The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-08-20

pany is Cackling UP its ample sleeve al
such agitation. There isn't a person Of
sane Judgment who could upon sober re
Election condemn the company for any Of
the aforementioned rules. A ten-miNute
introduction 10. the telephone system Will
convince normal Intelligence that they are
necessary.
Yes. but these. are the things the girls
complain Of. say the agltators- So they
do, Of these and twice as many m ore
necessary evils. And every one is so busy
hunting for the notes that no one marks
the beam.
There isn't any need Of fitting at wind
mills. It doesn't help the telephone. girl
nor harm the company, Central IS
abused. Central does develop melar-
chOlia. "Centrals' thoughts DO turn sui
cide-ward, nor always stop at the deed.
There is one unnecessary reason for this
state Of affairs. It's because Central,
is worked far beyond the endurance Of
the average girl Body and brain cannot
stand il. It's fag-pEysiCal and mental
fag-that drives the telephone girl 10 the
brink Of death and SOmctmcs over It.
It's that which drives them TO the shame
and despair Of worse than death.
phone, office without more or. less in
luence- Some one has 10 pail a wire for
you or-it is cut Of the question. Some
one may simply be q friend Of a friend.
etc. or he NAV be real somebody
The somebody who did the act for me
occupies a corner in the financial world
ard niche in the world political Ine
magic OF his name signed to my letter
Of Introduction was. an open sesame
that swung wide the doors leading into
the office Of Mr.. Glass, who employs all
a boy in uniform had to make several
exits and 'ertTanCes before ! could stand
in the rotuDG presence Of Mr.. Glass-fOr
he didn't ask me to. he seated. He was
verv pleasant telling me that thev turned
away hundreds Of girls and had long
waiting list, but he would make an es-
pecial effort IN my case to give me i'm
mediate employment He looked at me
rather sharply and was evidently going
TO ask some questions when his eye again
fell on the signature Of the letter. ] Ou
need no further recommendation. he
said, as I bowed myself ont. Three days
later ! received note telling me 10 re-
port for duty.
The FRS day that I spent in the
telephone Office I shall always remem-
Der as one of the blaCE-ictteT 'unDleaS-
ant days in my calendar. / lived in
constant terror of meeting an acqUainl-
ance who would reveal that I was
there under an assumed name ms
would bring Udtum upon the Denefaetor
10 when I owed the opportunity OF work
ing in the telephone Office 81 salary If
ril for. two weeks and 500 month there
/ was assigned to Sunset office. which
has its own room in the big building. l
came al 6 IN the morning and was al
lowed TO- use the elevator. Tor some ur-
fathomed reason the company allows the
girls TO- ride in the elevator e they 30 ~
during the early morning hours. At All
other times. up or down. they must foot
the two marble and four rubber fights
The chief operator gava ne. a cap and
q seat. My sole duty that day was tn
listen TO the operator next to me in order
to learn the method of answering a sub
scriber. At Il O'Clock ] had half an hour
for lunch There. We're about thirty girls
and butter were placed. on heaping platters
by the maLron. \ number of girls had
brought additions 10 ill out the menu
offered by the company. But there vas
a ~
quality.
Lucy is taking bath again to-day"
! heard a girl 70 the right Ct me say
She takes one down here every week.
They can't have a bathtub at home l
should think she'd be ashamed to alvcr
tise the fact by using these.
These are six porcelain tubs with not
and cold water that are at the disposal Of
the girls It Is thoughtful convenience.
for The bah is .,r an i 5aia aqtidete
cred that the girls rather resented thr
bathrooms, regarding them as lnsinua-
tons against their home comforts. That
which they miscall pride" prevents them
from using them and calls forth disDarac-
ing remarks about those who do make it
q habit.
recess. which ! spent in the sitting room.
Two or three girls were standing before
a bulletin board. Have YOU read thts9-'
asked one. %, beg pardon. I thought
il was Grace"
told them that I was in Sunset Office.
and they Immediately introduced them
selves and piled me with questions and
advice
You want TO watch this bulletin" said
one You can always find out why the
last girl was dismissed. They write the
rule which she has broken on here as
warning
1t win take you two weeks 70 learn ii
you're quick" said another. That's the
time most girls need. Really. though, il
takes q year TO make good operator
doesn't it, girls? Well, my recess : up.
I must go"
So was mine, and I went back 10 Sun
set office TO The cap that iTritated me.
the receiver with its film Of sickening
moisture. and the silence that CALLED.
There isn't any denying that it Is hard
isn't any denying that this stringent rule
is necessary to have good telephone ser