The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1901-03-15
USE THE SAME WIRE
TELEPHONE MAKES TROUBLE FOR
WOMEN OF SUBURBANvILLE.
MRS. onering and Mrs. Tworing
Agreed on the Subject of Butchers,
but When Each Discovered Who
the other Was Everything WINS OF

Agreed on the Subject of Butchers,
but When Each Discovered Who
the other Was Everything WINS OF.
since telephones on party wires were
introduced III Snburbanville there has
been very thorough reimbursement of old
Ieuus The party wire system permits
three or four telephones on the same
wire. Every telephone bell on this wire
rings at the same time. The special
telephone that is wanted is indicated by
the number of times the bell rings. Each
subscriber on 4 party wire quickly ac-
CURES decided contempt. if not hatred,
for every other subscriber on the same
wire.
Suburbanville's social lines were for
merly marked by membership in church
congregations, in some one of the dozen
or more whist clubs and lastly by the
butcher who supplied the family. When
Mrs. Smith wanted to invite a dozen con
genial women to form whist or bowl
ing club, she sorted out on her list the
women who patronzed the same butcher
and went to the same church.
Since the party telephones have been
put in it has made the problem of col
lectlng dozen congenial women so COM
pleX that 1t would puzzle graduate in
double entry bookkeeping. Not only
must the hostess bear in mind the CON
gregation to which the women belong and
the butchers whom ethcy patronize, but
she must be sure not to bring together
two women who use the same party wire.
Such a disaster happened last week.
Mrs. Onerins had never met Mrs.
Tworing. though their telephones were
on the same wire. When Mrs Tworing's
telephone was put in, she thoroughly en-
Joycd the novelty of calling up all of her
friends who had telephones a dozen times
day. Mrs. Oncring had become ac-
customcd to her telephone ana the con
tinual janglins of Mrs. Tworing's calls
annoyed her Several lively skirmishcs
followed over the wire.
One morning when Mrs Onering was
anxious to telephone for n cab to catch
certain train she waited for Mrs. Two
ring to get through telephoniug until her
patience was exhausted. Then she broke
in on the wire with the request:
Wont you please give ne chance TO
call UP the livery stable? I'm in hur-
~"
Are you. indecd:" said the voice
"Who are you:"
Il am Mrs. Onering. Who are you?"
Il am Mrs. Tworng. and shall COM
plain TO central that you have been lis
tenirg"
well, then, I will tell central that
cant help listening because You are us
ing the telephone all the time. / have as
much right on this wire as you have"
Comes from having i'll bred persons on
the Wire. and
'Peoplc who never had a telephone be-
fore, and
I'll complain, and
81 won't stand it a.
"Such impertincnce"
Bur-r-r-r, and both telephones rang of
at the same time. 1t SO happened that
Mrs. Onering and Mrs. Tworing did not
know each other by sight. They were
both guests at a Helping Hand social.
and, happening to be seated together,
they opened conversation without the
formaIity of an introduction.
They agreed beautifully about butchers,
and each wondered why she had not hap
pened to meet the other before. Then
they came to the subject of telephones.
Il find my telephone a great conyen-
~
the most disagreeable people on it. One
woman has just had her telephone put
in, and she works it to death. She has
been tclephoning al this last month
think | will apply to have my wire
changed. / can't stand it,"
That's just my experience" said Mrs
Tworing Delightfully."- There is the most
impertinent woman on my wire. know
from her voice that she is a perfect
fright. She is so curious that she listens
whenever l use the wire. If one could
only chase the other subscribers on her
party wire, it would be great advan-
tage."
SO many common experiences made
Mrs. Onering and Mrs. Tworing very
chummy, and each was just about to in
vite the other to call when the hostess
came up and said to them:
why, 1 did not know that you two
people knew each other"
eve have Just scraped an acquaint-
ancc," said Mrs. Onering, ''and / wish
that you would introduce us formally"
Certainly" said the hostess. Mrs.
Onering, | want to present neighbor Of
yours, Mrs. Tworing"
"Tworing, did you say?" asked Mrs
Onerng. Yes, remember the name
perfectly. So sorry, but l must be goin.
now. l have had lovely afternoon"
And out she went.
IF she had not gone, l would have
done So" said Mrs. Tworing.
"Why, thought that you were getting
along beautifully" said the hostess.
''IIer telephone is on my party wire,
and she bothcrs me very much"
Mrs. Tworing and Mrs. Onering pass
each other on the street as strangers. and
when they conflict in using the telephone
each treats the other with frigid polite
ness.
SO many hostesses in Suburbanvlle
have had similar awkward experiences
that they have now applied to the tcle-
phone company for classified list of the
party telephones in use. so that two wo-
men who use the same wire may not be
invited at the same time.-New York
Sun.