The sun., 1905-11-12
SECRET TELEPHONE NUMBERS
PEOPLE SEEK PROTECTION FROM
INTRUSION BY WIRE.
Private Phones as Well as Business Phones
Not Listed NOw-TO Know Such Mum.
bers n Proof OF Intimacy With the
Family-EnOrts TO Discover Them.

Yes, they call me Sapphira," cheerfully
admitted the operator OF the telephone
switchboard in a large business house
Its because I'm such an accomplished
liar, you know,
But, then, that is one of the things I'm
paid for; so it really isn't my fault and 1
don't let it worry me. Perhaps the most
frequent lie have to tell is when am asked
about dozen times day if the president
has a private telephone call-one not in the
regular telephone directory, you know.
"0f course he has. he'd be in the insane
asylum il he hadn't; but he doesn't want
everybody to know it. The telephone
was getting such nuisance to business
men that lot of them have had to do this
Now, when mans private telephone
rings he knows it really ia a personal call
as only few people have his number. 1t
is direct call from Central and does not
come over the regular office switchboard
at all.
Every operator of private switchboard,
and, Of course, every Central is charged
with keeping these private telephone num-
bers strictly confidential. People try lots
Of different ways to worm this information
out Of U.s. but they don't succeed"
at saves my time wonderfully-this
having a private CALL" said lawyer. Il
really think this plan saved me from a
nervous breakdown last year.
MY private secretary has charge OF the
telephone supposed by the unintiated
to be the only one by which can be reached
personally. Nine times out of ten the dues
ton can be settled without referring to
me. Occasionally Of course, have to
speak to the person myself.
But there was time few Years ago
when could not dictate SO much as a note
to my stenographer without being inter-
rupted half dozen times. That exasper-
ating little ting-a-ling has been the death
knell to many finely phrased letter. As
Tor important documents, when debating
anything that required serious thought
was Obliged to have an entirely separate
room where was as absolutely out as
though in my home uptown.
While, OF course, L did not pretend to
speak TO every person who called for me
on the telephone, still, / was called very
often. 1t is very different now. Only a
and sometimes my telephone does not ring
more than once or twice a day.
The telephone is a mighty good servant,
but with ones name in the public telephone
directory II soon becomes hard master"
Yes, our house number is private, said
woman who has many social duties, "and
we. guard it as We do the family Jewels.
Only our own direct circle OF friends are
able to reach us by telephone.
As some one said TO me the other day,
quite the height of modern intimacy il
reached in the interchange Of private tele-
phone numbers. And it is true.
You would be surprised TO know the
lengths some people will go to discover the
number OF private wire. Why, would you
believe it,. our stable is often called up, and
whoever happens to answer Is asked for
our house number. Yes, our telephone ia
now just what 1t originally was and Just
what 1t should be--a convenience and not
o nuisance