The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1909-01-07
PREJUDICE AND
The ETER NAN

Figures can't lie," but some per
sons won't believe THAI about the gas
meter. That is why the gas meter
mans Job is something like 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 of Omar and the cynicism OF
an old reporter. But his stock of pa
| thence is truly wonderful. Job would
appear to be an impetuous and 1rrlt'
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 Gel
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 it was?"
The meter man said he didn't.
"Wen it was 60 cents less than
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 day and l have only
| two. And they sit up all hours OF the
night, and we never burn our lights
| after ten o'clock. think it Is perfect
| ly disgraceful. I'm paying part OF
hers. That's what it is, and you know
| it."
I'll have the meter tested, madam,
| IL 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 were
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
triumphantly to the machine, and
| pointing a finger Of scorn, request him
to listen. When one listens intently, a
faint, a very faint squeak can be
| heard. This is where the gas goes to-,
she declares. Either there is leak
or there Is mouse inside.
Protests are in vain. Assurances
that all meters squeak a little avail
naught. 1t has to be taken out and a
new one put in.
| There is the mistress Of a large
/ hn nj q
| she has scored a triumph over the
meter man to this day. 1t happened
at the end of 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"
1t 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 90 to George himself.
That worthy was a bluff, hearty
man, who took a great joy in living.
He favored the meter man with
knowing grin, and proceeded to take
roll from his pocket.
Ter had to do 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. q
used to play some myself once
After awhile, some men get a sor,
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 wher
greatly incensed in this way, and theil
| requests for changes of meters come
In frequently. Not long ago mar
met the gas meter reader at the door
Under his arm he held his meter
/, | W ulCu lOOhtu do IL ~ AeAN wv
wrenched from the wall.
Here's your - meter he said
sternly. I'm going away on bushes:
for a couple of weeks, and l don't in
tend to have that rotten machine Whiz
zing away at my expense all the tim'
I'm gone"
] There are a great many people wh'
try to beat the meters, where the coli
, meters are used. These are the ma
chimes in which quarter is place.
and gas is supplied until the amour
equivalent to the coin is consumed
| The meter man frequently finds spur
GUS coins when he makes his round t
| collect or discovers that attempt
, | have been made to employ other thai
coin of the realm, without success
For the machines are so cunningl
, contrived that nothing but a Who'll
coin of the proper weight and size an
edges will pass into the meter and d
) the job.
. People who are not accustomed
r the use of gas or to meters are tn