Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-10-03
ELEVATOR ETIQUETTE.
1t Is Very Particular Matter Il
One Washington Building.

1t Is a Very Particular Matter In
One Washington Building.
Many are the trials of the conduc-
tors on the elevators in the State, War
and Navy Building at Washington. 1t
takes more than a common school edu-
cation to be successful at this job. To
be sure at all times and under all cir
cumstances, the operator must be the
personifcation of politeness, but it is
in his acquaintance with the officials
and the hundreds of military and naval
officers on duty in the big granite build
ing that his knowledge is valuable.
There is as much etiquette on one
of those cars on busy day as one
would find at one of the big dinners at
the White House across the way, where
the seating of the guests round the
board is one of rule or social priority.
The approach of the Secretary of
| State, of War, or of the Navy in the
direction of a lift" is signaled by a
peculiar clapping of the hands by all
the messengers or veterans along the
| line who guard the approaches to one
Of the biggest office buildings in the
world, or who watch over its corridors.
So at the sound of three bells on the
| nush-button-a Secretary's call-no
matter who is on the elevator, be he an
| admiral or a general, the lever is re-
| versed. down or up the car goes, as the
| Indicator reads, the car door is quickly
and quietly opened, and the Secretary
| is taken in. and carried at once to the
| floor of his destination; for there is no
| stopping at the floors to take on or let
off anybody else.
| Now comes the time when the keen
| discretion of the conductor, his remem-
| brance of faces and his knowledge of
| ranks of army and navy officers, and
their precedence, is brought into play.
For example, one morning, on the
| day of the funeral of general officer,
| the building was alive with officers in
| full-dress uniform on their way to st.
Johns Church to attend the ceremo-
| MES A major of cavalry from Fort
| Myer, Virginia, having business at the
| quartermaster's department. was on the
| elevator, and was being shot up to the
| third floor when the sharp ringing of
| three bells announced the Secretary of
| War at the ground aoor. Down went
| the elevator. The big Secretary and
the little major saluted, and before the
| salutation was over two bells rang,
meaning that an officer of high rank
wished to ride.
The Secretary of course was ct" and
| accordingly was ushered out at the
second floor, first, by all means.
Then I'D flew the elevator to the
| fourth floor to answer the two bells, to
take on brigadier general who de-
sired to descend to the street floor.
More saluting by the major.
Down shot the elevator. The briga-
| der departed. aud the major who had
| been carried past his destination twice
now. breathed a sigh of relief; but just
then two bells rang again on the sec
| ond floor. and this time the chief of
| staff. with the rank of major general,
got aboard. and down the major went
| again, salute and all.
After the chief of staff went, the
ever polite conductor, turning to the
Junior officer and observing his rank
and insignia, said, Major, what floor,
please"
The third. please" replied the be-
lated officer. but the next time 1 want
| it I'll walk"