The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-12-31
TRIALS OF THE
TELEPHONE GIRL
Some Of the Experiences She Under
goes During the Day.
AN INSTANCE RE LIED.
In what Manner n Great Dear Oh
Trouble Could be Avoided go How
che Telephone Boys Manage
IN the Night Time.
AN INSTANCE REClTED'

r.. .,isis Of the telephone girl are
many. From early morn ui' h'e"'i"'4
sbe Is the centre Of Babel OF Voices
zach demanding Immediate ana eNc'O-
s,ve attention and each asking TOT NUM-
her 10 he served up to himself IA soou
order Immediately. She makes consc'e"'
tious Efforts to serve them all IN me
olsssss possible manner ana Il Troy
! would only learn patience ana only r'-
member that they arc not the only voices
on the wire. by a cooperation OF senu-
mont. they could struggle through the or
deal In a more satisfactory manner. But
man will never learn the Golden huie
and The sequel is disastrous.
Let an ordinary human being try TO
snanipnlate the plugs on one OF the taolea
and he would soon give up IN olshidy'
Still these girls are expected TO be I'M
rnaculate in their service. answer every
body at once and give everybody the
same number If necessary.
A man calls central, tells her that he
has been ringing three hours and asks
her why in the thunder she does not give
him el2
She meekly obeys knowing fun wei ne
has not been ringing the tenth part Of
three minutes and ON the one hahd ules
10 ring CT long enough and on the other
ohev fhe command from the owner not TO
ring Il all day." when @ does not an
sWer Immediately. the man gives the pen
a savage twist. calls the unoifenoing cen
trail and asks her sarcastically II she
intends 10 give him 81 before the TWEEN
tieth century begins
with q resigned air, she gives the num-
Der in demand. another ring and waits
the result OF course. not being able
20 hear the conversation. she does not
know when q has answered and wishing
70 appear attentive, She asks the gentle
man 81 they have given car 10 bis suppl
cation. They are talking now and the
man at the phone gives "a savage growl
and yclls "clear out ccntral' She clears
out.
She now aivcs her attention to the
chorus that grcots her ear on her right.
watching ring off with great vigilance,
and plugging in" with vehemence. The
"plues" are the instruments by which the
two phones are connected
A DISMAL VAIL.
She then hears o. dismal wall from the
region Of the original phone % ana Us
informed in no couched terms that she
has mahciousiy "cut them or. she
knows not how, nor cares, Tor the usual
ly "meak and mild central is now mad.
She slams the plugs right and left gnash-
e. her teeth. and ardently wishes she
were man that she might plug some
body beside the head She rings the two
nun1t FRS acain and loi here comes 6l with
:. .Efand rush. hauls the exasperated CEN
trai before the tribunal and tells her that
she has committed "a CRIMINAL action ana
ought 10 the dashed 20 the North Pole
Ana the cause you have been ringing
my 'nbone ever since I can remember /
have during the interval, been down
stoirs eaten my breakfast ana s''oAv"
eight cigars. $3.50 ,ho com
.put timidly demonstrates Inc cen
49,, ",.o,, Told me YOU were disconnect-
"ciesr out. central" wells the o''''
,ner and Give ms chance To talN' ,-
md che clears out wishing some ''iil.s'
a. the bare possibility OF Whl-" 'o ~,
r,,i,. men would shudder. or rather ian
themselves. ,.... ~ nv
The above IS only an instance ana by
80 re~e one. There are two
toie~hone companies operating IN klCh-
-r,r7 one "A local organization ana inc
other a branch. Between the two aoou'
eixtv-0ve girls are employed and lheir
e,.,e~isn,cs are interesting and varied
\Their manner Of serving the public
Milo with the same effect Is essentially
differ,nt on .hc one line there Is
continual ring, while on The other the con-
fn-ion of voices calling for numbers is
ridiculous. ...,...
some PERSONS jam their mou right INTO
the receiver and yens as though eNer}-
hoav were deaf. while others expect the
transmitter TO follow them around the
room In their amhiincs.
HOW TO RING OFF.
Thon the ringing orr ls another source
OF great mis1nders.and.ng Persons who
use the phone should remember that II
thev do not "rin- off, before raging 'or
central again. they arc still unginc lie
same number and IF any confusion should
result should lay The blame On tie risht
place.
By otferving the simple recommended
lions printed on IRE books. great deal
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