St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1914-04-22
DISSERTATION ON TELEPHONES
A Woman Writes of The Folly OF
Listening to Others.

A Woman Writes OF The Folly Oh
Listening to Others.
Dear Friends
/ wonder how many hearts in a
common community are troubled
over the use and abuse of the tele-
phone. Certainly the use of the tele-
phone was intended as a blessing to
the people of the town, country and
nation. Since the entrance of sin
into the world all nature has its use
and abuse. The abuse hinders and
destroys the use of what our Creator
intended should be blessing. When
God spoke through the minds of the
inventors, Edison and Bell, 1t was to
whisper within their minds direc-
tions for making an instrument with
which to serve a people in the high
est possible degree of usefulness. The
people into whose hands this instru-
ment is placed are the ones to effect
this.
How is this to be accomplished?
First, a company of wise, philan-
thropic men to back it up, who desire
that the community have the best
service, that possibly can be given,
at the most reasonable rates. Sec
ond, that the lines and batteries of
amined carefully and frequently
enough to insure good service. Third,
that one be sought for to look after
the central Office who understands
and puts into execution the rights
and courtesy due to the people who
support it. Fourth, that a salary
may be paid the central of such
amount as may call for efficient ser
vice. Fifth, that all be encouraged
to listen to no ring but his own, that
all power in the batteries may be
given to the wires to carry the voices
so distinctly that business be not
hindered, but facilitated. Sixth,
that every one in all his converse
ton when speaking through the tube
may be encouraged to speak,
Whatsoever things are true, what
soever things are honest, whatsoever
things are just, whatsoever things
are pure, whatsoever things are love-
ly, whatsoever things are of good
report"
/ am sure this will bring blessing
to the people and community who
practice it, for blessing always
follows those who choose and do
the right for rights sake. Fathers
and sons will have a better oppor-
tunity of doing business in a bus
mess way. Mothers and daughters
more time to look after the needs
of the home, and all, more time to
read and enjoy good wholesome
reading, especially, the Word found
in Gods Most Holy Book, the
Bible, which teaches one how to love
his neighbor as himself. One COM
munity living thus will bless anoth-
er and only the Lord, Himself, knows
how far-reaching will be it's infu-
ence.
When the telephone was first
placed in my home l thought it
much beneath the desires of my
minds conception of truth in the
inward parts" to listen to another's
call Sometimes as 1 'phoned to a
brother, sister or friend l would hear
a few words of the finishing of a
conversation. Sometimes it was
pleasing to the ear, and again bur-
densome and chaffy, full of idle
talk. For years | listened to no
ring but our own. Others listened
much. 1 was jealous for the time
that / thought was being wasted
which should be spent on better
things. 1t came to be a real bur-
den to my life as 1 did not fully
understand it's use and abuse, SO in
course of time, 1 allowed myself to
get interested, and once in a while to
neighbors, friends and the Doctors
call, listened, along with the rest,
and then, l listened for the purpose
of listening, till / understood to my
souls satisfaction that it was not
being used for the highest develop
ment of it's patrons. Now 1 listen
no more to any ring but our own
and / have come back to my first
conception of it's right use, and my
burden has left me. [ am writing
this, hoping that others may be
stirred and encouraged to use his tel
ephone to the highest purpose for
which It was intended, that the God
who gave gifts unto men may be
gloriied in its right and proper
use, that the time spent in listening
TO another's call may be more wisely
spent In getting a better understand
ing of the Holy One. .Tf knowledge
OF the Holy One is understanding, 10
a. rurnl1 nr1vfvaur r,R 0fRo -. Nf~y. A.