Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-09-25
THE ALTON LADY TELLS OF ONE
IN HER NEIGHBoRHo0D.
1T is 4 UNIVERSAL PAVORIHE.
snatchcs of Conversation Heard on
the wircs-"Ccntrar" 80 Lacking
els That You, Marys-Country
Ladies' Now Resting.

ample time for mental digestion.
When Edison invented the telephone
and proved beyond peradven.ure the
practical success of his discovery, ne was
hailed with delight by wondering world.
out OF the world includes certain places |
in the Blue Ridge mountains. at least, |
like Arcadia. they are not down on the |
map. In one OF these secluded rural |
districts the wizards masterpiece has not
been (perhaps) an unmixed blessing. Here
hut a little while ago. mid sunny skies
and sylvan woods, the festive native
roamed the wilds in all his unsullied in
nocence. Here. far from the 'madding
crowd" with perspiring industry, he work
ed the soil from dawn till dark, gaining
thereby his seed and somewhat over. the
bliss that proves the folly of wisdom was
his without alloy. His fields of tasselling
corn unfolded visions of future feasts
long before the Johnny cake materialized.
! To him
No beauties rare could half compare
To waving fields of wheat,
| No Joy come near, the fact that mere
| He raised enough TO eat.
| Dwelling thus, there reached him no
echo of progress. Beyond the circuit OF
daily papers, the world Of invention was
unknown and uncomprehended. In MS
sleep no dreams there came that every
tomorrow would not be a counterpart OF
to-day. and he never did then what could
be put off till the day after.
A LITTLE BELL.
Into this modern Utopia there came a
little bell. Little bellies have broken up
many another Utopia, but they were not
stiLng on wires-as, perhaps they shouid
have been.
This little bell was boxed in antique
cak, and stretched on glittering wires
from Alton down the Rockiish Valley ans
was known and heard of all men
1t belonged to the telephone line ana
> brought US abreast with city civilization
. Abreast. did I say? Indeed, no. Away
ahead For one of the delights OF q
rural telephone is the absence or 9
} central. BY this fact you can hear, with
out a twingo Of conscience, all your
neiehbors private affairs and Cupid
Z, wles are public property.
"HelIo heliol Is this No. 1872"
'Yes, I'm is great laughter. Who ar
. you?"
Never mind. who I am; who's this a
9 the 'phone?' a. =,
> Faint giggllng. "This is me-lS; blu
who are your
= 80, / know you now. want 10 take
J, drive this EVENING"
Eyes. That you John?' Great gle
3 lingD
a "Good-by; good-by" And the receive
e goes up with a snap.
Il is THAT YOU MARY?
N rine-o-line ling-ling This time ca
ee ten miles away.
4 Hello! Is that you. Nary lnten'
I,e excitement-'phone fairly palpitates.
80 Mulyl He's coming! Saw hi
- drive by just now. Double team-out
sight"
r THANK you, I'll run and dress! sa
10 Mary. if you see Tom don't tell him
~ wOrd?'
y, mo. indeed, Good-by."
s. "Good-by."
IS Tom, at the halfway store, with u
IT, receiver glued TO his ear. mutters:
.ov "I'U break up his little game! and II
~ John Gipin. rides with the wind.
IS. The multitudinous woes Of Farmer Jon
since the advent Of the telephone wo'
melt a heart of stone. me chath
talking cover the line" had Feized
ES younger members of the family ana We
iry endured, nay more, tickled the ola III
n IL Win 81 Sih'~Hl4O" "
~ wouldn't acknowledge
Ad- WHEN SUSAN TOOK A HAND.
l. II was not until Susan, Susan. the pa
- ner Of his sorrows-his joys were mos
W taken on a cracker-boX az the stor
caught the fatal fascination that he 90
nm The house was neglected; the Ia
ms choked on harpns and empty spools;
chickens scratched for themselves,
NJ twenty times a day he came upon SuS
ties rushing frantically TO answer the pho
ling "Ain't that our CALF" she would say II
eN- force of habit. smoothing her hair
leht putting on her company smile
''A' And his suffering ear would eaten
at "Helo!"
- "Yes'm; how are your
az don't know -.
ANY WHAT
event to see Ben y
80 "Ben who?"
1898. go | heart want to set hen"
me- "Yes'm-settin 20 eggs; reckon cou
Ell '.Nodder tall-you're welcome.
Ipils "Good-by"
ook- Mrs Jones is awfully polite TO
ress ,nhone "Good-by, Miss Brown
-, SAYS; "come agin."
I'D REMINDERS OF CITY FADS.
We have yet many other reui'nIei
the city's fads and fashions among u
few years ago the summer resort u u
It's name. closed promptly with the
ana of September. This year there are
riae hotels that will not keep open Tor 81
live. far into October, and many lashion
s.. people will stay at their country ho
Dlesr until after the holidays.
s OF The autumn has lately become
,.toa of the vacation time. 1T is really
emic noradise OF those tired workers-the IL
ers' wives. Their strength mas
giish toxed bv summer boarders, by the II
Pol az rclatives-always welcome, but h
- taN upon the housekeeper-by the
On, harvesting, and preserving, W
nine hoxo left her no time for summer
oard, ino II h only in the warm days OF
on ~ or the halcyon time Oh III
summer that she lays down her Ia
r, oares for a little rest period. The
mt Is that too often this much-needed
Y. Is nut off too late. The years PHI
and another overworked woman
into an early grave
GET OUT OF RUTS.
ciate. II rests woman's mind TO get o.
GARD ,ha ruts She wants rest In BODY
URS- shirt and complete change OF
roundings.
mart MANY country housekeepers nav
Inc ether vacation than the few days
and NJ a country fair. This Is undouDte
pleasure but 10 many OF them l
's1ioS felt like saying:
Al NV Dear Madam. never mind the
- chickens and the fluffy ducks ana
DEH ,he straight-backed pig or the Dig
Nv with the blue ribbon. You