Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1901-05-16
USE THE SAME WIRE.
TELEPHONE MAKES TROUBLE FOR
WOMEN OF SUBURBANVILLE.

Mrs. OnerInR and Mrs. TwOrIng
Agreed on the Subject OF Butchers,
but When Each Discovered Who
the Other Was Everything Was on.
Since telephones on party wires were
introduced in Suburbanville there has
been a very thorough readjustment Of old
feuds. 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 a party wire quickly ac-
quires a 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 dozen con-
genial women to form whist or bowl
ing club, she sorted out on her list the
women who patronized the same butcher
and went TO the same church.
Since the party telephones have been
put in 1t has made the problem OF col
lecting dozen congenial women so COM
plex that 1t would puzzle a 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 they patronize, but
she must be sure not to bring together
two women who use the same party wire.
Such disaster happened last week.
Mrs. Onering had never met Mrs
Tworing, though their telephones were
on the same wire. When Mrs. Tworings $
telephone was put in, she thoroughly en-
joyed the novelty of calling up all of her
friends who had telephones dozen times
a day. Mrs Onering had become ac-
customed to her telephone, and the con-
tinual jangling Of Mrs. Tworing's calls
annoyed her. Several lively skirmishes
followed over the wire.
One morning when Mrs. Onering was
anxious to telephone for a cab to catch
certain train she waited for Mrs. Two
ring to get through telephoning until her
patience was exhausted. Then she broke
In on the wire with the request:
Won't you please give me O chance to
Gdu ny Inv hfefy seapAe' Ia IL q n4A
~"
"Ars you, indeed?" said the voice.
"Who are your
'T am Mrs. Onering. Who are your
'I am Mrs. Tworing, and / shall COM
plain to central that you have been lis
tsnipg."
"Well, then, I will tell central that
can't help listening because you are us
4 A. II n b. II har
much right on this wire as you have"
Comes from having Ill bred persons on
the wire, and
People who never had a telephone be-
fore, and
"I1l complain, and"-
ST won't stand 1t a.
"Such impertinence"
Bur-r-r-r, and both telephones rang off
at the same time. IL so happened that
Mrs. Onering and Mrs. Tworing did not
both guests at a Helping Hand social,
and, happening 10 be seated together,
they opened conversation without the
formality 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.
II find my telephone a great conven-
ience," said Mrs. Onering 'but I have
the most disagreeable people on it. One
woman has just had her telephone put
In, and she works It to death. She has
been telsphoning all this last month. /
think 1 will apply to have my wire
changed. can't stand it,"
"Thats just my experience" said Mrs.
Tworing delightedly. There 10 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 I use the wire. IL one could
only chase the other subscribers on her
party wire, 1t would be a great advan-
tage."
So many common experiences made
Mrs. Onering and Mrs. Tworing very
chummy, and each was just about to in
Site the other to call when the hostess
came up and said to them:
"Why, did not know that you two
people knew each other"
1--WE have just scraped an acquaint-
ance," said Mrs. Onering, "and wish
that you would introduce US formally"
Certainly" said the hostess. Mrs.
Onsring, / want TO present a neighbor Of
yours, Mrs. Tworing."
"Tworing, did you sayf" asked Mrs.
Onering. "Yes. remember the name
perfectly. So sorry, but must be going
now. / have had lovely afternoon"
And out she went.
IF she had not gone, would have
done so," said Mrs. Tworng.
why, 1 thought that you were getting
along beautifully" said the hostess.
Her telephone Is on my party wire,
and she bothers me very much"
AIRS. 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 Suburbanville
have had similar awkward experiences
that they have now applied to the tele-
phone company for a 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.
- Beauty Requires Sleep.