Evening star., 1925-11-23
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

"Will you try to induce the Tele-
phone Company to tell you what time
it is?" Templeton Jones called to his
wife.
They won't tell you, Templeton." i"
answered Mrs. Jones. from the living
room. Jones was up in his "observa-
tory" as he called the small room on
the second floor where he had his
barometer.
"Why not?" he called. "They used
to-"
Don't you remember they an
nounCed some time ago that they
would have to discontinue giving sub
scribers the time, on account of the
amount of time it took, or some such
reason as that"
Well" replied Jones. "call up Cen
tral and ask her if she can tell you
how 1t is possible to discover the exact
time of day in Washington. ID. G."
There was some petulance in Jones'
voice. Now that he stopped to think
about it, he did remember that the
Telephone Company had advertised
the disContinuance of the time telling
service
TOO many lazy women calling up
instead of looking up on the mantel
at the clock" Jones had commented
at the time-but he had forgotten
time himself, lit was a horse of an
other color" as the saying is.
Mrs. Jones. downstairs, sauntered
TO the receiver with her best saunter.
She had a sweet voice, one that the
hello girls" generally liked.
Telephone girls, be it known. are
not much different from other folks
Sometimes the way a subscriber asks
for a number simply "rubs them the
/ ~
world of difference in human voices
Central, can you tell me how to
find out the correct time?" asked
Mrs. Jones, in her sweetest voice.
tAll she will have to do, Mrs Jones
thought to herself, will be to glance
up on the WallD
Il will give YOU Information. re
sponded the voice afar. with some
thing more than touch of ice in it.
"All right" said Mrs. Jones-and
waited. Then
information" she called. as soon as
that official appeared" on the line.
Can you tel me how TO find out what
the correct time is
call Western Union, or the Naval
Observatory" replied Information
Mrs. Jones thanked her, and began
o jggle the book. Number, please"
shrilled Central.
central, give me w eStern Union. -
called Mrs. Jones, beginning the third
operation of the evening.
1t was now SOB, according to Tenn
pleton Jones watch, which he had
reasonable suspicion to think was
somewhat slow. Mrs Jones already
at taken five minutes and found out
nothing, 50 far as he could discover
Have you found out what time it
is YETI" beloved Jones.
"Sh-h-h.' called Mrs. Jones. West
ern Union%' she challenged, believing
herself to be on the eve Of brilliant
discovery.
The discovery of time. at any time.
anywhere. is somethin. of a feat. de
spite the fact that watches and clocks
all kinds have made il an easy one.
we of today do not know just how
much We are in debt to hOrologists
OF many centuries.
western Union. can you tell me
what time it isl patiently asked Mrs.
Jones. Surely. she thought to her
self, all they will have to do viii he
to took up on the wall at their big
I clock.
You will have to call Rlah-blah-
hIah blah,' came the voice. in such
uncertain tones that Mrs. Jones gave
up trying 10 understand.
She hung up.
"Haye Won found out what time il
is?" yelled her husband from the top
OF the stairs.
Not yet" truthful}y came the re-
ply