Miscellaneous Papers. 239 



located in the most densely populated portions of the city; in either 

 case, noise may be the disturbing factor. The sick must seek seclu- 

 sion, and quiet should be their environment. Every intelligent 

 physician is cognizant of the fact that quiet is essential in the 

 sick-room. He fully understands that noise has been the baneful 

 influence — the destructive factor — many times hindering his efforts 

 to cure. 



We are a reckless people in the production of unnecessary noise. 

 Not satisfied with what can be accomplished during the day, this 

 disturbance is kept up long into the night, in many cases during 

 the entire sleeping hours. Night is frequently made hideous with 

 drunken brawls, whistles of locomotive-engines, street-car whistles 

 or bells, laying of railway -tracks, the paving of streets, etc. In 

 many instances this work is necessary only for the advantage and 

 profit of mercenary corporations, and yet the authorities have no 

 power, and, should they possess it, they will not make an effort to 

 repress the evil. Being a freedom-loving people, we submit to this 

 tyrannical master who knows no race nor condition ; the monotonous 

 grinding goes on; one or a comparatively few are benefited, while 

 a thousand are tortured and outraged by this bedlam. It is claimed 

 that ten per cent, of the people go to church ; then why annoy the 

 other ninety per cent, with the sound of bells which are rung only 

 for notification ? Has the ninety per cent, no rights that should 

 be respected ? Have not the sick rights that should be recognized ? 

 The milkman, the cartman, the pedler, the hawker, the ragman, 

 and, last bat not least, the girl who splits her throat warbling, all 

 bawl and howl with such a degree of hideousness that they can be 

 heard from one to several blocks away. Do you wonder that the 

 nervous system is broken and the individual driven to desperation 

 or self-destruction ? We are a fast people, living in a fast age, 

 rushing forward in mad frenzy toward dissolution or a premature 

 old age. 



Noises should be classified as necessary, partially necessary, and 

 totally superfluous. If considered upon the plan of exclusion of the 

 latter, we would get rid of at least seventy-five per cent, of all noises. 

 This work is in harmony with an advanced public welfare, and we 

 should have an organization to be known as "The Association for 

 the Public Good," the duty of which is to see that all loafling 

 rowdies, howlers, whistle-blowers, bell-ringers and song- warblers be 

 hushed. 



The block, cobblestone and brick pavements are noise produc- 

 ers; also a prolific source for the culture of filth and disease germs; 



