Mexico weekly ledger., 1878-08-15
\ MODERN BABEL.
WHAT TIE STORM DID WITH THE TELE-
PHONE.
LOUIS, August ), 1878.


Three of the numerous telephones
that have been put into service dur
ing the past year afforded a very
amusing episode a few days ago.
These three telephones connect the
city offices on or near Woodward
avenue with three large establish
ments IN Springwells. One is brick
yard, one foundry and machine
shop, and one Il pork packing estab-
! llsh ncnt, and the brick makers line
/ also extends to his residence. At
che point between the city and
Springwells all three of these lines
are attached to the roof of the same
building, and rest On the same cleat,
but each has, of course, its own i'll
sulatCr. During the heavy wind
storm a few days ago the wires be-
came unfastened from the insulatOr
on the particular building and firmly
crossed III such manner Us to make
them, practically. one line- On the
morning following the storm, the
clerk in the office at the foundry, who
is Cf Il mischievous turn of mind.
heard the bell attached To the Instrul-
! ment at his desk ring in peculiar
manner. 1t gave Il different signal
from that used 10y the firm with whom
he is employed. Placing his ear TO
the diaphragm he heard Il grutf voice
say ''IIclloo," and also heard a re-
ply. Thinking that some one una, =
custOmcd to the instrument was talk
ING from the office, he resolved to
have some fun. The reader, remem-
oering that all three of the lines are
crossed, will readily understand the
conversation that ensued. The brick
maker called his Springwells estab-
lishment and said:
John, send up two loads of brick
to the Office"
Clerk oh, take the bricks out of
your hat!
Observation-Disclosures is that you
say?
Clerk-Pull down your vest!
b. M.-Who is fooling with this
instrument?
Clerk-Only John.
b. M.-That is not you, is it,
John?
Clerk-What dye soy?
b. MIS- that John?
CIerk-Yes, John the pie bitter.
h. M.-Go away from the mouth
piece, you scoundrel.
About this time there came fe-
male voice along the wires, saying.
sis that you, pa:'
Clerk-No, it isn't pa.
Female voice--Who is it!
Clerk-Flute Magilder.
+. WHO?
Clerk-A hungry man from Wind
sOr.
+. V.-Where are you?
| +. V.-At home on-avenue.
Clerk-Don't you wish you were
here?
+. V.-No; l think you're r.
mean!
During this conversation the brick
maker became furious, and tried to
put stop to the conversation by
calling through his telephone. But
as soon as he would commence the
mischievous clerk would turn the
crank and set the bells ringing so that
no one could be heard. The clerk
could get no further responses from
the young lady, and SO he turned his
attention to her enraged parent. A
war of words followed at the conclu-
sion of which the man of bricks an
nounced his intention of visiting the
yard in Springwells to ''see about
it,
He had hardly left the instrument
before another strange call came, and
the clerk heard the pork packing
gentleman order some one of the
: pork packing houses to bring up a
, load of hams.
, Clerk-Put more salt ON your hams
and then they'll keep,
Pork.paoker-What's thatF
: Clerk-Take some salt; you're too
2 fresh!
4 p. P.-Who is that?
Clerk-John, the ham-fat man.
i p. P.-See here, you. Just 60
U away from there! want to talk
IS business!