PECULIAR SOUND EFFECTS. 81 



spect. It is pretty well known that the mule does not wait to 

 turn his head to see if he has correctly located the sound, but will 

 let his heels fly first and look around afterward. The rabbit, by 

 reason of his long ears in proportion to his size, has probably the 

 most correct sense of locating sound of all animals. 



We mortals, however, not having long ears or the ability to 

 move those that we have, often make sad mistakes in our at- 

 tempts to correctly determine the source of various sounds. In 

 other words, the hearing facilities coupled with instinct in ani- 

 mals are far superior to the hearing facilities coupled even with 

 reason in human beings. 



Among human beings, however, the Indian is probably the 

 most correct in his interpretation and location of sound, whether 

 in ascertaining the presence of a foe or in search of game his 

 sense of hearing in this respect through long practice attains a 

 much higher state of perfection than that of people in various 

 commercial or professional occupations. From my observations I 

 should say that such animals as I have mentioned would come first 

 on the list as the most correct locators of sound, men next, and 

 women last. I have already shown to some extent the difficulty 

 ladies have in this respect, and by way of illustrating further will 

 relate an incident which occurred in Brooklyn some years ago, 

 which will show how easily they can be mistaken should they 

 depend upon their first impressions. Soon after the introduction 

 of that very useful invention the pneumatic door check, designed 

 to prevent doors from slamming, one was fixed on the entrance 

 door of the general post office on the inside near the top. When 

 the door closes, as every one knows, the check emits a slight 

 hissing sound, due to the air in the cylinder escaping through a 

 small hole. (Some later designs are without this feature.) This 

 hiss, which is very similar to the sound often made by boys and 

 men through their teeth in attracting attention, but considered 

 rather insulting if applied to ladies, was the cause of a good deal 

 of trouble one day. 



A lady called at the office, and no sooner had the door closed 

 behind her, when citt. Immediately fastening her flashing eyes 

 upon a clerk at the stamp window, she exclaimed : " So, you are 

 the one; I have found you at last!" and then bolted into the 

 presence of the postmaster, where she lodged a serious complaint, 

 viz., that she had been insulted by the aforesaid young man, and 

 this was not his first offense, for every time she had come into the 

 office lately " that man would go citt with his teeth." The aston- 

 ished postmaster immediately sent for the accused, who heard the 

 charge against him, but of course indignantly denied having 

 made any such sound through his teeth, never saw the lady be- 

 fore, etc., etc. Finally, after the rumpus had quieted somewhat, 



VOL. XLV. 7 



