The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-07-08

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wires, forming an aerial network above
the city, sometimes become strangely con
fused and tangled, to the bewilderment
and q lt ian! amusement Of the human beings at
their various termini.
a prominent educational official whose
Office is on Samsone street, has been some.
what troubled by the vagaries Of his tele-
phone wire. which has, during the late
stormy weather acquired strange facul,a
ty for hobnobbmg with all sorts Of un.
desired and undesirable acquaintance,
oE carrying stream Of gossip to its own
er's ears.
is Mr.. -, member of the School
Board, there?' slowly and deliberately
asks the owner.
A muttered answer is constructed into
q favorable response.
| t'Do you know Miss $500, a teacher
in the schools, recently thrown out BY
cons lldatiOn of classes? She has first
class certificate, and also certificate OF
approval
Genuine high-stepper; brown coat?"
comes the singular query
"She has a dignifed gait, and now YOU
speak oft, think she wore brown cloak.
But think our language excuse me
somewhat inappropriate. She was in here
this morning, and / think she deserves
the first Vacancy"
'.Shell beat them all and no mistake
Il think you arc wrong. She certain
II has reputation for good discipline,
but hardly think she would resort to
corporal punishment except in a case of
Az <ro,noS vooocc;<v, y sE5&gEf s{$5Et&E&
'sAnd, 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 be-
tween two gentlemen Of jockeyish
proclivities.
a signal reaches the Office of we'll
known physician.
MY dear" comes a musical voice ov.
er the wire, which he at once recognizes
as his wife's, "meet me at the Oakland
boat at twelve o'clock. We must be on
the other side at a quarter to one, with
out fail. " The doctor was just starting
out for an important round of visits, but
this peremptory summons was not to be
disregarded. There was little time to
spare. Giving some hasty directions to his.
assistant hespun away to the ferry. Tie.
lady he sought did not make her appear
ance. When the whistle had sounded
and the boat slowly receded with the
last passenger on board, a sudden, Jealous
suspicion seized him. Gould it be posi-
bic that his wife had intended the mess
age for some other man, that they had,
eluded his observation? IL q timult3 of
dread he drove speedily home. If she
were gone then there would be some foun-
dation for his suspicious. He burst into
the house and fastened to his wife's room.
"A grieved and anxious face met him on
the threshold.
80, my dear, am SO glad you have
come. Baby is having such terrible tune
with that eye-tooth. He has been scream
ing the whole forenoon
Didn't yeu speak to me through the
the telephone?'
81? No: baby has not been out OF nv
arms since you left. O, dear, perhaps it
was some of your lady friends whom
you mistook for me-
The arch, laughing glance which she
gave him, with smile of wifely trust,
pierced his heart like a dagger. He bur
ried the secret of his own suspicion in
his guilty breast, and drowned his re-
morse in alternating the sufferings of his
little sou.
The telephone itself is not at fault. It
is man who is fallible, rash, thoughtless,
disposed to speak without consideration,
and jump at conclusions. The educating
influence of telephone practice in devel-
loping the traits of forethought and eau
ton is no slight factor in its utility and
beneficial effect upon mankind. Some
experienced telephone operators, sad
dened and chastened by months of blum
dering, become wise and wary. When
they desire to communicate with friend
they open the conversation in a crafty,
willy manner parley procrastinate until
they become convinced that there is no
question as to the identity of the speak
5er at the other extremity Of the
wire with the person called, and not I'M
til then plunge into the business with
assurance. When call comes to them
over the wire, and gong like bell sounds
its notes of warning, they approach it
with the same caution exhibited by any
army advancing to meet an enemy in an
unknewn country. Then system Of
cross-questioning is carried on, sometimes
very amusing to a disinterested listener.
In the Office Of a prominent lawyer on
California street, a gentleman noted for
his sagacity and keenness, a specimen
scene of this kind occurred the
other day.
.sDingl ding! ding!'' went the tele-
phone.
The legal gentleman slowly arose from
his easy chair, pproached the apparatus
with q suspicious air, and applied his
ear to the instrument.
you there?''
g depends upon whom you mean, = was
the guarded response.
ST mean Mr.. B. the lawyer y,
il who are you2''
Judge G =
B whats your Christian name?''
81 have no time for trifing, am in a
hurry. Have you got the papers in that
case - -----s = s
Where and when were you born?' con-
tinues the imperturbable attorney, relaps-
ing into professional habits,
ydear sir, what possible beating !"
You can't remember, eh2 just as I
thought declared the strategic legal