Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1913-04-21
TELEPHONE ETIQUETTE.
Communicated

Etlquet. Cine ceieh!oillal cue VI
polite life.
Thus tha English language defines
the word upon which our mutual as
sociztions AID relations are based.
How many CT US can boast Of clear
knowledge Of al that this little word
inp!:ss when used in the proper
connect on?
Eow many Of us who profess to
i've a ''polit. life" really step to
consider whether we are successful
or not? It is like the old saying that
a man who shows extraordinary af-
lection for his wife in public scolds
l1er when they are alone. So it is
With most CT us in our politeness to-
wards one another. When it is to
our advantage we can be all that is
desired bat caught Of four guard and
in a pertur5ed frame Of mind, we
usually Go not make line effort, al
though the person to whom we are
speaking meets US more than half
way.
1t would seem that innocent peo-
ole should not be made to suffer
through this negligence on our part.
yet that is exactly what happens
when we forget the password OF our
etiquette, civility.
Perhaps no other body of people
suffer from our careiessness more
han the telephone companies and
oar:;culariy the operators whose
lu:v and pleasure it is to answer
very one in a pleasant and busl-
lcss!ike manner. How many of you
,2aye seen this little heroine, for
1eroines some of them certainly are,
It her work.
Perhaps we have vague idea OF
Ter duties, but 1T is not fair to her
II her business TO form any definite
dea until we have scen for ourselves
he working of the wonderful machine
which requires her attention and
vigilance so minutes in every hour
How many of us answer our .ele-
,hones as soon as we hear its Dell
ing? Do we stop to finish the task
hand before we open the door
which leads 10 The greatest highway
! thu, world? We would not keep
friends waiting on Our doorstep so
Why keep them waxing on the tele-
,hone. Often it is to our advantage
0 answer promptly but usually do
OF learn this except through bitter
I'D :rience. Is this etiquette? NO,
nd furthermore il is bad business.
low often in taking up the receiver
- are greeted with the meaningless
lille word Hello" Why not save
III breath? H. always calls forth
additional questions leading to the
Identification Of the parry VINO is call
no Us. Why not help your nclgh6or
+ vour customer by saying This IS
Mr. Smith who is this speaking!
t hecias the converse ion IN
,Ieasant and businesslike manlT and
jl;.s your customers In all agreeable
ramc Of mind.
We hear much these days about
conservation. efficiency an deconomy
,elating 10 the great resources of our
.ountIy. We are proud of these un-
lsrtaKiags and believe IN them. Why
lot apply the same doctrine in our
ZONES and daily intercourse with our
,eiphbors and fellow citizens. Let US
~ to prevcrt the needless lack OF
human consideration and plug up ev-
7rv leak with a word Of Intelligence
nd th9ughtfulness for the person we
.annot see but hear very distinctly.
And let us remember that if we
rould not be thought ignorant OF
he meaning Of telephone etiquette
We will not listen on the line to our
7eighbor's conversation and possibly
3revc.f ali important call for the doc
or or telegraph Office.
A SUBSCRIBER.