The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-02-03
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS

I have always heard that blind peo- pie were very sensitive to sound. have known cases where a blind per- son in a small village knew every passing villager by the sound of his or her tread.
 There are certain trades or callings where the ear is trained to detect sounds Nand many people have the power to never forget a voice, just as some never forget a face. while oth- CTS can walk through a woodland and distinguish the note of every warbler a-wing,
 For a few days I was confined to my bed at home and soon began to figure on the different night and day the whistles or the running of the street cars, Unless you have been wakeful and kept tab on the various sounds which smite the air, you will be surprised to know just what con- stant stream of noise is let loose be- tween sunrise an dsunset
 I do not know whether it's the Sloss furnace whistle or the Avondale mills, but every mornng at about 4 a. m. from the north there comes shrilline out a volume of sound which seems to be able to wake a tired pu6- dler out of his dreams and make him dress or snatch the mill operatives out of bed to hurry millward. I know it's a summons to some people to get up and start the days work
 Now, I do not mind confessng that I have never heen fond of early rising. bit on his days journey before I start mine. and I have always sympathized with those whose jobs demanded that they rise before the sun. I missed the chance of becoming an expert gar dener because the man who offered begin at the break of day and stead | fastly refused to make a date with me just before the sun set.
 From o'clock on there are whis- | ties too numerous te try and identify | their shrill calls only reminding us | that some of the numerous industries | have begun to ruin on the days output It is about this time that I hear the first car rounding Lakeview, and thca | my big old dominick rooster gets into action to let all the world know that 1 day is on it's way. He surely has some I voice. I must have mighty good neighbors or he would have been put out of commission long ago.
 1 One of the .noisiest and busiest 1 places around a home where big 1 flock of chicllenssis kept is the chicken yard when the sun streaks the sky in the east I know of no more soothing sound to tired nerves than to hear l the singing of bunch of hens when their combs begin to redden and they are hunting nests, unless it be the squawk of one about sundown, which means baked chicken for tomorrow i dinner
 1 I never get too sick to enjoy the crS of hounds The valley just below me which stretches up to Gate City, is thu happy hunting ground for rabbits bA day and possums by night and 1 neve1
 fail to enjoy the music of the packs I do not know why. but the yelp O
 stray dog at night shot by som' irate householder always sends colo chills through my veins, and thougl IT know the cur has been poachinS
 yet my sympathy goes ont to it.
 One of the morning noises which al
 tracts my attention is the lowin:
 of my COW begging the maid to~hurr.
 up with her breakfast and get he
 milked so that her insistent calfs CT flied. Now, do not get it into you
 head that I mean to intimate that tn
 calf is neglected. for she ain't. she
 the pet of the whole household an
 even Wolley. the dog. is jealous of tn
 attention she gets. She certainly is
 beauty.
 I know when 6:30 o'clock arrive for I can hear the crunching of tn
 flat-wheeled cars as they grind aroun
 Gentry Hillman's corner down O
 Clairmont avenue. and I know tha
 Mr. Hadley, one of the gentlemanlies
 conductors that ever ran car, is oe
 ginning his days duties-and abou
 lc:3o a. nm. the sRme sound inform me that Conductor Goodman. aftc
 long night. is pulling toward tn
 barn and then to home to get de
 served rest.
 Now. in the living room stands T
 old' grandfather's clock and in hi
 grandfatherly way takes all kinds 0
 liberties in announcing the hours. I
 spite of much doctoring at the hand l of clock doctors he has a way of reck ) oning time to suit his convenience
 with malice aforethought or with
 keen sense of humor, dignifiedl
 strikes 12 when in reality the hou only calls for six strokes. Perhaps h is prodigal of time and throws in .h ) extra ones for good measure.
 , But there is an alafm clock in tn $ house which is strictly on the job.
 never takes any liberties It is a obedient timepiece. If set to call at , particular hour. you may turn ovt