The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-10-01

JfOuDIe TO call, must wait on all THESE
Interruptions and it is natural that he
should feel aggrieved. He has a right
to the man and his time is valuab BILE.
Have you any right to break into
what he wants to say, when he has
come to your office to say it, at the
bequest of some unknown who has
utilized the bell on your desk to voice
a triviality that he would not walk
up the steps to deliver?
Anyway, one is apt to think. a tee-
phone is nuisance. Especially is
this true as it is generally used in a
newspaper office That is the one
place that all the world feels it its
privilege to call up:
"Tmg-a-ling," goes the bell and you
find that there is request for some
unknown who is supposed to work
somewhere about the office to come
to the phone" or it is some import
ant parsonage who wants the country
informed that he has departed for the
North on business, or is about to de-
part, or has just come back; or some
sweet voice of woman who desires
that -aping universe should know
that he. niece, Miss Estelle. of New
Creek has just cCxne to the city; or
some philanthropist who wishes you
to know that the Eternal order of
Speckled Elephants has just elected
him Chief Minotaur; or the Rev. b.
Cuttawy Fowl wants it put IN that the
Rev. DR.. Is. f. Fowl delivered a very
powerful sermon night before last at
the protracted meeting now in prog
ress at Simon's ferry, at which there
were Ia professions and three souls
added to the dock; or, and that is the
worst of all an imperative ringing
which results in the question over the
wire whether you want piece of
news" and the statement in reply to
the hopeful affirmative that Miss Hat
tie Lacem, who has been with MeSsrS.
Threads and Pins, has now accepted
position as lady in charge of the grand
display of new and novel lingerie at
Shoes and Buttons (who do not adver-
tise). where she will be glad to see the
many friends she has won in our
midst since she has graced the social
circles of the Caoital City,
Yet, if the bell rings without re-
Spouse. the other paper is sure to APP
pear with big headlines which look
like tombstones as you examine them
and realise that they are not in your
paper; and later in the day, while the
mystery as to how ii came about is
yet clamorinS for explanation, you
meet a mild-mannered man on the
corner who says that he telephoned
from the country last night about the
robbery, hut he couldn't get anybody
to answer!
It is this uncertainty that renders
the newspaper easy prey, and that
thus breeds tho chastc desire on the
part Of the public to communicate
with the paper with the slightest pro-
vocation During the Japanese war it
was d common thing to be asked TWEEN
tY times Il night about battles and to
give q geogra phical description of po-
sitions and the names of contending
generals. 1t is nothing unusual to be
asked to decide bets on everything
from tho date of Andrew Jackson's
last duel to Straug's last years bat
ting average. And when a prize fight
is taking place in San Francisco at
eight O'Clock at night, the phone is
sure TO ring some dozens of times be-
fore ten O'Clock. Notwithstanding the
fact that, owing to the difference in
time. the report cannot be hoped for
before ono in the morning. The peo-
pie who thus use UP the time seem to
feel no regret at the disturbance they