Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-01-02
PREJUDICE and
the METER MAN

Figures can't le," but some per-
| sons won't believe that about the gas
meter. That is why the gas meter
mans Job Is something like q baseball
umpire's-only worse. There is al
| ways kicking.
A human being who has been read
| ing gas meters for dozen years
| comes through the ordeal with the
fatalism o. Omar and the cynicism OF
an old reporter. But his stock of pa
| thence is truly wonderful. Job would
| appear to be an impstuous and irrit-
able man alongside this survivor.
Ma, the gas man has came"
That is often the signal for the poor
meter mans woes to begin. The lady
of the house follows him into the eel
lar and the dark corner wherein the
meter reposes. She knows the way
of the gas men and she is going to
watch.
Mrs. Jones, IN the apartment be-
low. showed me her gas bill yesterday,
Do you know what 1t was?"
The meter man said he didn't.
W01l, IL was w CCAIo 1858 SA~A~
mine. How do you account for that?"
"She burned less. madam"
Burned less? Why, she burns just
twice what / do, for she has three
meals to cook a day and have only
two. And they sit up all hours OF the
night, and we never burn our lights
after ten o'clock. l think it is perfect
ly disgraceful. I'm paying part OF
hers. That's what Il is, and you know
it."
I'll have the meter tested, madam,
if you WISH" he ventured, courteously.
She did wish So the meter was
tested, and it was as she said-the
meter was wrong. But the discs we're
beating the company instead Of the
customer. She paid higher bills after
ward. but was satisfied.
Nobody can be induced to believe
the meter. Often. the mistress of the
household will lead the meter man
triunphaHtly to the machine. and
pointing . finger OF scoTn, request him
to listen. When one listens intent1y.
faint, . very faint squeak can be
heard. This is where the gas goes to,
she declares. Either there is q leak
or there ID a mouse inside.
Protests are in vain. Assurances
that all meters squeak little avail
naught It has to be taken out and
new one put In.
There is the mistress of q large
household in the South end who thinks
she has scored a triumph over the
meter man to this day. It happened
at the end Of a summer vacation.
What about this?" she demanded,
when the man put in an appearance in
response to her summons, after she
had received a stiff bill. Look at this
gas bill. More than our average, and
here the house has been closed. I've
been away with the children and
George has been alone. He has only
burned gas enough to go to bed each
night I've caught you at last, my
friend"
It did look queer. And yet the meter
man was sure that his reading was
correct He tested the meter, and
could find nothing wrong. Finally he
decided to go to George" himself.
That worthy was a bluff, hearty
man, who took a great joy in living.
He favored the meter man with a
knowing grin, and proceeded to take
roll from his pocket.
Ter had to do a little entertaining
for some friends of mine when my
wife was away. I'll pay that bill, and
don't you say anything about it"
Sure" replied the meter man. 81
used to play some myself once"
After awhile, some men get a sort
of personal feeling against the gas
meter, and the gas meter man. 1t is
like the constant weather kicker, who
| is sure that the supply handed out is
personal affront to him. People have
been known to smash meters when
| greatly ipcensed in this way, and their
requests for changes of meters come
in frequently. Not long ago q man
met the gas meter reader at the door.
Under his arm he held his meter,
which looked as if it had been
wrenched from the wall.
| Here's your - meter" he said,
| sternly. I'm going away on business
for a couple of weeks, and 1 don't in
tend to have that rotten machine wh,z-
| zing away at my expense all the time
I'm gone"
| There are a great many people who
| try to beat the meters, where the coin
meters are used. These are the ma
| chimes in which a quarter is placed
and gas is supplied until the amount
equivalent to the coin is consumed
| Gus coins when he makes his round to
| collect or discovers that attempts
! have been made to employ other than
| coin of the realm, without success.
| For the machines are so cunningly
contrived that nothing but a whole
coin of the proper weight and size and
edges will pass into the meter and do
the job.
People who are not accustomed to
the use of gas or to meters are the
chief DIRECTORS. They do not under.
stand them, and they cannot see how
a machine could fail to beat the Gus
toner. One man, of foreign extrac.
ton, demanded his old meter back
after, hts little old-fashioned machine
had been changed for one of a newer
style.
You take out my leetle meter and
put in that big box" he observed, sage
ly. big box makes lots of gas.
Leetle box makes leetle gas. l want
leetle box again.
He got it and paid higher bills, be-
cause he was using more gas, but he
was satisfied.
MODERN WORK WILL NOT LAST
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