Arizona republican., 1921-02-14
FABLES OF THE NEWS ROOM
 No


 Once. just recently. a busy reporter for the Phoenix Daily Fidgit answered the office phone. It was one of the many phone calls he had answered that afternoon. He was getting a bit nerv- ous about answering the phone be- cause he was in the midst of writing a big story for his paper and as the time was getting short his city editor kept crowding him for more copy and still more copy. and a little speed, and lots of other things that city editor must demand of his reporters if he gets his paper out on time.
 And So this time when the phone rang, the reporter. as he swung in his chair toward the phone exclaimed out aloud before he picked up the re- ceiver. ssOh. hellt' For it is not un- common for reporters to use naughty words under given conditions Recov- ering his boise he said in pleasant but firm voice:
 Ffdgit news room." so that the call ing party would know that she was not talking to the county morgue and that the switchboard operator downstairs had given the connection the party requested.
 Hello" said woman with an inn portant voice (although she would have a fit if she knew that the reporters style is to refer to all female adults edS NoiiCn silu IlOI lau1eS1 IS Jn1S the Fidgit news department?'
 'Yes," said the reporter, briskly. in spite of the time she was wasting with her needless question
 T would like to talk to the city editor, please" she ordered
 '.He is busy right now; is there any thing I can do for you; 1 am one of the reporters" said the busy reporter
 Well" she said, with sigh of dis appointment and pioue. T have an inn portant piece of news I wanted to give him personally so that I could be sure that it would go in right. 1 don't want to trust it to just anybody"
 q can take it down for you right now if you will just give me the facts. said the busy reporter, as he began to tap the floor with his foot neryouSly.
 No, I'll hold the phone until the city editor can talk with me- said the woman, with a touch of finality in her voice.
 The busy reporter told the city ed- itor of the call waiting for him. But he was busy and kept the call waiting for about three minutes. And lots of people around town had to hang up their receivers when they got the busy signal at the Fidgit phone during that time When the city editor was free he picked up the phone and said, "Yes, what is it?"
 And the waiting woman Sald. on, IS this the city editor2"
 ''Yes, maam; what is it you want?'
 T want to give you a rather impor- tant piece of news that I want you to be sure-''
 "Yes, yes, we'll be sure to get it right,'' interrupted the city editor, for he was busy and he knew just what she was going to say, for there are lots of women like this one calling the busy 1G the facts" he continued, as he grabbed paper and pencil.
 But instead of just giving the facts, she dictated the following big news story: "The ladies of the Midnight Sew ing circle-did you get that--MIDnight SEWing cirele-will meet at the home of Mrs. Jackson Spilaway-and don't put it Midway. like you did last time -instead of at the home of Mrs. J. $. Mallburn as planned next Friday aft ernoon instead of Thursday on account of the siclSness-no, you better put it illness of because it sounds better-of little Nfillie Mallburn. whose case has taken a sudden turn for the worse, and members are specially requested not to forget to bring their sewing
 Pause of some extent. .Is that all?' asked the city editor pointed1y.
 q was just thinking," unused the woman aloud Let - me see - N-no I guess that's all. Now will you please read that over to me-"
 But the city editor answered:
 "No. my dear madam, I am sorry cannot take the time to read this item over to you. We will have to ask yot trust to our ability as experienced newspaper reporters and editors to talxt notices of this sort over the phone. | y-uo have any doubt of our ability ol if you think the notice IS of such i'm portance we will be glad to withhold the publishing of it until you write i out yourself and bring it down to thii office in person.
 And then the busy city editor re stunned his job of editing and getting ou the newspaper.