The sanitary and mechanical age we are now entering makes up for the mercy it grants to our sense of smell by the ferocity with which it assails our sense of hearing.

Summary

This quote suggests that as society advances technologically, gains in convenience and cleanliness come at the expense of increased noise levels. While modern advancements like sanitation have eliminated unpleasant odors, the accompanying machinery and developments have introduced a new challenge - the overwhelming presence of noise that bombards our sense of hearing. Essentially, the quote implies that progress in one aspect, namely sanitation, is offset by the negative impact it has on another, specifically our auditory experience.

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