The Washington herald., 1910-07-03
MR.. FLATDwELLER'S PLIGHT.
In Summer He Wants Fail TO Come
and in Fall Spring-Has a Reason.

from the New York sun.
I'm summer, when the windows are all
OPEN" said Mr.. FIatdweller. we hear
| that constant chaos Of sound that comes
from the countless congIomeration of
musical instruments by which in in
Terable other flats we are surround
ed. and then we sigh and say, Wei. fall
will come In time. when the windows Will
be closed. when this vast discord. this
mighty din. will be shut out. when we
shall get relief But do we get relief
do we? The windows are closed now and
the sound OF the summer roar is shut
cut but what do We get within?
All! 1t is from the frying pan into
the fire. Sounds originating in our own
building that before were diffused some
what, thrown out through the open win
dows. are now concentrated and retained
within the buildings walls.
Piano in the fiat over us. piano in the
fiat under us, piano in the fiat TO the
right OF US. piano IN the fat to the left
OF US. and you know the thickness
mean the thlnness-of nat ceilings, floors.
and walls. When the people overhead or
beneath US or on either side strike w
now. the assault Is practically direct and
when they all strike I'D together. as often
they do, it is impossible 10 dodge the
blows. They are not now merged as they
are in summer. but they come at us now
with right and left hooks and fierce tabs
on the ear and solar plexus that with
the windows shut, can't be escaped or
avoided.
Right and left. above and below.
through ceilings and floors and walls.
these bludgeons Of sound assail us until
in seif-defense we set up an uproar Of
our own with which. in some measure
10 counter, but II we let I'D for a mo
ment. bang! comes the piano from over
head and bang the piano from below
and bang! the piano from one side and
bang! the plano from the other. and
there Is no relief till bedtime comes and
there may be none then If by chance
some one Of our neighbOrs is having a
party.
The only escape now IS by day in the
street and where work; through the day
have peace or freedom at least from
the pounding pianos and I am apt TO for
get, but I am reminded with a shocJ,
when on my return home I open the
ground floor door of my dwelling place
at night, and then on floor after floor as
/ ascend TO my own l hear the pianos
going: pianissimo, fortissimo tinpanno:
andante. allegro, allegretto; crescendo
diminuendo, but not very much OF that
last
I hear those pianos going on every
floor as climb the stairs. and then when
get into by own apartment I hear them
as before, above and below and on both
sides. all around and with walls and
floors for sounding boards, all pounding
and pounding and pounding and pound
ing as before. with blows coming at You
fierce and strong, with blows that you
can't dodge or avoid.
And 10 think that we are doomed to
this till next spring.
We are never content: we always
think that things would be better If they
were different In summer 1 wanted far
10 come, when the windows would be
closed. but now want spring to come.
when the windows will be open. What
want now is TO exchange tins closed in. |
acute uproar OF winter for open win. |
dowed summers harmonious din"