The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1921-01-21
An Elevator Dispatcher
Who Never ForgetS

to the left"
A bystander in the lobby of the
forty-two story L. C. Smith Building
of Seattle looked at julius Langseth,
elevator dispatcher, with surprise
registered plainly on his face.
"How-how did you know those
people wanted to go up in the observa-
ton carp
Very simple, when you get accus-
toned to this work." replied Langseth.
"The man who runs an office in the
building awlks in with a confident
step, while the stranger who wants
to see the city from the observation
tower hangs back diffidently."
where am I to find Vickers and
Company" the dispatcher was asked.
"On the twenty-first floor, in room
2116."
Mr.. Langseth is considered by the
occupants of the l.. c. Smith Building
to have memory that entities him to
be considered one of the seven won
ders of the world, for he knows every
one in it, including the heads of the
companies, stenographers and office
boys, in Seattle's tallest building, with
it's 600 offices and $500 ocs spants. He
can also tell where peoll who have
moved out years before have gone.
Mr.. Robert K Dykes, the manager
of the building, takes delight in having
visitors in the building meet Langseth,
so that he can give them little ex-
hibition of his amazing powers of
memory.
"Where can l find D. F. Skinner"
was question asked him.
I'm sorry, Mr.. Skinner is out of
the city. He planned to go first to
Washington, D. c., from where, after
transacting some business, he will
leave for Cuba, for visit of few
weeks. 1t will probably be two months
before he returns"
L
R. Fifer Lumber Company" said an
other visitor What floor is it on?''
"The company moved it's Offices
three years ago." replied the memory
marvel eff you are looking for l.. R.
Fifer, you will find him in the Stuart
Building. If you wish to see his son,
you will have to go to the Henry
Building"
where can I find Attorney John
Dore?" he was asked.
"Mr Dore went to court this morn
ing. You'll find him either in Judge
King Dykeman's courtroom, or in the
office of the county attorny.
Little Jimmy Collins's mother is
sick. He works as an Office boy some
where in this building. Can pou tell
me where l can find him."
'Is he a little fellow, wearing his
first long trousers, with red hair and
a tooth out in 'front.'"
That's Jimmy"
well, Jimmy comes down the ele-
vator Just about this time on his way
out with the mail There he comes
now"
How are you able to do it?" he was
asked.
Conservation and a close study of
my work." Mr.. Langseth replied.
Last fall l made up a directory of my
own of every person in the building,
in my own handwriting. When a man
writes things down. he is not likely
to forget them.
81 study every person who comes in,
and l find that each one is different.
No two people are exactly alike. | can
tell one man by the way he takes off
his coat, and another by the way he
walks.
81 concentrate my mind on my work,
and keep careful watch on every
thing that happens. l know the ap-
proximate time that each man will
enter this lobby, and | can tell when
he is likely to leave it at night.
Success in this business is all mat
ter of study. People call me ouija
board, but my knowledge of these peo-
pie is result of careful observation
of their habits"
Mr.. Langseth recognizes the pecu-
liarities of nearly every tenant in the
building. He knows that one man is
good-natured, and likes to be greeted
in the morning, while another is in
clined to be surly, and desires to be
left entirely alone.
Mr.. Langseth has spent his life in
and dispatching elevators
He ran his first cars in the Superior
and Broadway Hotels in Superior,
After doing this he has
served either as an operator or dis