Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-08-20
rhe Tvranuy Of the Telephone.

" INV sOOKseOs>Os
We impeach the telephone Of high
crimes and misdemeanors, says the Bos-
ton Watchman. It 10 guilty of deadly
conspiracy to overthrow the usages of
polite society and to destroy the we'll
established customs of civilized people.
In ordinary intercourse 1t Is the height
of rudeness to interrupt people when
they are engaged In conversation with
others or busily employed In something
very important. But tho telephone
breaks relentlessly into the most critical
moments Of Q business transaction or in
terrupts the pleasant flow of an agreeable
conversation, and imperiously demands
instant attention to itself. In calling
upon any one In society or In business, 1t
Ia the way of civilization to send In q
card, or at least to have yourself an
nounced, so that there is an opportunity
to decide whether the reception of the
caller will be agreeable or even possible
at that particular moment. The tele-
phone ruthlessly breaks down this suit
able safeguard to personal convenience.
and intrudes unlimited and often on the
most inconvenient occasions.
There is reason to fear also that 1t is
undermining the habits of kindly and
polite consideration for the comfort OF
others. Often when you perhaps have
suddenly broken off very important
and pressing negotiation or piece of work
at the peremptory call of the telephone,
you take down the receiver only to hear
the words, "Wait q minute!" and you
find that some one has been saving bis
time at the expense of your own by hav-
ing clerk call you up, and you are
obliged to wait with the receiver at your
ear until he finds it convenient to talk
with you. A thing like this in ordinary
intercourse would be resented decisive
ly, and It would be safe when you hear
the words, "Wait moment" to hang
up the receiver at once, were It not for
the lopg-distance telephone, which re-
quires little time to make connections
for messages. If 1t were not for the
possibility of the message you are wait
ing for coming from distance these
"waita-minute" people, so economical
of their own time and 40 wasteful of the
time Of others, would find themselves
left without response when at their
leisure they found 1t convenient to call.
1t Is said on lines where there are
several users the despicable custom of
eavesdropping has become habit with
some. This and the way of fixing the
telephone so that when any one calls
they are met with only confusing buzz
zing or the reply from machine, cline
is busy" are such plain violations of the
most ordinary rules of good manners or
even decent courtesy that any arrange
ment which makes such incivilities
possible ought not to be tolerated in
civilized community.
We are quite well aware that the tele-
phone has come to stay, but that need
not prevent an occasional protest from
the bleeding victims Of its tyranny. We
are even ready to allow that in business
it is such great convenience that one
can bring himself to condone its sins for
the sake of its time-saving qualities. But
a telephone in private house is an out
rage on every idea of home. 1t de-
stroys all privacy and all possibility of
complete rest. 1t keeps the attention
always alert, and makes real repose and
comfort impossible.