1939 is a notable year. In 1936 Cowell ws prosecuted on an accusation of immorality. Ingenuous and naive he trusted in his innocence and refused to engage a lawyer. He was sentenced to prison and sat in the notorious San Quentin gaol until friends and colleagues organized his release in 1940. He was cleared 1942, he had been wrongfully found guilty. 'Pulse' is thus a greeting from prison to the free world of art outside.