The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-11-03

A masculine contemporary Of mine
has expressed the editorial wish that
some one would write a good essay on
the psychology OF noises.
It In rather surprising with all the
psychological articles we have been
finding in our magazines lately that
none of the literary psychologists have
enlightened US ON this interesting SUBJ
ject.
Every one has noticed the Irritating
disturbing quality Of some noises, and
the comparatively inoffenslve character
Of others.
toned to seldom distracts or disturbs
US no matter how loud it is. Indeed
its cessation IL more apt to attract at
tention. I believe I have already told
the story in these columns of the light
house keeper In whose bedroom bell
connected with the light sounded every
half minute. asked him how he could
sleep in that din, and he answered that
the only thing which would disturb him
would be to have that bell stop sound
ing. That would wake him from the
soundest sleep.
On the other hand, an unaccu stoned
noise, no matter how light, will often
pierce the thickest armor OF concentra-
ton or even arouse man from heavy
sleep.
Noises which occur at regular inter-
walls are easier to endure. think. than
a noise that keeps one guessing with
it irregularity.
The slamming of a blind or the rat
tie Of a door is trying even to compar-
atively steady nerves. One gets to lis
tening and waiting for it. II it hap
silence during which one might fall
asleep, is usually consumed by wonder
ing just when that blind IL going to
slam again. I'm sure that the univer-
sal appeal Of the story Of the nervous
man who waited all night for the oc-
cupant of the room overhead to throw
down his other shoe. has its founda-
ton on the universal suffering from
such irregular noises as slamming
blinds or rafting doors.
A noise which I do not understand is
peculiarly irritating to me. One sum-
mer lived near a fort where there was
frequent target practice. Naturally it
was difficult to concentrate when every
few minutes the air was torn into
shreds by loud explosions. Neverthe-
less eventually became sufficiently
accustomed to the noise to practically
ignore IL. Then one afternoon a Pc
culiar muffled roar knocked at the side
doors of my brain. and concentration
Ned. I didn't know what it was and I
never found out, and every time
heard it I would become incapable of
concentration ON my work. And yet
that sound wasn't one-tenth as loud as
the target practice at the fort. SINH
larly. I can endure a most atrocious
hurdy-gurdy SO long as 1t does not play
some tune which can almost but not
quite place.
A friend Of mine complains that any
odor which she cannot place has the
same disturbing effect. No matter how
busy she is the slightest whiff of an
unaccustomed or indefinable odor will It
once call her mind from her task.
Whereas the air might be sitting with
some familiar odor without disturbing
her.
The sub-conscious mind and it's re-
lations to the impressions conveyed
through our Eve channels of inter-
course with the outer world is really a
fascinating subject. isn't it? Please
allow its fascination to be an amateur
psychologists apology for daring to
dabble in 1t.