The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1917-10-25
Modern Serenaders
By Frederick J. Haskin

ment, first floor, was entertaining a
little party with a spirited rendition of
"a Tear, Kiss, Smile" keeping up
the while a sprightlv line OF small
talk over his left shoulder. There was
also present young lady with So
praro voice, who now and again burst
impulsiveiy into song.
The man in the fiat overhead, who
had to get up at 6, stood 1t as long as
he could, and then stuck his head out
the window and roared Cut it Quit"
The timid chap in the fiat across the
court needed only this encouragement
to express his own feelings, and prompt
ly chimed in on the protest Still the
musical one bravely stood his ground,
but when third voice joined the in
surgents he reluctantly quit and organic
ed a game of auction bridge. The
Athabascan apartments settled at last
to rest. But not for long. At Ia M,
q hurdy- gurdy or street piano took up
its position under the window of the
musical young man and bro Ight a
poetic retribution upon his nerves.
There was nothing poetic about it ex-
cept the retribution, either. And the
Corsican bandit stuck to his post until
he got the nlckle of blackmail for which
he was working.
This sort of thing, occurring in many
places every night, has led some
thoughtful ones to reflect upon the
blessings of music and how they might
be curtailed.
Scientists say that dust and noise are
the cause of a large part of modern
sickness, and since dust sffiicts chiefly
those in certain industries, a large share
of American ill-health, and especially
of the famous American nervousness.
is due to noise. And beyond a doubt
among the leading noises are those
made by amateur musicians and me-
chanical musical instruments. Why
their restriction has not been more
widely and seriously considered, why 1t
has been left in private hands instead
of being made the subject of municipal
law, as it should be, are questions diff
ficult to answer.
| No doubt one reason hes in the fact
| that music, however much suffering it
may cause, is also the bringer of much
/ JOY. Another reason is doubtless that
the making and selling of musical in
struments is powerful industry, and
powerful industries have great in
/ tiuence. But the music nuisance is
reaching point where it should be
mitigated, or it will produce reaction.
There is no longer room in our crowded,
nervous civilization for the unrestrict-
ed and unmerciful use of musical in
struments. 1t is to the interest of the
music industry to see that music Is
kept in its proper place.
Among the many necessities of life
which in recent years have climbed be-
yond the reach of the majority, quiet
occupies san important place. The
high price Of silence has not received
the attention it deserves. In a recent
study OF street noises, 1t was reported
that the poor were the greatest suf-
ferers, and the street piano was es-
pec!ally condemned. But the poor are
/ by no means the only or the chief sui
/ ferers. There is not an apartment
dweller who does not suffer from lost
sleep and ruined temper at least once
in while. Many have to regulate their
whole lives in accordance with the
noises that besiege their rest. 1t is
only the family which can afford de-
tached home with a big yard that
achieves assured repose.
The experience may be taken as typi-
cal of young man whose modest am
bltion it was to retire at 10 and rise at
$50 IN order to do some mental work in
the cool of the morning. He first tried
a room in Young Mems Christian AS
ISOLATION. About the third night he lay
down to the combined accomplishments
of an association band practicing on the
floor below. mandolin club on the
same floor, and piano in the next
room. All of these noises continued
until after II. In an apartment house
the young man Jared no better. He Is
now advertising for board on a farm.
Numerous plans, societies and NUM-
cipal laws for the abatement of noises
have sprung up within the last few
years, but none of them have dealt
specifically with music, and most of
them seem to have deliberately evaded
that most important phase of the sub
iect.
Thus Baltimore gained fame by hir-
ing noise cop" who went about
wringing the necks of Growing ROSTERS,
shutting up newsboys, making note of
flat-wheeled cars. He compiled a list
of municipal noises that ought to be
stopped. Among them are noted
'screechy monographs" and tune
| L., UJI,-