Evening star., 1937-10-15
Telephone
Manners
For All
Remember That
Some One May
Be Listening.
BY ANGELO PATRI.

THERE was telephone storm in
Betty's house the other night
Betty is pretty girl and popular"
You know it is sign of this much
coveted popularity when many boys
sail on the telephone. Betty had no
need for worry on that score Right
after dinner the telephone began to
ring and there began a series of who
Is it? Oh, can't. Really? Tee-hee.
You're kidding. OF course I did
Really? You mean it? Well, maybe"
Etc, etc, on and on. 1t made mother
fret and father rave, but popularity
Is popularity.
The telephone rang on the evening
IN question when Betty had gone to
the door to see the boy who had
stopped to make certain Of his date.
Father answered the call. You don't
know who this is" said gayly crac-
king breaking boy-voice.
20, yes 1 do" said father genially,
"it's the village idiot. You have the
wrong number. Central will give
you the Institutions call If you ask
her" And he hung up.
Mother looked aghast. Betty hur-
ried in, having heard the ring and
fathers voice. who was it," she
asked, and father told her. Betty
stormed and wept. What will he
think of me? You're just as mean
as you can be, father Disgrace me
like that. I feel simply terrible"
But father only chuckled. "It sure
did make me feel good to hand him
one" said he. What I've suffered
hearing you two chatter by the hour,
and the bills I've paid along with
the suffering. He got away easy"
Young people ought to establish
finer code OF telephone manners.
The telephone is a wonderful social
institution. 1t is too good friend
too fine to be used cheaply, without
dignity or etiquette. Even in making
the popularity calls etiquette and
manners should be observed.
Don't say, Guess who this is"
MANY people have fathers feeling
upon hearing that introduction. You
can say, 'Hullo, Betty" and feel GER
tain that she will know that voice in
q million. Hasn't she been waiting
for it all evening? Or maybe not.
Anyway she will know it and won't
be annoyed and irritated by guessing
and fearing to make a mistake.
Voices are not always true on the
phone. Be careful.
If you are a girl don't call your
boy friend on the telephone to re-
mind him of your existence. Either
he dreams of you and you are ever
present, or he doesn't. Save the CALL
Let him make it or not as he chooses.
II you like him lot spare his feelings.
His family don't when he answers the
call.
Mind your manners. Don't say any
thing over the line that you would
not say face to face. Don't waste
time. Don't make calls that pile up
expense. II father has to pay excess
charges he can't pay for other things
you need more. Don't hold the line
! over the time limit ever. If you are
using a party line be meticulous about
not holding it overtime. And remem-
ber always that telephone message
is likely to be heard by more than
one you address. That, too, touches
on the telephone code of good man.
ners.
Mr.. Patri has prepared a. leaflet
entitled, elf-Measuring Chart"
which teaches a child how to ex-
anime himself and check up on his
behavior. Send for it. addressing your
~request to Mr.. Angelo Patri, Child
Psychology Department Of this paper.
tncloee self-addressed, stamped g.
cent? envelope.
(Copyright 1879