Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1890-06-28
what the Electric Bells Did.


From the Electrical Review.
In almost every railroad olfical'sprivate
ofiice-say from general manager up--there
Is a small post near the occupants y desk
with Il ilat-suriaced gutta- percha top, in
which arc imbeddcd dozen or more little
push buttons. This is the electric call sys-
tenn. The wires run down through the post
and branch off to the Offices of the various
under officials, where they are attached 10
electric bells or bu2zers. They arc used by
the magnate To call his subordinates to his
room when their presence is desired.
A few days ago a clerk in the general
froigh; department of one of the large rail-
roads was sent up TO the vice presidents
Office with "a bunch of correspondence. lie
was to make some explanations and natu-
rally enough, was somewhat embarrassed.
While talking he rested the palm of his
hand on the Hat surface of the post, COM
pressing aLumber of the push buttons. lie
felt tho little round digits sink under the
weight o! his arm, and the idea that no had
hlundered flashed through his lnind. lie
quickly removed his hand and continued
his eX plauation.
Soon the door opened, and the general
superintendent walked in, removed his hat
and placed il on top of the curtain desk.
The vice president looked up, astonished
at this piece of impudence, for be 1t known
| that <hc sanctum sauctorum of the railroad
| high Joint is all that they claim for ii in the
| way of privacy, and is not usually open to
| callers without the ceremony of a formal
| announcement by the coiored boy in uni
| form out in the reception room, unless IL
| be by an official summoned by call bell.
While the magnato and intruder eyed each
other the door opened again and the pur-
chasing agent tripped in, making very
polite and iron. merchant sort of bow, stood
with his hands resting on his hips to hear
command from his superior. He was
losr'y followed by the assistant from the
1T.
To speak. He approached with red face,
and stanmcred that the chief was out on
the line, to which the vice president re-
Piled that he didn't care u - where the
chief was SO long as he got the estimates
ON the approximation OF the Gall river
bridge by Saturday, as promised.
"Gcntlemen," spoke his high joint, as
visions of gold headed cane presentations
| fitted athwart the cross beams of his brains,
~ don't understand.
| The door opened at this iuncture to admit
| two moro officials. On their heels was the
| colOred iauitor, with two feather busters
| thrust ON top of his ears as he had seen the
clerks carry pencils.
"Nes, sab - the ianitor promptly re-
marked, as he mingled in tho group with a
| humble courtesy, aud mopped the perspira-
ton from his shining forehead with a
| chamois skin.
| "Gentlemen, again began the vice
president, ~ have had 10 notice. | do
| not understand this. !"
| sour bell rang" timidly ventured the
assistant from the engineering department.
$50 did mine, " said the general superin-
tendent.
| "And mine!'
"And mine!"
| "And mine!"
AN my gong runged as shoh as youh S
| alibe, sah' !" cried the janitor.
"Thcre is certainly mistake some
where, remarked the high joint | have
rang no bells this afternoon for any fyou." "
The crowd dispersed.
Nobody had noticed the freight clerk
who stood motionless with his face pale rs
death. He alone could explain, but hC
didn't. The vice president touched q
button, called IN the superintendent o
telegraph and instructed him to examine
the wires. evenihundred efet of flooring
was taken up aud replaced, -four electrician,
work ed three days each to discover wha
they afterwards reported did not exist
But the freight clerk was mum.