MY HAPPY INVALID

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 4, 12 August 1927, Page 6

MY HAPPY INVALID

(By

Verity

Inu an upstairs room, lying on his back month in, month ont, is a sick man I know, Until the other day, he nsed to lie for hours in tragic boredom watching a belated, stupefiied fly stagger aimlessly across the ceiling, or staring at the pattern on the walipaper, wondering fretfully why that bird with an open beak didn’t have the sense to shut it, If only that blinking bird, repeated at least sixtv times on the same old bough, would have the sense to shut it’s blessed beak, or close it’s beady: eye! | Visitors are few and far between now -he had been lying there so long-, reading makes his eyes ache, and it’s

UDEEEETOPRSESUSUUREAUEDEGQUASUOSEUETSAE QUETEPODLESUDCOSEEREDSHASOESUETAS ENED SH ETHER so titing to hold a. book directly over { one’s face, So until the other day he had nothing to do between doses ot inedicine znd the doctor’s visits, except listen to the sounds in the house-a door banging (oh, curse that banging door!), the woman sweeping the stairs (what a devil of a time she takes over that flight of threadbare stair carpet!), and the occasional ringing of the door bell. Not much fun lying there with a nagging pain from a jumping nerve. Lown below in the street is a yague hum of active life-Incky people are walkin about, taxi-cabs and buses are taking pe plc to theatres, pictnres, and ‘pleasant places. Not much interest or | fe in a sick man’s room alone with lus theugt.ts, which are daily growin more dromud-until one day a miracle happened 34 was this miracle of wireless which he hace scorned so much be fore. Fate had dealt him her terrible blew. Jt was his wife who had it installed, despite his fretful protests. ... Now for hours at a time he forgets that jumping pain. He ignores that stupid fiy, and that silly bird watching him with its bead, eye all day. He doesn’t eroai every time the church clock strikes another quarter, because it seems like an hour sinee the last chime. He has something wonderful to look forne

ward to! 2YA calling, all the odds and ends of the news of the day, and an evening’s entertainment. Some of those lectures and talks. are good in a sick man’s room. They take his thoughts away-away. He ponders over the problems discussed. And all that music makes the time pass like winking. Some of those entertainers are such cheery fellows, too!-as though there were no such things as ill-health in the world, and yes some of then sometimes must have the toothache and feel a bit chippy. Not a bad lesson in its way to a man who grouses overmuclhi. _ Anyhow, life has come into a sick man’s room. ‘The world of adventure and art, and music, and business, and hustle comes surging inte his ears, and he takes part again, and his. tortured soul is comforted. ‘There are slips on the line, rough weather crossing tonight, Better in bed, perhaps! What a dreadful fire that was. China seems to be in a rotten state.. Pity *Varsitv didn’t win that match. . What, time alreadv for that last dose of medicine? Through the microphone voices speak to the sick men and womett of this world in home and hospital, helping them to pnt their sufferings aside for a few hours, and lifting them out of their weary hodies.

HE SEAUADIGDUNCOEDETASNESECOPRANODUBERLSCSREASSURUISUEL SUDHA ELELSELE SUS NUES IEF Eege That’s a cheery fellow who says the last "Good night,’? as though he meant it for each and all of them So there, now, is my happy: invalid. I see him sometimes. He is a changed man. And all due to wireless, ,... All our big hospitals are seeking to extend a wireless service to their patients. What a boon that will be!