Article October 8, 1910 Issue

SILENT SIGNALS

M. G. KAINS, M.S.

One evening, when coming home from business, I stood at the front door of the first car in a subway train. The position commanded as good a view of the track as the motor-man had, and I was interested in watching the signals as we approached them. On nearing the principal express stations, the signals, which are all in pairs, presented the following combinations: two green, a green and a yellow, and perhaps several red and yellow pairs. The train continued to advance up to the red signal, then stopped. When the red signal silently changed to a green, the train advanced again to the next red signal. Each change of signal was given without noise, but was just as plainly expressive as if an audible command to advance had been given.

At one station I noticed that the train started without the usual sound of a bell rung twice, as in street-cars, and I wondered if a mistake had been made by the motor-man. Upon reaching the next station I watched closely to see if some other signal had been substituted for the bell. The train started again without a sound signal, but I noticed a little lamp burning in front of the motor-man and I thought, "That is the signal." At the next station I noticed that when the train stopped the light went out, and when it lighted up again the motor-man immediately started the train. I learned from the motor-man that this light goes out as soon as a door in any car is opened, even if the opening is only the fraction of an inch. All the doors in the train must be closed in order to establish the electrical connection so as to give this signal that the doors are fast and that the train may start.

These silent signals which gave the assurance of safety to the man in charge of the train, suggested to me the silent signals that indicate the correctness of Christian Science practice. The signs of healing which characterize the intelligent application of Jesus' teachings are reliable indications that the beginner or student is safe in his method of procedure. Without such signals or signs it is impossible to know whether the individual is thinking along correct lines, or whether the road he is following is the correct one. Without them it is even impossible to know whether danger is not ahead, and it would be just as hazardous in its own way to advance on the basis of human speculation as it would be for the train to advance beyend a warning signal.

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