Day Six: In which a gentleman performs ablutions best done in private

My dearest Jane —

I shan't have you thinking that I limit my observations to merely the young & silly.

This middle-aged, rather smartly dressed gentleman could have stepped from the pages of your own Sense & Sensibility. He was engrossed in his own book, utterly oblivious to the world as it swarm'd past him; he reamed his ear in search of imperfections, carefully withdrew the digit for a deep perusal of the results of his efforts, and then re-inserted said digit for another dig.

Most astonishing. And, given his range of rather expensive-looking accoutrements, I am sure he considers himself a man of Taste and Refinement.

And whilst I ponder on ears, do you recall my earlier missive in which I mentioned the corks that people put in their ears, to shut out the dreadful noisiness of this place? Well, it seems I was mistaken in their intent. 'Tis not to shut out noise, rather, it is to introduce new noise. I learned this because the dangling wires are connected to an ingenious device, like a tiny pump, that spews out this noise. It is rhythmic, to be sure, and although they claim it is music, I am not so certain. This sound often "leaks" from their corks and all one can hear is a grinding and clammering, such as you would hear at a miller's or perhaps a combination of the millstones and the hammerings of the blacksmith. It is most curious. My head quite thumps most days from the multitude of loud engines already. I am most unclear on why they would chuse to introduce yet more.

with love from your sister,