Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-02-01
1t has been observed that cooperative
stores are springing up in various parts OF
the country.
Every New York Central" ONCE To BE
Provided with y Monitor Desk
Hsw 1t Works and the Grat-
flying Results.
New York Herald 7

In few days every central telephone Of.
ice in this city wall have a monitor desk in
1t. and then the dapper clerk and the blue
eyed maiden with the mockins bird voice
must look out for squalls The monitor dosk
was invented by Mr. E A. Ecksrt, chief
operator Of the Metropolitan Telephone COM
pany. All the girls say he is real horrid,
and the clorks are pining for his personal
gore.
A reportai has seen the monitor desk which
| Is operated in the New Street exchange. In
long, narrow room, tisnked BY great shin
ing brass switch-boards, sat fourteen or tif-
teen pretty girls. Little strips of brass
crossed themselves on each dainty mead and
held a receIver' to each left ear
In this manner the left ear was devoted to
the public and the right ear to the company
A confused chattering and murmuring, &C.
eompanied by staccato Embellishments on
the part of number of small boys who
pulled and pushed in scores of brass plugs,
supplied sound enough to confuse even the
average hotel clerk And yet there was an
atmosphere Of regularity and order that was
surprising. At the head Of the room sat
Manager Thompson in front of the monitor
desk, with a receiver" fastened to his left
ear, too. Rising from the desk was a little
SAoSI ou1 d SERIES Oh aQQuncIa-
tor flaps.
Now" said the manager, you see I can
watch every girl in the room The instant l
suspect any girl is flirting with a subscriber,
or carrying on personal conversation with
en- operator in another exchange, all | have
to do is TO place plug in the switchboard,
IN the hole corresponding with her wire,
and am instantly Connected with the cir
cult on which she Is talking. She has no
means OF knowing that am listening. and
yet can hear all that is said on 10th sides.
1 can listen to as much of it As | care to. and
then l can say Come off, or Take drop'
and both parties hear Inc. In this manner
no girl Will dare to fritter away her time. for
she does not know whether she is talking d.
rectIy into my ear or not. There is another
advantage In the monitor desk. II sub
scriber complains about bad service. or a
ouZZlng In the wire, or a broken trans
mItter, or about anything else he chooes,
the girl simply switches him on to my in
strument, and without leaving my seat can
hnd out what is the matter from him. ex-
ialn the trouble, ani then order the remedy
Iou can not imagine what saving of time
and trouble and what wonderful sentinel
this monitor dcsk is Sit down and litsn
yourself"
The reporter stuck the transmittsr to his
ear and sat down
An there, Central" came a voice
What do you wantr espondei another
voice
Whats the color Of your eyes, Centralr'
None of your business. What do You
wantf'
"Oh, you giddy little thing, you are just as
cruel as ever"
you men are so rude" murmured the
second voice
Il really believe your eyes are black. I've
made a bet with friend of mine that your
first name is Jennie. Is its'
-Oh, n.y."
Then there was loud laughter in which the
reporter joined. The trained ear of the op-
orator detected the vibrations caused by the |
laughter, and pretty, demurs
little damsel, not more than ten feet away, !
looked around at him with blushing cheeks |
Chief Operator Eckert stood by and |
laughed loudly. He was unconscious Of |
what had happened, but evidently had strong
Iu3piciouS
we can catch them every time" he said.
Il first worked tine monitor system on tho
regular telegraph wire, SO that could break
in and listen to what was going on betwesn
,he operators at any time The mere
knowledge that the monitor is in the room
will check any future fooling upon the
wires"
Mourning FashIOnA
In fashionable house of mourning on
Murray hill In New York the servants arc
III In deepest black, and the two pet dogs Of
he family have band and bow Of crane
I-sund tasir nsoksL