The Wadsworth dispatch. [volume] (Wadsworth, Nev.) 1892-1899, 1896-06-27
ATURDAY, JUNE q, 1896.
LONG DISTANCE TALKING.

OOat8 Mo To THINK five Nl1nutoB II INC
Receiver Is at Your Ear.
From Chicago it is possible to tel
ephone farther than the 1900 miles
of which New York is SO proud, for
a man in Chicago can talk with an
ether in Boston or in Newport. The
distance is considerably owe that
from New York to Nashville.
1t is not an inspiring thing to talk
over a long distance phone. Husi-
ness men may stand it all right, for
their minds are full of other matters,
but to IL who goes into the thing
simply for the experience and that
he may say that he has done it the
effect ia crushing. 1t leaves n
awed and disturbed by the thought of
his own insignificance and the great
ness of things"
But the telephone girls seem to be
troubled by nc such thoughts. Ap-
parently they experience no awe
whatever. Each ono is busy answer
ing those who shrek wildly for con-
nections with some faraway part of
the country and keeping a watchful
eye on the second hand of the clock
before her. That second hand means
considerable to her. The well worn
statement that talk is cheap" APP
plies in no way to talk over the long
distance phone.
Five minutes conversation with
q friend in Boston, eve an intimate
friend and using short words, is
worth in tho estimation of the tele-
phone company $40. The same with
"a friend in New York. if it is possi-
BILE for n Chicago man to find u
friend in New York, comes to 80. If
the friend happens to be in Washing
ton, the talker gets off with a pay
ment of only s.. 80. it has been sug-
gested that this scale of prices is
dictated by the fact that Boston talk
wears out the phone quicker than
any other, but the company states
upon it honor that it is simply be-
cause Boston is farthest away.
Connection with Boston was called
for. not because there was any no.
cessity of talking with Boston. but
simply to see what it is like to talk
to some one some l, 300 miles away.
Hello, Bostonv'
The speaker did not raise his voice.
He was strongly tempted to, but had
been told to speak in natural tones.
Hello, Chioagor" came the an
swer clearly and distinctly. The
man at the phone started. The
voice sounded as though the speaker
were close at his side. It seemed as
though there ought to be some diff
Guilty in hearing at that distance,
but there was none. The words were
even more distinct than when heard
over the short distance phone.
did you say 'Hello?'' asked the
Chicago man.
Yes"
Then you outraged all precedent.
You should have said-oh, / don't
know what!-some long word"
The Boston central laughed.
The central was a girl, and her
laugh sounded remarkably interest
ing. The Chicago man wondered
what she looked like.
"Do you always wear a diamond
stud with u colored shirt, and say
wal, and talk about pork packing,
and get three divorces a year," in.
quired the Boston end of the CONVEX.
sation.
No" said Chicago promptly,
I'm not married. Never have BEEN
"Well?'
The Chicago man stopped to think.
He should not have done it. 1t costs
just as much to think with the re-
oeiver at ones ear as to say words
like "reprehensibility. The five
minutes We're up, and he was cut
off. The occurrence was unfortunate
1t might have been n romance.
To expenses, $40. Chicago Trih-