1903 model IS
an imposing structure-a double or triple
decker, so to speak, which is awe-in-
spring and ear-piercing- 1t is the most
formidable product ever sent out from
the musical factories. BY the same token
II has outstripped all OF its predecessors
in accommodating the coin and making
its owner prosperous.
Orchestral effects are now reproduced
with all the deadly mechanical accuracy
OF an autOmaton. Not content with the
simple tunes and melodies OF other DAYS
the modern street piano is equipped TO
play symphonies and sOnatas and polo
Aaises When the operator turns his crank
he sets drums and cymbals in fruitful
activity. not TO speak OF neat little
clarinet effects. and lute-like trimmings
All OF these are chop-sueyed together IN
the possible hope that harmony may re-
suit. and a chronic optlmist would say
that harmony quite frequently is the re-
suit
The ambitious hurdy-gurdy manufac-
tUrer may. IN the not far distant future
decide 10 emulate the brass band. and
put forth n magnificent product which
Will complete the triumph OF canned
music"
supply Is Increased.
The situation has been made worse be-
cause there are more hurdy-gurdies work
ting in the city this summer than for
several years. Consequently, competition
IS rather keen between the operators.
and the profits have gone to those with
the most imposing machines. Hence the
tendency 10 work late at night
In apartment houses the prejudice
against the street pianos has been de-
veloped, largely because they are work
ing later and later at night. In the
daytime they are often welcomed. or 1t
least accepted without protest but when
the hurdy-gurdy breaks in upon the sleep
Of residents. when il disturbs the peace
Of the night. and becomes in reality
public nuisance" f. is considered time
70 call a halt.
There is no recourse for those apart
ments where sickness prevails, or even
for hospitals. Cases OF this type have
come up recently. and emphasized the
expanding activities Of the hurdy-gurdy
owners. other large cities such as Buff
falo designate o'clock as the final
hour. for hand organs. and enforce the
law strictly