The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-26
rnr GRE.


A vtnaication o. tire Fsrsccutea.
To THE EDITOR OF n suN-Sir. II you will
kindly grant me tho space. ! should like TO speak
about the recent uncalled-for and cowardiy at
tack Of one Of the New York newspapers upon
the already much abused and utterly dofenceless
Telephone Girl"
This nefarious sheet, which 10 fast assuming
the role of yellow journalism with Its recently
acquired greed for notoriety and sensationalism,
printed q few days since q most disgraccful and
unprincipled cartoon entitled. "Hello, Centrali
Busy r. 1t pictured tho operator sitting idly be-
side the switchboard, her chair pushed leisurely
back. her feet resting easily upon a convenient
footstool. and before her o cheap dime novel,
into which hor entire attention was directed.
Now, any person with an ounce Of good COM
mon sense and only the remotest idea OF the OPP
GRAFTON of q telephone exchange knows fully
we'll that in an ofico where there are from ono
to Eve hundred girls employed, with q score or
moro of inspectors and sub-managers whose du-
ties arc to supervise the service. no such ridicu-
lous state OF affairs as was hero represented
could possibly exist; hence the absurdity Of
such a conclusion.
The writer, who has personally visited the
principal exchanges of New York and other
large cities, has an extensive knowledge Of the
perfected system now In operation throughout
the country, and 10 also prepared to authonti-
cato every statement made herein.
In the first place, no literature Of any kind IL
permitted in the operating room while the girls
arc on duty, and all unnecessary conversation 10
prohibited beyond that actually required for the
proper performance Of duty. The operators ara
required to sit for ten hours q day facing the
switch with q receiver fastened to the head and
tho transmitter constantly before tho mouth
ready to answer instantly. the moment a sub
scriber calls.
Then. aside from this extremely monotonous
and nerve-taxing duty. they must submit
quietly and peaceably to all kinds Of treatment
at the hands of the subscriber. not daring to ut
ter a remonstrsnce or protest. but are expected
to remain courteous and obliging regardless Of
the abuse that may be heaped upon them.
Fully nine-tenths Of the delays and difficulties
about which complaint is made and for which
Central is credited are tho direct result Of
either gross ignorance or lack of proper atten.
tion on the part of the subscriber. Repeated in
n nisings lions lint Into p,t TIE cause Of certain COM
use a telephone fail 70 understand the eiRnin.
them from Central. Many have inferred that It
implied that the party called for was too busy to
imagine that the operator was too busy at
present to pay any attention to their wants;
formation that the number asked for is already
engaged, a fact the operator is instantly made
aware Of the moment she attempts to make the
connection.
Ifthose who rent telephones and find occasion
10 enter 80 many, complaints about unsatisfac-
tory service would, at their convenience, take
half an hour of and pay q visit to the exchange
and learn a few things in connection with the
service, and then act In accordance with tho
printed Instructions laid Town for the proper
manipulation of the instrument, instead Of
whenever convenient, speaking as indistinctiy
as possible. failing to ring OF. &c, It would re-
suit In an improvement in the service that would
be truly surprising.
telephone industry, nor has he any interest
therein beyond the fact of desiring to see Justice
and equity melted out to these poor Rirls who
occupy such q thankless position. and who have
subjected to all sorts of abuse from the cross
grained subscriber or his assistants, many of
whom look upon the telephone girl as a part of
the apparatus and treat her accordingly, forget
sideration.
1t strikes me that for such an instrument as
be engaged in such a b%eiittiine Susin assn as b 70
fore stated Is indeed a state of affairs to be re-
GREETED. In my estimation 1t would have added
greatly to the credit Of this bigoted sheet to
honest endeavor to enlighten the public at large
on this question. thereby aiding In lifting some
OF the burden of the shoulders of these girls,
rather than to increase their Affections.
"A little nonsense now and then is relished
by the wisest men" but at the same time the
press has q greater mission to fulhl than going
abroad making fun at the expense of the op-
pressed.
I am SO glad to know that THE Sun is above
such business. and stands out prominently as a
clean and honest sheet whose object is ever to o.
forts be crowned with success. FAIR PLAY.
TRENTON. n. j., July "a.