New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-03

"a the editor about an idea for making met
yopolitan life easier"
as be nut, boy?"
sAr, an aIienist?" countered the youth, in
.Aose cupped palm glowed the burning end
:, furtive cigarette in violation of the rules
!, copduct for the Office boys. Then:
sshau I open the gate?" With that he
started off, obviating the necessity Of making
decision--and making decisions is more
,.neful to the system than going without
vabber heels. In a minute the boy returned,
..llowed by white-mustached old man whose
.et weighted with overshoes, were lifted
hsh. as though at each step he was drawing
them out of thick, pulling mud. The caller
held his broken derby hat in his right hand
and over his heart in the attitude of civilian
ssluting the colors. There was dull green
tone In the faded fabric Of his ancient frock
eoet and his trousers were SO voluminous that
they conveyed a curious illusion that he was
uesriue q skirt. About his neck there was
wound several yards Of ocher-colored mufAer
frineed with purple.
BE began to clear his throat when he was
far from the desk. and when he arrived there
no remained standing, but with his light blue
ewes cleaning hopefully from beneath tan
gle of bushy white eyebrows. When invited
to seat himself he expressed his thanks ef-
fusively and then carefully pulled up his
trousers to protect a crease that existed only
in the old mans memory.
4Haye you any idea as to the extent Of in
sanity caused in great cities just by noise?"
be began. EFT Is frightful"
he fumbled in the pockets of his coat and
presently brought to light half smoked cigar
and match. There was no embarrassment in
bis manner as he lighted it. His eyes gilt
tered with the enthusiasts of an inspired
artist. He seemed no longer conscious Of his
auditor.
my idea," he resumed, ais to harness all
the noise of the city and convert 1t into melody,
agreat metropolitan symphony. Boston would
have its distinctive theme; Chicago another,
and New York the grandest Of all. This could
be applied to factories, too, so that manu-
facturer Of cheap watches or Of boilers would
have his plant equipped with instruments for
converting the hideous noises Of industry into
harmonious sound that would be as soothing
as cathedral pipe organ The one drawback
of course, there is drawbacks that the
commercial instinct might force striving to
have the factories tuned UP in fashion that
would drive the workers to increased effort.
You know how Dixie and Turkey in the
Straw stir folks, even the most lethargic.
u have not patented the idea. keep the
plans here" and the old man tapped his fore
head impressl 7ely, "where they can't be stolen
by some one whose sole motive in developing
them would be personal gain. In my case all
ask is recognition-recognitio and one or
two other small concessions from q busy
world"
Putting vigorously on the cigar stump for
moment, he resumed:
Perhaps you will say this is impractical.
That is prec Jelly what was said to Fulton, to
Franklin, to Stevenson, to Edison. Probably
It was said to Henry Ford. Let me continue.
There Is the subway; it's roar is sufficient to
cause something akin to shell shock to tho
nervous system of sensitive person. would
Begin with the subway. / would translate the
roar and screech of the underground trains
into music that would change the course OK
this nations history.
I'm tae morning when the workers are
bound downtown to Office and factories their
ears would not be distressed by grinding
roar, robbing them of self control. No, in
deed. They should hear strange and Easel
mating melody that would haunt their day
with sweetness, keeping their brains and
myers happily active.
- the evening rush hour single lever
raised or depressed would alter the theme Of
WE music SO that the peak lead crowds would
submit without complaint to having their feet
. 1amped upon, their ribs elbowed, their nos
glls assailed- The wheels Of the cars, be-
Soes generating electricity to light the trains,
would also provide vibrations that would be
transformed into restful tunes.
!, ~ viii be difficult to get the subway
uSiohs TO see this-you see, have few IL
lusons left-for they are quite incapable Of
'se'ng anything bat the bottom of column
s ngures. Just see how this glorious idea
,ss escaped truly practical application in
.ae broadway subway Of the Brooklyn Rapid