Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-20
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES f. TRACEWELL.

I The New York cliff dwellers, while
| they may be free from street noises,
! perhaps are annoyed just as much by
| loud speakers as the veriest surface
dweller. and no doubt when the folk
next door Flip party" 1t sounds just
as rowdy as 1t does here below.
The whole trend of modern life Is to
stay UP later and later. With the
diffusion of wealth-at least comfort
able ircumstances--and the filtration
of more time and leisure down through
the so-called working classes, the ten
dency toward noise Is more marked.
Surplus energy which used to be con-
sumed in work Is now put forth in max
ing the welkin ring. 1t seems that
many persons have perverted idea of a
home as a place where they can do as
they please" The funny thing is that
their idea of doing what they please is
usually to make lot Of noise.
Is this an attempt to get clear from
the handwriting upon the wall for all
mankind? Is this a preposterous ges-
ture in the face of the Almighty? Is
not this what the righteous man Of old
meant when he said, THE fool hath
said In his heart. Eat, drink and be
merry, for tomorrow we die?
They cannot scare death and sickness
away by any such clamor, but surely
bring both the nearer by their actions
The laws of health are immutable.
There are many factors, 1t Is true, so
that one with a treasure of energy may
abuse it constantly-until the turning
point.
Conglomerate noise must be the price
one paws for city living, yet the noise
need not be so conglomerate. nor the
conglomeration so noisy, many OF us
believe.
There are certain conditions which
might be ameloriated by a Board of
Quiet appointed by Congress to study
the whole proposition of city noise.
Surely less profitable committees have
been appointed.
Mankind need not remain helplessly
at the mercy of conditions which 1t has
created out of the very elements which
make it happy. And let 1t be remem-
bered that where there are only few
to kick" against these wrong uses to-
day there will be hundreds to protest
tomorrow.
The noise reformer will meet opposi-
ton, as all reformers do. prohibition
of noise might lead to bootlegging of
drums, musical lllSlIuIHclilS, dlu CfCLi
laughter. Such course would be
Stunned by the wise noise reformers.
He might even go to the extent OF
carrying on his propaganda noiseleSsly.
thus exemplifying In himself and his
work the very virtue which he hopes to
establish again on the earth.
He might subtly innoculate the popu-
lace with apt quotations upon the hap
piness of Quiet and Sleep. immortal
twins. Above all, he should begin Dor
ing from within" to make quiet FASH
ionable.
Once let quiet become smart" then
the end were attained! Think how sun
burn has become exceedingly chic. !"
how healthy tan has become widespread.
For years certain European enthusiasts
whom the medical profession termed
empires and the general populace
"cranks' had been trying to induce the
world to take to sunshine because 1t was
good for them. Now the world takes
sun baths" because 1t is 1.-The thing TO
do.
1t should not be necessary for one to
live SIS stories or more above the ground
to get a little peace and quiet. The
thing can be achieved on earth If every
one will play squa~> with his neighbor.