Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1912-11-22

u source VI pnySlCdl INJURY, mas peeH
augmented by the intolerable screech-
ing of the battallons of automobiles
which now fly over the country in all
directons and this increase of noise
comes at the very instant when men,
women and children are beginning to
live out of doors and to gather up the
manifold resources of the out of-door
life. Now, when the closed window has
become an anchorism and in health and
disease alike the open window is one of
the most efficient forms of remedy, the
ears of the sleeper and the sufferer are
assailed by hideous noises, for which
there might be some justification if they
were necessary, but which are for the
most part entirely unnecessary.
Conditions favorable to rest and sleep
are fundamental rights of individuals
everywhere, if there are any funda-
mental rights. They have a direct re-
lation to sanity, happiness, and life, as
physicians have been proclaiming for
years past and health boards are begin
ming to recognize.
Every great city sounds its own note.
In Paris that note is staccato; the crack
of the whip is the keynote of mighty
volume of sounds, which seems to break
and distribute itself in high notes which
tear the ear. London, on the other
hand, has its own characteristic central
roar" "a vast volume of sounds, which
has something of the mass of great
wave. In Naples, if one happens to be
above the city, there are many sounds,
but they are all human; the voices of
men, women and children singing in the
narrow streets, or in the far-carrying
Italian voice in talk. One is interested
because the sounds are social; in the
other great cities the sounds are un-
social. New York is no noisier than
many of the Old World cities.
At the moment, the roar of the trolley
car is perhaps unavoidable, although
even that ought to be remedied in time,
and the rumble of many trucks must be
endured for season; but the movement
of the automobile is practically noise
less; and the use of its horn. often
neglected where it is imperatively
needed, is frequently used in pure vim
dictiveness. People have endured these
sounds because they have supposed that
they were inevitable; but as matter
Of fo0 fNf dol
Berlin, for example is not only a
great city in terms of population, but it
is also great city in terms of manafac-
ture and business. 1t has become one
of the most active cities in the modern
world; but the ears of the residents of
Berlin never hear steam whistle, a
huxter's cry, the rattle of wagons, OF
the shrek of locomotive. Indeed, sc
advanced is the civilization of Berlin
that piano-playing is not permitted be.
fore certain hour in the morning non
after a certain hour at night. What
has been done in Berlin can be done ir
Boston, New York, and Chicago, anC
must be done before many years, il
these cities are to consider themselves
civilized; for the measure of civilization
according to high authority, is the re
spect paid to women and the minmiz
ing of noise.
When we pass beyond the semi-bar
barrie stage of municipal government
and realize how unscientific and unin
telligent the government of many O.
our great cities still is because they ar,
conducted along political and not along
human lines; when we understand tina
city is great home and not merely ;
political entity, we shall have city gov
ernments which will make the health
comfort, and happiness of the peopl
objects of prime interest.
Mr. Edward S. Morse's recent ad
dress on "The Suppression of Unneces
sary Noise" ought to have Nationa
circulation. Mr.. Morse has more thai
once appeared as teacher of civiliza
ton. What he had to say, for instance
about japanese manners had bearing
on this country even more lmportan
than the influence of japanese art. Mr.
, Morse points out the fact that the fac
tory whistle, which great many peopl
suppose is necessary evil-a nuisanc
which must be tolerated because it is es
sential in calling together great mum
bers of workingmen-is really a useles
nuisance; the signal for beginning worl
is not the whistle on the roof, but tn
starting of the engine. Many of tn
largest factories in the country use n
whistle or signal of any kind. The arm
of five million railway employees is no
summoned by air-piercing sounds. The
come to their work by the clock. An
that intolerabe development of say
agery of modern machinery, the siren
, has no justification whatever. If it
necessary to make loud nOise-and tn