Atheist and Croonophile Brothers in Misery

Radio Record, Volume VII, Issue 46, 24 May 1935, Page 50

Atheist and Croonophile Brothers in Misery

To the Editor Sir,-Are you aware that in "oaks own vountry" itself the very day of rest has become unendurable for many honest citizens? Have you ever seriously considered the lot of the farmer, the jazz (Continued Col. 1 next page.)

baby, the atheist, the croonophile, and the Plain Man Who Snows What Le Likes? ; Instead of spending’ an idyllic afternoon looking over the old family portrait album as did his forefathers, the farmer of to-day crouches beside his wircless set savagely biting his finger nails and making queer strangled noises at short inter vals, His face indicates annoyance. anger, rage, and despair in a way that would have earned his fortune in the days of the silent movies, but he scorns to take thé coward’s way out-to turn the set off, At 4.80 he staggers outside, full of tie divine harmonies of Beethoven, and kicks his favourite dog. The gay young thing who has not been to a cabaret since the previous evening finds life intolerably dull, and recklessly turns on the wireless. On hearing four bars of-a symphony she turns deathly pale, says "Oh !? with a shudder of horror, and searches feverishly through her ,ramophone records for her favourite crooner, Th: atheist, who finds the air too fui of the beating of angels’ wings, sits morosely by his silent wireless reading Ingersoll. The hearty fellow ("I do like something with a tune in it?) becomes increasingly restless under the barrage of .. Italian grand opera company, and finally mutters the inevitable statement, "Well, if that isn’t tripe, I don’t know whr is." . Now, Sir, I have tried not to exaggverate the plight of these members of the community in the hope that a sober and rational statement of their sufferings will be more likely to move the hearts of those responsible for the torture. Their letters to this journal are permeated with that spirit of sweet reasonableness which (loes so much to disarm opposing critics. They are free from dogmatism, bias, suggestions of omniscience, constructive criticism and even a rudimentary appre ciation of any form of art. They are indeed nitiful._-I am. ete.

SYMPATHISHR

Timaru.