Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-01-24

Grave woman anu a pidCllCdi tptt-
ator."-Miss H. c. McDonnold,
Keely's.
LAS private board operator
maybe | would have done the same.
But as a switchboard operator,
serving the public, l don't think so.
Anyhow, the same problems don't
come to us that came to Wanda
Kelly"-Miss Ruth Futral, South
ern Bell
woman's heart is the same the
world over--a heart full of sympathy,
and yet heart to be steeled and hard
at times.
But the sense of duty varies with the
different women, and whether Wanda
Kelly. operator heroine of the play,
THE Woman" was right when she cut
off call to save a woman's name and
refused to divulge the number called,
still is a matter of dispute, although
twenty telephone girls of Atlanta have
spoken on the subject.
Telephone girls from Atlanta's
switchboards have a variety of opin-
ions. Twenty of them saw the play
last night and although all of them
love Wanda Kelly for her pluck and for
her sympathy there are some who
think she should have been on her job
and not Quitting in" on the affairs of
other persons.
They are in the minority, though,
Most of the girls give enthusiastic in
dorsement of the plucky heroine who
defled a lobby of old line politicians,
and won out.
Problems of Girls Differ.
The difference of opinion comes be-
cause there are operators and opera
tors, and as many viewpoints as opera
tors. Because, after all. Wanda Kelly
spoke the truth when she said that the
switchboard was the whole world The
hello" girl of the public board is not
of the same sphere as the operator of
the private boards of offices and hotels
and stores Their problems are differ
ent. the girls explain. Their philosophy
is different For instance:
Wanda Kelly had no business but
ting in but when she was in, maybe
she was right in going as far as she
did, the girls Of the Southern Bell
switchboard-the public "centrals"-
will tell you.
Wanda Kelly did as / would have
done or as any other telephone girl or
other woman, either would have done.
She was f1ne," is the consensus of opin-
ion of the P. B. operators-as the girls
on the private boards are known tech
nically in the switchboard world,
Think Only Of Service.
The girls themselves explain it. The
p B. operator has more of an intimate
touch with things about her. She has
more privileges. they say. Her sympa-
thies are with those about her, most of
whom she knows
But the public board operator. work
ing with thousands and thousands of
persons, serves the Great Public and
like a true public servant has her
thought and her conscience directed
only toward efficient service. That is
why the Southern Bell girls say that
they would not kill call. Maybe they
would as a r. B. operator, but never on
the public switchboard,
But be that as it may, there is none
do romantic service as did Wanda Kel-
ly Whether their viewpoint is the i'm
personal one OF the Southern Bell
board, or the warmly personal attitude
of the private board girl, they are girls
after all, and very much smitten with
the woman of their craft who fought
for another woman.
All Call Wanda Good Operator.
They all admit that in one way OF
another They may not all approve
Wandas methods. but oh, how their
hearts went out to her when she was
in trouble!
They all think she is a good operator.
They laughed sympathetically when she
cut off the fellow who wanted date"
They knew that she was on her job
when she told the cranky old woman
the time of day--when she handled
angry men and women all with the
cool tolerant, patient tone.
AT last the people can see that We
are human beings" said one delighted
operator today,
But the girls all frowned at Wanda
occasional eavesdropping. They were
shocked. in fact
They Never Listen!
"Oh, no, we never do that" they said
in unison.
The girls who saw the show loved
Wanda Kelly from the first. They gig
sed, right out. plainly siggled. when
they saw and heard her do things that
they do every day. They hung breath
less on the tense periods. and there
were three who displayed smartng, red
palms this morning from their enthusi-
astic manner Of applauding the hello"
girl of the Washington hotel.
The girls who saw the play last night
as The Georgians guests, and who gave
their opinions of Wanda Kelly and of
her problems today. were Miss Oma
Hardin NJ Rich & Bros; Miss II. G.
McDonnold, Keely's; Miss Clara Kelly,
j. NJ High Company; Miss Flora Reed,
Chamberlin-J johnson DuBose: Miss Jo-
sic Ptcp Davis pa vop- Gfolyas. Nfrs Il