The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-02-27
TELEPHONE OPERATORS
The Young Ladies Are Not All
Cranks by Any Means.
THE LABOR NOT ALL PLEASANT.
ahe fau't Generally Lies with Sub
scribers who Are Impatient at Delay
Operators Blamed for Every Trouble
Some suggestions for Better Service.

There Is one much abused class o.
quasi public servants in whose favor
there has teen very little written. and
not any too much said The telephone
operators are the class referred to aud II
the public only understood the trials an
troubles OF the young ladies who attend
TO the thousands OF calls for numbers,
there would be less cause for complaint
and less harsh language between sub
scribers aud operators.
There is saying among the operators
themselves tlas the longer one remains
an operator the more cranky he becomes.
and this is perhaps true. This is only
another way OF saying that it is the
fault OF subscribers th at an operator be-
comes irritable and pnaccommod odating
IL Is TACT that few cheerful su bscrib-
ers, who never miss an opportunity to
give a pleasa word and who ALWAYS
greet their operator with CHEEKY Good
morning." do more to secure good service
Tor the public NJ large than all the fretlul
seedlings that can be given.
One great trouble with the Subscribers
OF telephone exchange, Is that so very
few really understand the delicacy of the
telephone instrument aud the many
causes OF trouble in It's workings, such as
an indistinct ransmitter, n weak battery.
broken cord, crossed lines, short cir
cuts and numerous other little troubles
which Affect the transmission of tine
voice or the calling OF the central Office
Any one OF these is likely TO take affect
a. any time but III seems as il many Of
the people who use telephones think that
~ shoula Always happen In the night
time or on Sunday.
one or the Providence subscribers. n
snort time ago. called up the manager of
the central Office bv IA neighbor,s tele-
phone ana complained that the operator
on MS wire would not answer his ring.
inquiry showed that his call had not
come into the oiIice and when he was so
informed he was sure IL had, because his
Dell rang all right and. furthermore. he
had talked over his wire only about ten
minutes previously. lie knew the tele-
phone could not be out of order because
III worked so well ouiy few moments be.
fore. IL was found on examination the
next day that "A tree had fallen across the |
wire, crossing IL with others so that a |
circuit had been maintained, which ac- |
counted for the ringing OF the bell.
now many times the persons who use
the telepho me-, impatient at wnat see ns
an unnecessary delay, ask "What is the
matter with you tuis morningt" The
operator, provoked by this impatient re-
mark, Is likely TO retort without thouoht
and wordy discussion ensues which
0 ten ends In a complaint TO tue superin-
is impudent Subscribers often
stem 10 think tnat the operators
ought TO endure all sorts OF
harsh Language and not answer back
that this Is what they are there for
Again, when number has been called
or auu tne answer does not come
promptly, the operator gets the blame.
hough the reason may be that the parry
'aileu is not at home or doe, not answer
rom some other cause. ''Ob. Central
Won't you try them againi | know
ne is somebody there" is very fire.
gain.
One or the things which tries the pati- ,
nee Oh the young ladies' is when line
: reported in use" several times and
ne party calling loses temper aud saws:
4 kno" IL cant be In use ali this time.n ,
MS Is great mistake, tor though the
anne party may not De using the line
ii the time. there lis great possibility of ]
uotneI sHpplnR IN aud getting the line. 1
specially AZ IL Is "A line that sees a great
eai OF service, or the party called for NAV (
: calling several numbers ia succe ssion. a
Moul DC the height OF folly for an c
perator TO say the line was iu use. when
was untrue, as it would only entail i
mes.
There is no doubt that the subscribers n
no are always pleasant and agreeable 10 4
40 operators are the ones whose calls II
'e answered the most promptly yvhila | n
lose who are forever finding fault
lu scoldlnR the operators are answered
ST. ms ls not in accord tuc. with the
uers Oh the management, but uncon-
lousIy the OF Ierators fail I'm o the habit
III ~ Is ulinclilt Que TO break Off THIS
ouId be hint TO the crauks that more 7
/
ith gar c
4 VIC" year the operators are REQUIRED I
IdAe account OF all the calls that are z
isNerel Dy each one during the day for a
Iee Gays, In order that IL may be de- =
rmined which or the operators hnv,. ,ha
Isiest boards" 1t has been fonnd Il
at the majority OF operators answer s,
! 'n nivy 10 lou calls per hour from 8
JOCK In The morning till o'clock i'm
{ ooNeuing. Ihe busiest hour is from Q
~ o.c CLOCK In the morning, and there 4
: lew operators who do not answer 1os o
lis In this hour. IL persons will onIy II
hemper thl when Jhey are kent wall ID
ior snort time it will materially n
'lsI the operator and the other sub -
Iloers. lhe operators ou the long dis
nee switches are not 50 busy, as IL is e
.enueu Una, they shall have plenty oil Il
ne 10 give The best possible service to b
Is Class OF subscribers, and TO tbis end
ere are less number OF telephones
lnected on these switches
u must not be supposed that all the
'rators arr alike, because there are nee. 70
arliy Few who are not inclined to be CT
omhoda ing among large number Ia
young ladies. IL would not be iu a. ~,
uance with human nature if they -
re all agreeable, but The cranky opera. w
f, IS > the exception, not the rule, as all lie
nnu VINO treat them as ladies' should pa
treated. The Providence Telephone A,
u pany employs about forjy five Young
les ana ~ has been the experience of
writer that they are in general as
eeaoie as the majority OF young ladies'.
w,