The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1919-09-17
What Telephone Girl Learns
While Listening to Voices

sists on holding purring conversa-
tions with the operators. He is as
effectively rebuked as if emphatical-
~ informed, Il have no time to waste
on your kind" The only words ac-
tually used are, Number, please?"
"Oh, yes" smiled Miss Lula John
stop, chief operator, who MAS been
with the company nine years; "oper-
ators nearly always can tell appear
ances and dispositions from the voices
that come over the wires. They are
seldom wrong. 1t may be intuition
that enables them to do so, but more
likely it Is the careful training they
receive. Every sound indicates some
thing to them: OF course, it is com
paratively easy to ascertain ones dis
position by the way he asks for num-
bers."
Other operators say "frightfully
large number Of men lose their tenn
pers and curse over the phones" They
concillate them as much as possible,
and it is seldom that soft words fail
to appease.
$4,000 Calls a Day.
In the old days operators frequently
knew the whereabouts Of physicians
officials and others. and could furnish
the information in emergencies. But
those times have passed Seventy
eight thousand calls are handled daily
by the Macon exchange of the South
ern Bell and it is impossible now
for even veterans to keep track of
such details. One hundred and thirty
five young women are required to care
for the telephone conversation Of
Macon. Thirty-five are at the switch
board at time. Forty eight handle
long distance messages. One thousand
long distance messages are handled a
day.
Take look into the operating
room. The switchboards are arranged
In a semi-circle. Lights fash and con-
nections are made. Supervisors walk
behind the row Of operators, much
as sentries walk their posts. At a
desk Is the chief in conference with
another operator There is no con-
fusion. Everything works with me-
chanical precision. There is no bab-
bic Of tongues. Occasionally a voice
is heard; but the even tones go so
clearly and softly into the instruments
there are no discordant notes. Yet
every tone means something.
The Smile Voice.
MI. is trying to get his
home His wife is engaged in long
conversation with neighbor. Per-
haps they are devouring a choice bit
OF gossip. He calls again; the num-
Der Is still busy. He is vexcd, and
slams up the receiver Again he calls.
His vexation increases. The smile
tones Of the operator are brought in
to play, and his voice comes less
harshly.
The operator has formed her opin-
ion; but he is not put in the crouch
class. There are cxtcnuating circum-
stances, and she makes allowances.
a young man sails. The number is
repeated. Yes, sugar." he replies.
Fresh" is the side remark Of the
operator as she makes the conncc-
ton, and the girl next to her smiles
knowingly Gle has curly hair and
ping moustache," she says. "IIe call
ed the same number yesterday" Thus
the verdict is rendered.
a story is told OF one young woman
who formed opinion from voices, and
who amused herself when off duty
by riding in street cars and, with eyes
closed, listening to voices to compare
her Impressions with realities. Thc
impression was right in nearly every
case.
SENTENCED FOR DISLOY Atty.
II