The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1932-08-18
The First Hello Girl

THE worlds first telephone girl, who began work
in the old Nassau exchange in New York Sep
TENDER Fl, 1878, lived until few days ago, when
she died at the age of a. She was Miss Mary Beat
rice Kennedy, who given job when boy in the
exchange discharged "for swearing at angry
subscriber"
So courteous and efficient did Miss Kennedy prove
that girl operators became the rule as they have
manned until this day.
Working hours were long in 1878, and Miss Ken
nedy duty daily from until 6, climbing six
flights of stairs to reach her switchboard Alexander
Graham Bell inventor of the telephone, often visited
the exchange, and Thomas A. Edison sometimes ac-
companied him. But Miss Kennedy told a reporter
shortly before her DEATH eve didn't pay so much
tenton to Mr.. Edison, for he wasn't famous then"
Many thousands of "hello" girls have come and
gone in the 81 years since Miss Kennedy became the
first Taken as Glass; faithful employees
ever served exacting and sometimes unreasonable
public Many telephone girls have performed deeds of
extraordinary heroism remaining at their posts in time
of fire, flood and other disaster giving warnings that
saved the lives of others at the risk of their own.
Not Much Change
r ACH generation of from time immemoral
has produced its pessmists and cynics, who have
viewed with alarm the deplorable tendencies of
their contemporaries. l.
According to these gloomy individuals the down.
ward trend of human morals has always been in evil
dence, with the skids to peridition well creased
AS matter of fact, there has been little change
in human nature since the dawn of civilization. At
any time in the worlds history there has been ample
grounds for pessmism the part of those who pre-
fer to look upon the dark sde writer in the Boston
Chronicle in the year 1900 pictured conditions closely
resembling those of the present day. from the view
point of the alarmst In the article entitled "Prces
Current" he wrote:
"Moras-Faing rapidly
"Modesty (female)-Quite out of fashion.
National Honor-None on the market.
"Fublic Taxes-In great abundance.
"Relgion-No price offered.
public Vrture-A contraband article: if discov-
cred would ruin its possessor"
But there was nothing original in the familiar
reflections of this writer of 1872 years ago. The same
things, In substance said centuries before are
being said today and will probably be said for GEN.
turtles to come.
Aside from the good exercise and wholesome fun it
provides, the kttenbaD league with it's hundreds of
followers has been great thing for Redwood Falls
business men once talked about depression now its
hits and runs and who'll win tonights game
One of Mussolinis mixims is "Italy is too poor to
indulge in bad government" It's thought which NAV
we'll be brought before governing bodies in this coun
try.
From the looks of some of them it is hard to be-
heve that no automobile is more than 80 years old
Perhaps the meek shall inherit the earth, but the
inheritance tax will take it away from them.
Few persons take as much interest in their own
business as their neighbors do
49,. Put little sugar into what you say and take
little salt with what you hear.
Lodges promote fraternal spirit and often fur
nish dandy alibi.