Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-12
THE TELEPHONE GIRLS EAR.
She AstOnishes a Chicago Citizen by
Her Memory for Voices.

From the Western Esctrician.
There is a man in Chicago who relates
a curious experience. Some time ago he
had occasion to talk to business acquain-
tance over the telephone. He called up the
central office and asked for his friends
number. In a moment there came back to
his ear in a soft feminine voice the familiar
murmur: Lines busy now please call
again.
The man at the telephone was really anx-
lous to communicate with his friend who
was valued customer, without loss Of
time. Accordingly he called up the opera
! tor again IL two or three minutes, with the
same unsatisfactory result This procedure
was repeated several times. the girl invari-
aply protesting in calm. even tones that the
desired connection could not be obtained.
From growing irritation the inpatient
man at the instrument passed to a COM
piete. though momentary, loss of his tenn
per and he soundly berated the girl at the
switchboard for what he thought was sim
ply careless inattention to her duties. The
girl returned a soft answer in a few words
and thus the brief dialogue terminated.
This was a very ordinary incident, but the
sequel, as told by the narrator of the story
was surprising About a week after NV
coiioquy with the telephone girl he said
IN continuing his Veracious relation, II had
occasion to take an elevated railway train,
and stopped for half minute to exchange
word with the ticket seller, with whom /
have slight acquaintance. 1t was only a
man behind me awaiting her turn to pass
through. and so L hurried out to the Plat
form and into the train.
The girl behind me entered the same
car and took a seat across the aisle from
me. 1 noticed that she was prepossesstng
In appearance and neatly dressed, but as L
have grown up family Of my own and
! have passed the age Of youthful follies my
glance toward her was merely one of casu-
al bencvolence. moment later however
was conscious that she was regarding me
intently. She was evidently reassured by
my mature and unassuming exterior, for
to my establishment, she quickly arose and
took the vacant seat beside me- Before L
could imagine what was up she began 10
speak
-" Please pardon me for my presumption
she said but you not the gentleman
who had some difficulty in getting Harrison
Ninety-nine-double-ni on the telephone
last week?
Il was completely mystiied, but I re-
membered the number very we'll and +
said was the man.
Well she said, 4 was the girl at the
central Office | remember Won nv vour
voice
You may imagine my surprise. OF
course. l was profuse in apologies when [
recovered myself bit. The young woman,
evidently regarding me a trustworthy,
fatherly sort of a person. then proceeded to
tell me a great many things ] had not
known about the arduous duties strict dis
cipline and perplexities of telephone girl
She spoke with dignity and seif-posssssion
and her earnest, ladylike manner made me
doubly ashamed of my trivial impatience
But before | could again express my re-
gret the train had reached her station and
she was gone | am still wondering how
ever. at her wonderful ear memory. She
had heard my voice but for an instant at
the ticket sellers window. and Yet she re-
membered II from among the thousands of
Others that come TO her over the wire