Imperial Valley press., 1937-04-18

PLEASANT voices which respond at all hours
day and night-to desperate emergencies
and accept long distance calls may seem imper
sonal and far away, if belonging to
automatons placed on tall stools with lightning
like fingers plugging colored cords in and out,
answering little cleaning Enthusiastically. But
in reality these thousands of voices belong to
attractive, highly trained and intelligent girls
Voices courteous, patient, and helpful
yet issue from lips and pretty faces invisible to
the public, and destined to remain at the other
end of miles of telephone wire. Who these
lttle-known girls what do they do with their
lives what do they think about? Who these
brains behind the switchboard"
Heroines, hundreds of them; yes, and every
placed where emergency may demand
all her resources of brain and intelligence at
any moment Of the day. Some beautiful, some
extremely pretty, and all experts in their chosen
field. thousand different things are true
about them individually; but one characteristic
they share in common All truly likable,
and underneath a contained and calm exterior
are human indeed.
At the switchboard they are intent upon
battlefront of flashing lights, and attend
strictly to business But once relieved from
duty, their businesske attitude vanishes
moved like the mask of an unusually serious
actor-and the world of recreation and sports
is invaded by their enthusiasm and youth.
Groups in basketball swimming, tennis,
horseback riding, and half dozen other
laxations hold regular sessions. Rowing is
popular-contests are planned long in advance
and looked forward to with zest. Hiking and
mountain climbing clubs are formed, plans for
long week lends into the country formulated.
And in spite of their highly trained efficiency
when on the job they fall in-and out-of love
like everyone else. Romance does not overlook
these queens of the switchboard; in fact, it
appears to seek them out for among
them are married and many just about to
be. A girls voice is cheerfully busnesslike
during working hours but friends meeting her
later see young lady released from responsible
ity and far removed from businesslike acumen.
But behind feminine, exciting gaety lies
streak of seriousness, for they know, every one
of them that their next hour at the "big board
may bring calls for help, and demand the fast
est thinking of their young lives.
bell rings stridently:
Hospital superintendent speaking.
Fire in the X-ray room. Send help, please"
B-r-r-r-r! Bells in every ward warning doc
tors and nurses, as Juanita Costenborder oper-
ator at a western hospital, plugs in call after
call, saving 200 lives until spreading flames
lick at her switchboard and blister telephone
cords. Fire in the X-ray room! Fire in the
X-ray roomi" Her final call completed, she steps
to the window and jumps rs feet to the ground
and though slightly injured, is back at her
switchboard when the deadly fumes are con-
Quered.
This operator stayed at her post in the face
of extreme danger performing her part in
continued story of heroism-the story of thou
sands of telephone operators who have delivered
homes and cities from fire and flood, who have
rescued families from gas-filled rooms trapped
thieves and murderers,