Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-03-10
OFFICIAL MARKSMEN
The States Official Target Shooters.
A Queer Squad at Work-Whst
10 the Language Of the
Telephone Giri7
by GEORGE NOX MCCAIN

l. state and city departments that would
pass unnoticed were 1t not that some
Scarchcr after inconsiderate trihcs now aud
then drugs them into the glare Of publicity.
For instance. the state has Il squad Of
marksmen on the outskirts of Harrisburg
firing at road signs.
They are the kind of signs that motorists
see at the crossroads; that warn them of
danger ahead near railroad crossings,
sharp curves and steep or twisting dcscents,
and that direct them on their way.
They are not simply shooting for devil
ment.. or to test their skill as marksmen
though. for that matter, they have got to
shoot to hit their target
1t is matter of state business quite as
much rs that of correct bookkeeping In the
state treasurer's Office or accurate expert
mcnts in the biological section of the agri-
cultural department.
These marksmen use everything from
bnckshot up to large caibcr Remington
rife ball.
THERE is great deal more goes on in
L the Highway Department than building
roads.
After the roads are constructed it is
necessary to plant signboards. fix indicators
and establish markers and signs that will
direct the dumbcst jitncy driver on his way.
The old style signs arc obsolete. though
it has been less than five years since they
wcrc adopted.
OF such is progress and the development OF
our highway system.
The new Sgnboards for state highways
arc the finest that ] have ever seen In any
state. They are distinctive and unique.
Every one OF them carries the insignia Of the
state IN the shape of keystone the sign
manual of the commonwealth Of William
Penn.
In their greatest length and height they
are about three by five feet The back
ground is chrome yellow with black letters.
TNl1E paramount idea Of Lewis s. Sadlcr,
l. commissioner of highways, is to make
these signs visible at 100 yards us to their
directions; also indestructiblc.
Hence the rife squad!
a certain class Of alleged sportsmen,
mostly from cities and large towns, imagincs
that the solitudes and far spnces of the
countryside give them the license to shoot at
anything within range, animate or inanimatc.
Cross road signs and state highway guide
boards suffer most. They nre popular as
targets.
The now highway indicators are to be Of
metal and are designed to be fool proof
as far rs possible
The Department Of Highways is expert.
menting with signs of various thckncsses Of
metal to determine the thickness necessary
to thwart shotgun and rife enthusiasts.
They must Withstand rife bullets at any
range.
There is a bill in the Legislature which
vertising or other purposes
Also to prevent disfguring Of or damage to
these finger boards and sign posts.
WHAT language does the telephone girl
w speak?
As the Sunday comics would put it,
"J'ever notice?
At the hither end Of every line as you
tolk Is a distinct feminine personality.
Whether blond or brunette. plump, svelte,
gaunt angular. petite. pretty. passable or
plain is a matter of imagination
The voice that comes to you is no cri-
tcrion.
1t Is in tmbre and incness that Of
woman: but age. condition and personality
are equally engmntic.
A Turkish woman in the market place.
cnvclopcd in yashmak or veil. with black
band descending to her eyes and with hooded
head, conceals her age with the cunning of
n magician.
Nothing but her eyes arc visible and they.
like all women's eyes, are inscrutablc no
matter what her age.
I forgot; there is one method Of detection.
Her hands. The wrinklPd skin indicates
age. the intensified blue lines of the veins
denote approaching maturity. while plump,
delicate, smooth, unwrinkled or softly
rounded hands are the hallmark of youth.
But even this gauge is denied the inQuir
ing and curious masculinity of mart and
thoroughfarc.
Nearly all Turkish women wear gloves
TELEPHONE young ladies in Phadcl-
l. uhia nrc young. pretty. possibly pert. but
busineSSlike, nevertheless.
This observation can he verified by tho
samples displayed AT railroad stations and
other public Offices where the floating popu
lation. male and female. gravtatcs when
away from home. the office, or the factory.
to put in n call.
As this feminine pulchritude is universally.
and by common consent. admitted. so like
wise is the character Of the "hel!o girls''
language.
1t is incscapable.
TT Is an acquired dialect, n patois peculiar
! to Philadelphia. II is tho outgrowth Of
habit. and not the result of lnborous hours
spent rs in the acquisition of Spanish. Ital-
ian, or even the dead ones" Latin and
classic Greek. For instance:
"Givo me Spruce S397." calls the Grabbed.
cheerful or careless individual, from his
Office desk.
The echo. in vcriiication. comes back:
"Spu-r-r-r ay-ut th.r.r-rc-e nj yum
scv en- uh." in an impersonal female voice
1t is a DIALECT .unsnokcn elsewhere.
An Official .Inks