The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-05-20
Franks Of Telephones.

Franks Of Telephones.
There is no silver lining without
cloud; no blessing without a bother
All great inventions for the benefit or
improvement of mankind are accompa-
MED by train of disasters. With the
introduction of locomotives came rail
way accidents, collisions. track-iump-
ing, bridget breaking and a host OF mi
nor casualties. Complicated machinery
for manufacturing purposes has been
swelling the death and accident list of
the country ever since Us inception, and
the marvellous triumphs in agricultural
implements are fast providing for us
One-legged, One-armed, fingerless, toe
less and otherwise mutilated Yeomanry.
The use of the telephone in San Fran
cisco has been attended by a series of
ludicrOuS, embarrassing and startling
complications. The hundreds of wires,
forming an aerial network above the
city, sometimes become strangely con
fused and entangled, to the bewilder-
ment and amusement of the human be-
ings at their various termini.
prominent educational official whose
office is on Sansome street, has been
somewhat troubled by the vagaries of
his telephone wire, which has. during
the late stormy weather. acquired a
strange faculty for hobnobbing with all
sorts of undesired and undesirable ac-
quaintances, or carrying a stream of
gossip to its owners ears.
is Mr.. --, member of the School
Board, there?" slowly and deliberately
asks the owner.
A muttered answer is construed into
a favorable response.
''Do YOU know Miss S, a teacher
in the schools, recently thrown out by
consolidation of classes? She has a
lirst-class certificate, and also a certif-
cate of approval"
Genuine high-stepper; brown coat?'
comes the singular query.
''She has a dignified gait, and now
you speak of it, think she wore a brown
clsak. But think your language-ex-
cuse me-sOmewhat inappropriate. She
was in here this morning, and | think
she deserves the first vacancy"
She'll beat them all and no mis-
take"
Il think you are wrong. She GER
tainly has a reputation for good disci-
pine, but l hardly think she would re-
sort to corporal punishment except in
case of extreme necessity"
"And, by the way, Blikins, those
races at Sacramento next week -.
comes more distinctly to the ears of the
bewildered gentleman, who begins to
suspect that he has been interrupting
conversation between two gentlemen of
jockeyish proclivitieS.
A signal reaches the office of a we'll
known physician.
My DEAR" comes a musical voice
over the wire, which he at once recog-
nizes as belonging to his wife, inject
me at the Oakland boat at twelve
o'clock. We must be on the other side
at a quarter to one, without fail" The |
doctor was Just starting out for an i'm
portant round of visits, but this per-
cmptOry summons was not to be diSre- |
garded. There was little time to spare.
Giving some hasty directions to his as
sistant he spun away to the ferry. The |
lady he sought did not make her ap-
pearance. When the whistle had sound |
GU anu lllC bbtib SAONlN ICCtutu Will |
the last passenger on board, a sudden, |
Jealous suspicion seized him. Could it |
be possible that his wife had intended |
the message for some other man, that |
they had eluded his observation? In a |
tumult of dread he drove speedily home |
If she were gone then there would be |
some foundation for. his suspicious. He
burst into the house and FASTENED to
his wifes room. A grieved and anxious
face met him on the threshold.
80, my dear. / am so glad you have
come. Baby is having such a terrible
time with that eye-tooth. He has been
screaming the whole forenoon"
Didn't you speak to me through
the telephone?"
Il? No; baby has not been out of my
arms since you left. o, dear, perhaps
it was some one of your lady friends
whom you mistook for me-"
The arch, laughing glance which she
gave him, with smile of wifelv trust,
pierced his heart like dagger He
buried the secret of his own Suspicious
in his guilty breast, and drowned his
remOrse in alternating the sUfTerings of
his little son.
The telephone itself is not at fault. 1t
is man who is fallible, rash, thOughtless,
to speak without consideration.
and jump at conclusions. The educat-
ing influence of telephone practice in
developing the traits of forethought and
caution is no slight factor in its utility
and beneficial effect upon mankind.
Some experienced telephone operators,
saddened and chastened by months of
become wise and wary.
When they desire to communicate with
a friend they open the conversation in a
crafty, willy manner, parley and pro-
crastinate until they become convinced
that there is no question as to the
identity of the speaker at the other ex-
lremity of the wire with the person
allied, and not until then plunge into
he business with assurance. When a
call comes to them over the wire, and
he gong-like bell sounds its note of
warning, they approach it with the