davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Progress. (Shreveport, La.) 1892-1900, 1897-09-11
\ Day In The Telephone Exchange.

was an operator OF about one
years experience in the Telephone
Exchange. There were three oper-
ators besides myself employed in
the office. One OF those having
just come in about a month pre-
vious. A great many people
think a position OF this kind is
very annoying and say they
would not be US for any sum OF
money. Well OF course it has its
disadvantages like everything
else, but then there are some
pleasures as we'll. l will try to
give some OF the happenings OF
one day as near right as l can re-
member, the names only being
changed.
Oh dear me. it is my early morn
ing at the office exclaimed one OF
the operators as she rose from the
breakfast table one rainy day in
October. Il seems TO M that from
six TO seven is the shortest hour in
the day, one scarcely has time to
turn around before ii is time TO go
to work. Thus saying she was
ready to go. and about ten minutes
walk brought her TO the office a
large upper room on one OF the
main streets OF the city. Enter
ing the room she found the mana
ger sitting by his desk looking
puzzled over a note he was holding
in his hand. The night operator
was sitting at the switchboard |
reading the morning paper for |
there was not much business do |
ing at seven o'clock in the morn
ing. Good morning Mr.. Wilson.
Good morning Miss Mary. very
bad morning isn't it? Why yes.
did not think l could get here at
all it rained so hard. Mrs. Morris
the night operator was waiting to
go home so l took charge of the
board. The manager went to
breakfast and the trials of the day
began. Here comes No. A ring
ing:
Hello. Hello. Is that the Gen.
trail?
es mann it is! Well will YOU
send some one out to fix the tele-
phone? | cannot hear any one
over it at all. All right we will
send the linemen out at once.
Good by.
The next thing to do was ring
up all the trail lines. about twenty
Of them to see if the phones were
all right. /,
Here comes ia five rings that is
ringir us of course.
is q small town about {
tNysalNn l -
The Progress. (Shreveport, La.) 1892-1900, 1897-09-11

fun now.
Hello is that the Central?
Yes this is the Central.
Well give me the hospital please.
Give you who?
Give me- the hospital No. fl.
Did YOU say you wanted Har-
rison County?
No. | want the h pi,al
where the doctors and all the sick
people stay.
All right sir. understand now,
just wait minnie.
OF course one minute with the
new operator meant about ten to
the one who called.
There is another call for the
new operator:
Hello. hello who is that?
This is the Central.
Well l know it is the Central.
but WHO is it at the phone?
This is Julia O'Neal, the new
operator at the exchange.
Why Julia. didn't you know it
was against the rules TO tell your
name over the'phone says the old
operator. Now he will go to the
manager and tell him who YOU are
and YOU WILDE let out. where upon
poor Julia turned pale and stares
at me with her big blue eyes look
ing as though she had committed
crime that could never be forgiv-
en-. We all commenced laughing
at her SO she knew it was only a
Joke and joined in with us. The
new operator does not have a nice
time for they always play jokes
on her. The trouble in the Off &c
is blamed on the new operator and
even the people ringing up, want |
to know who that is up there that |
can't hear and is always giving |
the wrong connections. was |
there once myself so of course |
know.
Here comes 90 ringing. / wonder
who they want
Hello, hello Central, give me .hc
engine house right quick, there is
a fire in the neighborhood.
All right there they are.
Now there are twelve subscri-
Der sringing at once.
Hello Central, where is the fire?
Don t know, havn't heard yet
Hello Central, will you please
ell me where the fire is?
/ havn't heard yet. | will let
you know in a minute.
Miss Annie please ring up the
Fire Department and find out
where the fire is before these poor
people go wild with excitement
The Progress. (Shreveport, La.) 1892-1900, 1897-09-11

maam. any OF them will do.
All right Mayville. .MaiI~ min
ute: Hello is that johnson K Co:
Yes mann. Well here is May:
Vile wants to talk 10 YOU. Hello
Mayville. there is Johnson & Co..
now.
The new operator had Just taken
her place at the board and was
looking at me while two or three
OF the OF the subscribers on her
side of the board were ringing.
Hurry up Julia: 122 and % are
ringing, you must try and answer
the people promptly.
Hello Mayville. Did YOU finish
your message TO Johnson & Co?
Yes mann. thank you. Good
by.
Here is ~ ringing again, l ex-
pect it is the linemen.
Hello! hello, let me speak to the
chief operator. All right. Hello
says the chief, what is it?
Well how does this phone work
now? 1t is working fine, what
was the trouble? The battery was
weak any l fixed the hand phone
also. All right you had better go
around and fix the phone at Will
liams' residence it is out of order.
All right, good bye.
we all know who that isl do ANY,
way.
Well hello. Good morning
Central. is that you?
Why hello Mr. W.. what
are you doing away out there?
Oh l am talking to you right
now. Say Central, are you COM
ing to the dance next Thursday
night?
Why l have not heard about it,
where is it TO be given?
1t will be given at Mr.. Watsons'
We are going to have
4 grand time, all the pretty girls |
will be there.
Well if that is the case. | don't
.hink it will do for any of us to
,ome.
Oh now Central, You know YOU
Ire fishing for a compliment, but
f you will come | will see that
-ou have the best time of any
,irl out there.
Well l certainly appreciate your
,indn eSS Mr.. W. and would
ike to come the best in the world.
,ut you know how hard it is for us
O get of anywher>.
Yes / know something about
hat myself. Well you must get
# and come up to the next any
n
The Progress. (Shreveport, La.) 1892-1900, 1897-09-11

Why Central, it was nothing
| but chimney on fire.
All right, thank you.
| Well we told the subscribers. so
they were satisfied and glad it was
! nothing more.
90 is ringing, Miss Mary l know
they want you.
Well hello.
Hello Central, who is that?
Why it is the Central!
Well who is it talking?
Well who are you?
Oh l don't know. | never had
any name.
Oh yes. why hello Mr.. B,
You thought you could play off on
me, but l know your voice too
we'll for that.
All right Central. you know my
voice but you don't know me. and
do know you when l see you.
L don't think you do, l think
you are mistaken, but we will
have to describe our looks and see
if we are right.
All right Central, here goes:
To start with, l weigh $50 lbs,
have blue eyes and grey hair
whc my hat sits on my head,
but all around the brim where the
sun strikes, it cas- turned red and
L am about 45 years old.
All right, Mr.. B., will be sure
to know you the next time see
you. Good bye.
Say. wait Central, that isn't fair
you must give description of
yourself or | never will know you.
Why Mr.. b., you shouldn't give
yourself away like that, thought
you knew me already, but | see
you don't. Well l am getting
busy now, so | will have to tell
you good bye.
All right goodby Central. will
know you yet, see ii don't
| afterwards met the Hon. NJ.
B, but he did not answer his
description of himself.
We all have some sensible con-
with the people we
know, but we carry on nonsense
with some of boys who live out of
own just to pass away the time.
Some them we have never met,
but we become accustomed to their
-inging us up and talking so we
EEL like old friends. 4
| remember one young imam
" HON we talked to occasionly. he
seemed to think the operators
we're always in earnest and be-
ieved everything they told him.
We were always teasing him be-
The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-03-17
WiLIINGF FORD NEVIS,

Successful Cycle Show Closed Yesterdav-
 Basket Ball Game to be Arranged With
 Audubon Athletic CIub-Brief and Per
 sonal Mention.
 The cycle show in the armory yester- day afternoon and evening, like every other venture of the popular Ramblers' Cycle club, was a decided success. There was fine display of wheels of all makes and descriptions, and this, together with the pleasing concert ren- dered by the opera house orchestra made the affair an enjoyable one to all who attended.
 Manager R. J. Lane of Company Ks basket ball team received a letter yes terday afternoon from Captain Cook of the Fanwood athletic team, who was loud in his praises Of the treatment of his team by Company K, and especially by the large audience present. He is desirous of coming here again, the next time with strong team from the Audubon Athletic club of Washington Heights, N. Y, and would like a date for either April 8, or 1O It is prob able that the latter date maybe agreed upon.
 Captain M. D. Munson will start out next week on a business trip through the middle western states.
 Miss Mabel Joeelyn of Utica, N. Y, is the guest of Mrs. G. M. Hallenbeck of Center street.
 J. P. Stevenson will start to-day for Boston.
 Judge Hubbard will visit New York on Friday,
 John Brennan of Meriden, employed at H. L. Judd & Co.'S works, had a bad hemorrhage soon after leaving the fac tory yesterday afternoon.
 Company E of New Britain will tackle Company K at basket ball in the armory here on Tuesay evening, March 23.
 There will be services this morning at 10 o'clock in St. PauI's church.
 Rev. A. s. Ashley of All Saints church of Meriden will preach in St. PauFs church this evening
 Contractor Leeds is to build three houses on Pearl and Cherry streets.
 Sowing the Wind" is booked for the opera house on Friday evening, March 2S.
The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-03-17
ANNUAL CoNCLAvE HELD.

By Grand Commandery Knights Tenn splar esterday-Oficers Elected and
 Reports Read.
 The annual conclave of Grand Com mandery Knights Templar of Connecti- cut opened at o'clock yesterday in Masonic hall on Church street.
 H. Wales Lines of Meriden and IT. W. Rugg of Providence. officers of the grand encampment, were received, and George E. W. Stevers, as a representa- tive of the Grand Commandery of New York.
 Reports were read by Grand Treas urer William R. Higby of Bridgeport, Grand Secretary F. c. Birdsay of Meri- den and Grand Inspector F. A. Spencer of Waterbury.
 The following officers were elected for the ensuing year: Right eminent grand commander, Samuel NJ. Brunson of Norwich; very eminent deputy grand commander, William F. Withey of New London; eminent grand generalissimo, William E. Risley of Waterbury; emil nent grand captain general, F. $. Davis of Middletown; eminent grand senior warden, A. S Comstock of Norwich /: eminent grand junior warden, Frank Street of Norwalk; eminent grand treasurer, William R. Higby of Bridge port; eminent grand recorder, Ely c. Rirdsey of Meriden; eminent grand pre- late, A. F. Fuller of Danbury; eminent grand standard bearer, Edward F. Full CT of Willimantic; eminent grand sword bearer, John w. Mix of Meriden; emi- nent grand warden, Julius W. Knowl- ton of Bridgeport; eminent grand senti- nel Frank F. Stoddard of New Haven; eminent grand inspector. Fred A. Spen- cer, past grand master, of Waterbury.
 The officers were installed immediate ly after the election. The report of the grand recorder shows an increase of 131 members in the grand commandery since last years meeting The total membership is now 2,36S.
 Columbia commandery Of Norwich Washington commandery of Hartford and St Elmo commandery of Meriden, were. according to the report of the grand recorder, the best attended, best uniformed and the best instructed com manderies. each having a rank of 23 out of 24 possible points.
 The conclave adjourned at :45 o'clock yesterday afternoon.
The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-03-17
ATTACKED BY A COW.

Mrs. David Dingwall Severely Injured.
 Mrs. David Dingwall residing at the corner of Peck street and Blatchley avenue, is suffering from an attack made upon her Monday night by an in furiated COW, from which she may lose the use of her left eye. The DingWall COW gave birth to a calf on Sunday, and up to that event had been always gentle and a pet. After the calf's birth the COW became ugly and sus- picious of everyone who approached. Monday night Mrs. Dingwall went into the stall and fed the COW. As she started to leave the calf rubbed up it.
 The COW, evidently expecting harm to her offspring, dashed at Mrs. Dingwall with head lowered. The sharp point of one horn entered the woman's cheek and tore her face open, gouging out the left eye. In goring her Mrs. Ding wall was thrown violently back and fortunately out of reach of the cows horns. The animal tried in vain to at tack her again. Mrs. Dingwall shrieked for help and her cries aroused her chill dren and enighbors, who came to her aid. She was found nearly unconscious and nervously prostrated. Dr. Roberts was called and attended Mrs. Dingwall. It took eight stitches to sew up the wound.
The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-03-17
FUNERAL OF MRS. INLAND.

The funeral of Mrs. Dora Hyland, wife of MT. William Hyland, was held at St. Patrick's church yesterday morn- ing.
 The church was crowded with the many friends of the deceased lady.
 The solemn requiem mass was cele- brated by Rev Father Russell, with Rev. Father Duggan as deacon and Rev. Father OConnell as sub deacon The Gregorian mass was rendered by Mir. E. L. Brennan, organist. The choir, composed of Misses Hogan and Con way and Messrs. T. Smith, W. Tobin and James Mclaughlin, rendered Thy Will Be Done" very effectively. Miss Hogan sang "One Sweetly Solemn Thought" The floral contributions were numerous and beautiful, includ- ing an immense pillow inscribed Nam ma,'' from the children; two beautiful punches of lilies from William Neely and John McHugh, an exquisite basket of tea roses from MT. Eugene Me Kenna and Miss Lillian McKenna and a unique design from the Hillhouse high school pupils, classmates of Mrs. Fly lands daughters, Misses Grace and Dora.
 The bearers were Messrs. Walter J. Connor, Matthew Lahey, Andrew Cler- kin, William Maley, George Horton and Dan Hurley. The flower bearers were Messrs William Sisk, James J. Carr, William Gibbons, John McHugh, Thomas F. Sullivan and Dennis Mar tin,
 Father O'Connell paid a high tribute to the deceased. Live as she did" said he, Faithful to her church, ob- serving the commandments of God, and angels will ever surround us. Be faith ful and the angels will administer those graces." He urged the duty of prayer for the departed, and drew a beautiful picture of the resurrection and of beautiful reunion in that eter- nal home hereafter.
 The interment was in St Bernard's s cemetery. MT. John Sullivan had charge of the funeral.
 Mrs. Hyland was a woman highly esteemed by all who knew her, a wo- man of rare and unusual virtues
 Throughout her life she had always exhibited a beautiful Christian charac- ter and loving devotion to her rela- tives and friends such as is seldom met with. Her unexpected death was par ticuiarly sorTowful.
 Her aged mother. Mrs. Callahan, her husband and six young children, her brother. Judge Callahan. and her sis ter Mrs. John Cox, have the deepest sympathy of all.
The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-03-17

COMMITTEE ON sTREETs.

The Committee on Streets will meet in Room 10 and II, City Hall, on Wednesday, March 1I, 1897, at p. m,, for the purpose of considering the following matters:
 Petition of O. Boettger ct al. for harden ing of shelton avenue between Munson street and City line,
 Communication of Board of Public Works recommending that the grade of Union ave- nue between Water and Spring streets be established as shown by blue line on a pro- file on file in the office of said Board: also that the grade of Putnam street between Water and Liberty streets be changed as shown by the blue line on profile also on file in the office of said board.
 Petition of James A. Thorpe ct al. for the hardening of Atwater street between Grand and Middletown avenues.
 Petition of l. J. Wild ct al for grading Of street and sidewalks and curbs on Sycamore street, both sides, between View street and Park line.
 Resolution providing that the Board of Public Works shall cause the space between the manhole in the Orange street crosswalk, on the south side of Chapel street, and the tagstones to be filled in.
 Petition for a sidewalk and curb on New. hall street between Read and Ivy streets.
 All persons interested in the foregoing are notified to appear and be heard thereon
 JOHN II. CLARKE, Chairman.
 Attest: EDWARD A. STREET,
 mh15 St Assistant City Clerk.
The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-03-17
DEGREE OF HONOR OFFICERS.

Banner Lodge Installation Last Even
 ng-Refreshments Served and an En-
 joyable Evening Spent.
 Banner lodge, Degree of Honor, held its installation of officers at the lodge rooms in the Courier building last even ing. G. F. and Chief of Honor Mrs Mann of Fair Haven presided and in stalled the officers, assisted by other grand officers. The newly installed of ticers are: Mrs. Mary c. O'Connor, chief of honor; Mrs. Kate Caldwell, lady of honor; Mrs. Cannon, chief of ceremonies; Miss Annie Le Grand, ush- CT; Miss Josie Farrell, inside watch man; Mrs. s. J. Wadhams, financier; Miss Catharine Bristol, recorder; MT William H. Hopson, receiver; Mir O'Connor. outside watchman; past chief of honor Mrs. Mary Futile.
 After the installation refreshments were served, and music and singing helped to make the remainder of the evening enjoyable.
The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-03-17
MILFORD.

March 16.-Advertised letters remain ing in the Milford postoffice March To arc as follows: MT and Mrs, Charles A. Dewey, Mrs. Annie Francis, Miss Maud E. Hill, Miss Gussie Mills, Mrs. Allen Rallis, Miss Grace stanton, Mrs. Laura Thomas, F. c. Wentworth, and package for Walter Bell.
 The o. U. A. M. held it's regular meet ing in Cornwalls hall Monday evening.
 Miss Clara J. Futile of Bridgeport spent Sunday in town the guest of MISS Minnie Mallory.
 Mrs. Edwin B. Baldwin is visiting her daughter, Mrs. William A. Augur ln Brooklyn, N, Y., for few days.
 The regular meeting of the board of directors of the Milford Savings bank will be held in the bank building Mon day evening at 8 o'clock.
 MT. and Mrs. Joseph T. Beard will celebrate their twenty-tifth anniversary of their marriage by having an enter tainment and supper at their home on March 27 at 7:30 o'clock.
 MT. Eugene w. Coe, who has been visiting friends and relatives in Hart ford and PlainVille has returned home.
 Union services, which were held in the several churches last week will be continued this week. Monday evening they were held in the First church, and Rev. II. H. Morse preached. This eve ming they were held in the Methodist church, and Rev. MT. Upson preached. Wednesday and Thursday evenings they will be held in the Plymouth church. Speakers from out of town are expected to be present Friday even ing they will be held in the First church.
 The Young Peoples Whist club met at the residence of Miss Carol Tibbals Tuesday evening.
 Mrs. Mary McGuinness died at her | home on New Haven turnpike Sunday | from a fall which she had few weeks 1 ago. Deceased was seventy-seven years | of age. The funeral services were held from St. Peters church Tuesday after noon at 2 o'clock. Rev. w. H. Hutchin- ! son officiated.
 Fldert Lott died at the home of James Howarth on Bridgeport turnpike ot cancer of the stomach Funeral ser vices were held from his late residence Tuesday afternoon at o'clock. Rev F. s. Townsend officiated.
 A Lenten tea will be served on Thurs day afternoon at the residence of Mrs David E. Smith on Gulf street. | Miss Sarah c. Allen is visiting friends | in New Haven for a few days.
 Willard M. Lane, formerly clerk in Lane X Peters has accepted a position with the Atlantic and Pacific Tea Co in Bridgeport
 Adam Schweibel is laid up with a severe attack of rheumatism.
 A daughter was born to MT. and Mrs Elbert N Clark Sunday morning.
 First church notes-Union meetings will be held this week. Preaching 1T | the Methodist church on Tuesday even ing, on Wednesday and Thursday eve. nings in the Plymouth church, and ir the First church on Friday evening.
 The benevolent union meet on Thurs day afternoon at o'clock for work Tea at o'clock
 Friday afternoon the girls class meet at 4:15 at the parsonage.
 The Order of Golden Cross meet or Wednesday evening in Cornwalfs hall
The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-03-17
PERSONII.

MT Charles F. Kelsey, who is with the well known clothing firm of c. F. Longley & Co., of this city, has, to- gether with his wife, returned from delightful visit in Guilford with friends. Mrs. Kelsey is a native of Guiiford and while there was the guest of MT. and Mrs. Soule, the well known and popular principal of the Guilford high school, MT. Soule is we'll known in this city, where he has a host of friends.
 James Bishop, judge-elect of the city court, has appointed Miss Hattie A, Ely the official court stenographer in accordance with a recent act of the legislature creating the office, The stenographer will report all civil jury trials and preliminary hearings which are likely to lead to the superior court.
The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-03-17
FOR AN ATTORNEY GENERAL
REPRESENTATIYES WILLIAMS AND
 BACK FAVOR THE BILL.

Sunday Law Discussion Before the Judici
 ary Committee-Difference of Opinion as
 to How Far Religion Prejudices the Ad-
 herents of the Bul-Text of the Law
 Under Discussion.
 The judiciary committee yesterday afternoon gave a public hearing on the bill providing. for the establishment of the office of attorney general
 Representatives Williams of Sails bury and Back of Union appeared in favor of the law. They based their ar gument on the economic question in Volved. The bill provides that the sal ary paid the attorney general be $4,OOO, and that he be allowed to draw suffl- eient sum with which to pay clerical assistance. The adherents of the bill claimed that in the several departments the state in the past year had been obliged to pay out more than $14,O0O for counsel fees. This expenditure of money was needless, they claimed.
 Attorney John w. Alling suggested that the bill be amended so that the attorney general could employ assist ance if necessary.
 Three bills concerning the regulation of work on Sunday had been assigned for g. hearing yesterday afternoon, but only one of them was discussed, as it embodied the provisions of the other two and much more that was accepta- ble to the originators of them.
 The first speaker in support Of the bill was Rev. MT. Hall of Greenwich, He said that the law had been framed so as to meet what the committee which had drafted it seemed to think was in accordance with the sentiment prevail ing all over the state. It was generally accepted that the present statute was dead letter and was not obeyed. That there were difficulties in the way, and not the lease of these was the small penalty attached to it. Four dollars might have been sufficient fine when the law was enacted, but not at pres ert. Another defect was that the law was not sufficiently clear as to what was prohibited and left too much to each ones interpretation. Rev. MT. Hall did not think that religious senti- IlleHl SHOulQ COlOT lne laN one pdillcle' He placed it's need on the principle that rest was needed one day in the week He believed that the vast majority of men who favored the enactment of the bill did so from this standpoint.
 Attorney Henry G. Newton who also advocated the bill, differed with the Rev. MT. Hall as to the religious ele- ment that imbued the persons who fa- vored the bill. Mir. Newton reviewed the law at length and then called upon l.. B. Stanton of Hartford, who favored the general provisions of the law, but did not wish the word recreation em- bodied in it.
 The bill was opposed by Prosecuting Attorney George M. Gum of New Ha- ven and J. c. Chamberlain of Bridge port Both gentlemen wished to see a law enacted that could be obeyed and not one which would be broken every Sunday.