In days before Television and Radio News, towns used to employ a Town Crier to patrol the streets at night and cry out in a loud voice the time and the status of the streets: "One O'clock, and all's well." His reassuring cry and the time must have helped the citizens rest.
I wonder what he called when all was NOT well? Perhaps, "Two O'clock. Storm brewing, creek rising."
At the old folks home we have replaced the town crier with lighted digital clocks to tell us the time and a care giver who peers in at us to make sure all is well.
My grandparents had a cuckoo clock to chirp the time hourly, and I have a talking watch that states the hours: "Beep. It is three o'clock, A.M."
Usually I sleep right through the announcments, and I suppose folks slept right through the shouts of the town crier.
I wonder why these customs prevail, even in this modern day.
3 comments:
Time is just a reminder of things you need to do....I think it would be so nice not to have to worry about it! lol
love ya,
carlene
If I wore a watch that beeped the time I would never get any sleep. My grandparents used to have one of those old grandfather or 8 day clocks that struck the hour and half hour. You wound it up every eight days. It sure was a pretty thing. Helen
Sometimes, I think it would be nice to have someone look in on me. "Please, would you bring me a bottle of water?" I would have to ask at 3:00. That is usually when I'm up drinking water!
Jackie
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