SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1924
ADDITIONAL NEWS OF SPORTS
ELKS AMATEUR TOURNAMNT TO BE PACKED
WITH FAST BOXING AND WRESTLING EVENTS
Four or Five Days May Be Required to i
Fix Titles; Recreation Club Is
Latest to Enter Team
Four or five days may be required to settle the cham
pionships of the Elks Amateur Boxing and Wrestling tour
nament, scheduled here for March 6,7 and 8. At the rate
yMitnes are pouring in the livest competition for all awards
are assured the only question being whether or not all
the boutsand matches can be crowded into the short space
—of three nl,ht.. C. H. (Red) Row,
K, C. BLUES ARRIVE IT
SPUING TRAINING GAMP
IX)8 ANGELES, Feb. 23.—(United
Press.}-—Wilbur Good, manager c<
the Kansas City Blues, arrived
here today with 18 players to go
into spring training at Vernon for
a series of games with the San
Francisco and Vernon Coast league
clubs.
The Blues were joined here by a
number of players who have been
hibernating? in Southern Califom.a
during the winter. They Included
Pitcher Joe Dawson, Third Base
man Armstrong, Catchers Skiff,
Becker, Scott. Donnelly and Killing.
U. OF s. C.
WINS RELAY
LOS ANGELES. Feb. 23.—Uni
versity of Southern California scor
ed an easy win In the A. A. U. re
lay today with a total of 47 points.
Keith Lloyd, U. S. C., gave the
crowd a thrill when he stepped the
Century In 9 9-10 seconds.
Charley Daggs. runn ng for the
Los Angeles Athletic club, who did
the 120 yard high hurdles in IS
seconds, flat, would have come dose
to the world's record had he not
been slowed down by tripping over
the last hurdle.
FRIENDS OF
JOHNSON TO
OPEN DRIVE
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 23.
(United Frees.) —Supporters of Hi
ram Johnson ccanp’.etel the selec
tion of their national convention
delegate primary ticket today and
laid final plana for opening their
campaign throughout the state early
next week.
. The formal launching of John-
fight for the Republ coh pres
idential nomination In this state
awaited only the selection of these
“campaign captains.” one from each
assembly district, who will go be
fore the people In the state primar
ies May 6. pledging that If chosen
to go to the Cleveland convention
they will cast a solid vote for the
California senator.
Heavy Fall of
Snow Reported
From Nebraska
OMAHA, Neb., Feb. 23—Nebraska
experienced the heaviest snow storm
of the winter Saturday, the fall
starting early Friday night and con
tlnulng steady throughout Saturday.
The storm was general over Nebras
ka, lowa and South Dakota, from
one to ten Inches being reported
from various sections.
Owing to the warm weather and
t absence of wind no trouble was ex
perienced by railroads or telegraph
companies.
EGGS SELL
AT $5,000
PER EACH
.NEW YORK. Feb. 23—Eggs
sold at the rate of $60,000 a dozen
here today. They were not guar
anteed strictly fresh either. It
being estimated that one which
Colgate university purchased was
laid some ten or eleven million
years ago.
The eggs are being disposed of
by Roy Chapman Andrews of the
museum of natural history. They
* uro those of the pre-historic dino
«aur, found in the desert west of
China.
one dead in
PLANE CRASH
HOUSTON, Texas, Dec. 23.—Cap
tain John 8. Ainsley, Los Angeles,
killed, and Sergeant Frank J.
Wood was seriously injured when
their olrp'ano plunged 500 feet to
the groundsrat Ellington fielG late
today.
In charge of the tournament re
ceived eight entries Saturday after
noon, which increases the total to
40 in all classes exclusive of those
that make up the membership of
eeven club teams m Casper and six
from out of the city.
The Recreation club Is the latest
to enter for th© championship, the
winner of which will receive a hand
some cup to bo awarded by the Cas
per Tribune. Sam Frezant is in
charge of the Recreation club box
ers and wrestlers and will mak e It
a point to see that all are feeling fit
for their contests.
About 25 to 30 boys have taken
advantage of the invitat'on of the
Elks to use the new gymnasium for
training purposes. F'ast bouts are
being staged every day and the lads
ns a whole would be a credit to any
amateur tourney. Some of the
keenest Interest and competition is
being shown by those tn the 105
pound class, and hard hitters are
being developed up to the 158-pound
class. Eight entries already have
been made In the heavyweight class,
which should make a show by Itself.
Hammer and tongs will be order of
the day when the gong sounds.
The wrestlers are not behind the
. boxers In working out for the
events. Two classy entries have
shown up in the heavyweight class
j one of them a 190-pound husky who
* promises the entire crowd plenty of
trouble in downing him.
s Watches for the individual win
I ners In all events have arrived and
i will he d splayed* in the window of
, the Klein jewelry store. Each will
t be engraved with the winner’s
r name. These prizes will be supple
mented by a cup for the all around
champion of the tournament.
The Tribune cup will be the goal
of all club competition, those en
tered to date from Casper being
the Standard. Texas, American
legion, Casper Athletic, Burlington
Employes, Smoke House and Re-
I creations clubs.. Frojn out of town
there wlfl be clUbg' representing
Torr'ngton, Thermopo'is. Douglas.
Glenrock, Lavoy® and Salt Creek.
BURLINGTON CLUB
ENJOYS BIG SMOKER
The members of the Burlington
Employes club enjoyed n smoker
at the freight house last night, at
which a number of the athletic en
gineers, firemen, switchmen, car
men, agents, ticket agents, etc., dis
played their wares. The Smoker
was held for tho purpose of getting
a line on the entrants the club
will have for tho big Elks amateur
tournament to bo held next month.
The first bout of the evening was
a four-round bout between Harry
Loe and Johnio Lesser, welter
weights, who brought the crowd to
their feet with their clever work.
Lee displayed a left which promises
to make a lot of trouble for en
trants in the tournament, while Les
ser’s foot work reminded some of
the old timers of Jim Corbett in his
palmy days.
The next bout was between Ted
Lewis and George Lewis, brothers,
who boxed an exhibition, both dis
playing marked cleverness. Frank
Vickery and Y'oung Beiner, both
went nt It hammer and tongs. Vic
kery showed that his trip to Shelby
Inst Fourth of July as not In vain,
ns he Is showing a marked improve
ment in his work, his work in the
clinches reminding one of Jack
Dempsey as he played a, tatoo on
Illini Track
Men Cop Meet
CHAMPAIGN, 111.. Feb. 23.—Uni
versity of Illinois took a one-sided
track meet here from Notre Dame
today, 81 1-8 to 22 2-3. Il'inolfl won
first place in every event except
the 880-yard run and the broad
jump.
Badgers Lose
To Ohio State
COLUMBUS, Ohio. Jan. 23.
(United Press.)—Wisconsin univer
sity ton’ght virtually lost her grip
on tho western conference basket
ball championship, when her quin
tet lost to Ohio state university, 13
to 27.
MICHIGAN LOSES.
LAFAYETTE. Ind., Feb. 23.
Perdue defeated Michigan bas
ketoers here tonight, 24 to 19. The
first half score was tied 11 to 11.
Spradling and Robbins starred for
Perdue; Haggerty and Henderson
fox- Michigan.
Benny Leonard
Signs Contract
For Pictures
DENVER, Colo.. Feb. 23-—Benny
lightweight champion,
signed a contract here today to
make two six-reel pictures for a
New Yprk company to be made as
soon as he finishes his ‘vaudeville
tour. •
Tho pictures will be similar to the
"Leather Pushers” with Leonard
Playing the leading role with the
boxing gloves.
It will take the champion seven
weeks to fill the engagement.
ames beats
MINNESOTA
AMES. lowa, Feb. 23.—10wa
st * r college defeated Minnesota
university. 60 to 24, In a dual Indoor
track meet here tonight.
Gophers Romp
On the Purple
MINNEAPOLIS. Minn., Feb. 23.
—After beihg outplayed and out
scored during the first half, Minne
sota came from behind and defeated
Northwestern, 24 to 16, in a western
conference basketball game played
at the armory.
The Purple led nt the end of the
first period, 6 to 5. Pesek was the
individual star of the game, scoring
, 13 of the Gophers* 24 points.
Badger Track
I
Team Victors
I MADISON. Wls * Feb. 23.—Spring
ing a surprise the University of
I Wisconsin track team triumphed
■ over the lowa team by a score of
; 46 18-20 to 39 7-20 here tonight in
i the first Indoor meet of the seation.
i ——— ■■ ■ ■•
COLGATE TRIUMPHS.
i BUFFALO. N. Y.. Feb. 23.—The
> University of Colgate tonight de
feated tho Buffalo university basket,
ball team, 24 to 17.
i his opponent’s ribs. Reiner has a
- defense and uses his right hand in
t good shape, packing a knockout
punch which he tried hard to put
over. The bout ended in a draw.
The feature bout of the evening
. was between Sam Cooper and John
r McCready, two heavyweights. Coop
s er was the winner of a tournament
> held in London several years ago,
. and Is ns clever a boxer as has ap
peared In Casper in a long time. He
' has a tremendous reach, covers up
' well in the clinches and carries a
sleep punch in either mlt. Ring ex
, perts at the ringside last night all
predicted that the laurels in the
J heavyweight class will undoubtedly
rest on the brow of this Cockner-
McCready showed up well in the
f bout and should go well In the show.
, After going four rounds with Mc-
Cready, Cooper then boxed three
, fast rounds with Earl Smith, a
youngster who showed up very well
’ considering the limited ring ex
’ perlence he has had.
> Dick Kennedy acted as master of
ceremonies. Paul Russell refereed
r the bouts, showing a knowledge of
the boxing gnrte which was a sur
’ priso to his friends.
; MAX LINDER
DYING, SAID
PARIS. Feb. 23—French film fans
were saddened tonight by news from
Vienna that Max Linder, famous
screen comedian, the "Charlie Chap
lin of France." is dying. Linder
and his bride, whom recently
' married after a whirlwind courtship,
and elopement, are reported by a
news agency to have taken veronal
I in their hotel room In the Austrian
cnpltol. Neither will live, the report
said.
Former G. A. R.
Chief Is Dead
LOS ANGELES, Calif., Fb. 23
General C. E. Adams, past national
commander of the G. A. R. dropped
dead on the lawn of his residence
hero today while talking to a letter
carrier.
General Adams took part in the
battles of Shiloh nnd Missionary
Ridge in the Civil war nnd was with
Sherman on his famous march to
the sea. ,He also served during tho
Spanish-American war.
For results try a Tribune Clas
sified Ad.
CBe Caner CrlDune
PEARL WHITES LOSE TO
GLENROCK FIVE AHER
LEADING IN FIRST HALF
GLENROCK, Wyo.. Feb. 23.
Glenrock Independents defeated the
Pearl White basketball team of Cas
per here Frlc'ay night by a score of
40 to 30. The game was clean'y
played and fine sportsmanship was
deplayed by both quintets.
The visitors led In the first half
19 to 18 but tired badly In the last
part of the gkme.
CALIFORNIA WINS.
PALO ALTO, Cal., Feb. 23.
(United Tress.)—University of Cali
fornia tonight took the lead In the
series with Stanford, beating ths
Cardinals, 27 to 23.
SHAFERDRAWS
FIRST PLACE
FOR BIG RACE
LOS ANGELES. Feb. 23.—(United
Press.)—Phil Shafer in his Duesen
berg Special has the coveted first
place In tomorrow's 250 milo na
tional championship speed classic at
Beverley Hills.
Seventeen cars are entered.
Following are positions of the
other drivers: Ralph Hepburn, two;
Fred Comer, three; Antoine Mourro,
four: Harlan Fengler, five; Eddie
Hearne, six, Ernie Ansterberg,
seven: Earl Cooper, eight; Harry
Hartz, nine; Jimmy Murphy, 10;
Bennett Hill, 11; Joe Boyer, 12; Cliff
Durant. 18; Jerry Wonderllch. 14;
Frank Elliott. 15; Tommy Miltoh.
16; Ira Vail, 17.
ISBTH PUTS
OFFICUI OIEH
on moon niiiE
Liberal Policies Being
Carried Out, Party
Leader -Asserts.
By PERCY M. SARL
(United Press Staff Correspondent.)
LONDON, Feb. 23.—(United Press.)
—Former Premier Herbert H.
Asquith today put the seal on his
party's approval upon the perform
ance in office of Ramsay Mac-.
Donald and the labor government.
Speaking: at Plymouth, tho vet
eran liberal leader pointed out that
the labor government "had not
brought down the sky nor deluged
the country In blood." Instead, he
said, the prime -minister was slowly
carrying out liberal policies.
Asquith's words weighed heavily
with his hearers and with those
that read them, sor K they indicated
continued support by the liberals
of tho MacDonald government.
The former premier congratulated
tho man who was this time chosen
as helmsman of the British ship
of state, on the way MacDonald and
his ministers handled affairs and
weathered th* storm during two
great industrial crises—the national
rail and dock strikes.
The latter of these difficulties Is
not entirely overcome. Today
throughout England, some hundred
thousand workers were voting upon
acceptance of their delegates'
recommendations that tho agree
ment reached with employers nt
London Thursday be ratified. The
strike, which started a week ago,
was settled by leaders agreeing to
an increase of a shilling a day now
andanother shilling next summer.
But the men have not yet ratified
tho agreement. In any event, work
cannot be resumed before the
middle of next week.
In view of the labor government's
successful intervention in such
crises, Asquith said, tho liberal
party proposes to give Premier
MacDonald "the fullest and- freest
chance to make good.”
"That, however,” he added, "does
not absolve us liberals, who will
maintain our unfettered independ
ence in order to perform our duties,
from exercising vigilance and con
tinuing honest, outspoken criticism."
One of the things Asquith felt
called upon to criticize was the pos
sible inadequacy of Britain's aerial
preparations, he said.
But he confessed that the "world’s
peace time expenditure on arma
ments has reached an appalling and
unexam'pled figure."
Progressives
Not Endorsed
In Late Move
LINCOLN. Neb., Feb. 23.—State
officials showed no inclination to
day to accede to the demands made
by the state progressive party con
ference delegates that candidates be
prohibited from running for the
same offlco on two party tickets.
Secretary of State Pool announc
ed his Intention to oppose any at
tempts made by candidates of Re
publican or Democratic parties to
withdraw acceptance of nominations
by progressives.
TWO GIRLS HANDLED PHONE CALLS IN 1902
FIFTY NOW KEPT BUSY AT BIG SWITCHBOARD
History of the Casper
Exchange Holds
Interest.
By JANE SNODGRASS JOHNSON.
So long have men and women
been surrounded by the grandeurs
of Nature that these are now only
every-day facts. The sun and the
moon and the stars have become
common-place. It is but small won
der then, that man now accepts tho
telephone, the telegraph, the radio
even, as calmly as he accepts his
brehkfast cereal. The automobile
and the aeroplane are scarcely more
wonderful than the plow. In the
full enjoyment of the inventions of
genius mnn has forgotten to appre
ciate. Yet there was a time, nut t«o
many, many years ago when all
these things were not.
hangs in the office of the
local telephone exchange a picture
called the "Weavers of Speech."
The huge hazy canvas gives the
impression of many cities, remotely
located. High above all. like a
character in a dream, sits the figure
of the telephone girl, grasping the
center of the myriad little wires
that stretch, like magic cobwebs,
from city to city, from skyscrapper
to hovel, connecting, uniting, shap
ing the destinies of people into one
sublime, interwoven fabric.
Twenty-two years ago the Moun
tain States Telephone company
opened the first "exchange” in Cas
per. then a town of perhaps five
hundred inhabitants. The "ex
change” was in the Stock Exchange
building in the 200 block, Routh
Center street. Company records
show that the first manager was
A. W. Scott. There were two
operators, whose names are record
ed as "Miss Elizabeth McDonald**
and "Miss Jo Scherck." At that
time tho company had fifty sub
scribers. Tho old-time one-wire sys
tem was in use; there were no
outside connections, and no toll
lines. The girls worked a twelve
hour shift. Aside from the length
of their hours, however, their work
was not hard. They brought along
their sewing, knitting and chewing
I gum and found ample time for the
I enjoyment of such diversions be
tween calls.
AH subscribers then were given
lan instruction sheet when their
I phone was installed. The instruc
tion read something like this:
"When ringing a party first take
the receiver off tho hook and apply
your ’ ear, waltntg for Central to
ask your number; when the number
Is given wait until you hear your
party answer. When you have
finished talking hang up the re
ceiver."
Ar the town grew the telephone
system grew with It, although the
growth was comparatively slow
until the year 1920. In 1910 there
were 500 telephones in Casper. In
1916 there were 800. Today there
are 5,000. The year 1924 presages
a bigger development program for
the company than has been experi
enced in any previous year. It is
estimated that >200.000 will be spent
during the coming year for new
equipment and new cables. Six new
switchboard positions will be added,
necessitating the employment of
about fifteen more operators.
Tho present exchange is located
on East Second street and is a
modern, commodious building, built
not more than five years ago. The
business office is on the first floor
and tho exchange and rest rooms
for girls occupy the second.
The mangenient of the exchange
since 1920. has been in the capable
hands of H. D. McCormick, during
whoso period of service the big de
velopement has come about. In the
year 1923 a monthly average of 65
new telephones were added. Mr.
McCormick is assisted by G. W. Tre
horne, who recently came to the
company from Denver.
• There are now 5.000 telephones in
Casper. The service is handled by
fifty operators. It might be very
helpful to the company if every pa
tron could have the opportunity to
visit tho exchange. A newspaper
repeyter had occasion to go there
last week and she was forever dis
abused of her favorite impression
of the telephone girl. A reporter,
along with 75 per cent of the phone
using public, had once cherished a
mental vision of the telephone op
erator as a mere insanity who sat in
an easy chair and powdered her
nose and gossiped about her beaux,
while a maddened city was franti
cally besieging the wires, begging
in vain for sendee. *
The picture to be seen in the ex
change is a very different one, in
deed. Long rows of stools face the
walls, lined with "numbers." Side
ed the "hello girls" tall girls, short
girls, plump girls, lean girls, blondes
and brunettes. One nnd all they
are intent on their work. Their
uncompromising backs are present
ed to all visitors, their "bobbed"
heads bowed, their eyes are Intent
on the positions bqforo them and
their little hands are flashing in
nnd out. in and out, to and fro
about the big switchboard, calling
numbers, giving numbers,- giving
busy, efficient service to 5,000 pat
roua. Watching them from tho end
of tho switchboard one could well
believe them an animate row of ma
chines that looked like humans, so
aiMorbedly did they work, so un-in
terruptedly did the little hands
move to and from, plugging here,
plugging there, working, never Idle
for one second.
The supervisor of the exchange
was good enough to explain in de
tail the working of the switch
board. It is all very simple, so
simple indeed that the reporter,
after one or two futile attempts to
grasp those details, decided that It
was hardly worth while after all,
giving herself up to tho fascination
of the rapidly moving cords, the
little red. white and green lights,
flashing intermittently on and off— I
those things and the hands, the
busy, fluttering hands.
"You see,” she heard the voice
of the supervisor saying. “Side by
side here sit three gjrls. Each
girl has one "position" before her.
but each girl Is in easy reach of
about 400 numbers. and if her
neighbor chances to be busy when
she sees a call come in she answers
that call. In other words each
girl gives service on about 400
phones. The girls take care of
31,000 calls each day."
“My goodness," exclaimed the re
porter, “How do you suppose they
ever get time to listen in. or to
“sass" the patrons. You know very
well you might drop dqad telling
the public that th* telephone girl
doesn't do those things, but they'll
never, never believe it."
“I suppose not," sadly concurred
the operator, "but it s true just the
same. Now, this is how they know
when a call Is coming in. A light
flashes on the board, that means
tlmt the number corresponding to
that light is ringing. The girl takes
the number, takes this cord out.
and plugs in here. Simultaneously
two little lights come on. She
knows the number has answered.
Presently the lights go off. a red
light flashes on—like this—then sh*
knows the line is idle again. You
see. don't you?"
"Oh. yes. Indeed." exclaimed tho
visitor Impressed with the Idea that
rhe must not appear too dense.
Whnt she really <'Jd see wa© hun
dreds of little lights red. white and
green, all in a row, flashing on and
cff.
‘They are colored differently."
explained the supervisor, "so ns to
avoid errors in disconnecting num-
From Belgium to Italy
PWBr • ■’"’W • *
J
Hsnry P. Fletcher, who has been U. S. ambassador to Belgium, will
take over the post of ambassador to Italy, succeeding Washburn Child.
ANNUAL MEETING OF CHAMBER
OF COMMERCE SET MARCH 18
The annual meeting date of the
Casper chamber of commerce has :
been tentatively sot for Tuesday
evening, March 18.
The meeting will come under the
direct supervision of the forum
committee, which Is composed of
R. S. Ellison, chairman; E. P. Ba
con, Ben Scherck, Henry Perkins.
W. W. Slack, Emmett Fuller and
Tracy Shaw.
It has been decided to deviate
from the usual procedure in regard
MURDER OF NEWLYWEDS STILL
BAFFLES POLICE OF CHICAGO.
BODY OF ONE FOUND BY ROAD
CHICAGO, Dec. 23. (United
Press.) —Into the underworld's of a
half dozen cities tonight police sent
Investigators In search of evidence
which they hope will aolvo the
strange murt'er of Mr. and Mrs.
John Duffy, newlyweds.
Duffy, who rhllAde'phta police
have Identified os John Daugherty,
a notorious gunman, was shot
through thq head sometime Thurs
day night. Ills body was found
many hours later 1n a snow bank
on the outskirts of the city.
Mrs. Duffy, identified by her
brother as Leah Exloy. of Norwalk,
Ohio, nnd more recently of Louis
ville. Ky., was also killed by a shot
In the head. Her body was found In
tho Duffy apartment In a fashion
able section of tho city.
The couple was married In Louis
vlllo several weeks ago, Exloy told
police when he Identified the slain
woman as his sister.
Having Identified tho murdered
couple, police are now searching
for Orlando Horton, said to be a
noted gunman from Indianapolis.
Horton Is said to havq been living
at the Duffy home with a woman
known as Mrs. Horton, but police
ire InvcstiTating the theory that
•here H no Mrs. Horton—that Duf
ifj, Mrs. Duffy and Horton we*ie
bers. See here are only two white
lights together*. Bea de them are two
rel lights and beside the red are
two green lights. These cords here
correspond to those lights. When
a white light sashes on. th© oper
ator knows she must disconnect a
white cord: If it’s a green light it's
a green con', and so on. We try'to
avoid many errors by placing the
new girls beside the well-trained
glrla so that thee© things are con
stantly be'ng made plainer to them
by example and explanation.”
••Whore are your information
girls" questioned the visitor.
"There they rtt. We have only
two. Th© operators never give Infor
mation because they are too busy.
When an Inquiry is made to an op
erator she simply plugs in here and
information answers.”
“Well, now tlmt explains It.”
s ghttl the reporter reminiscently.
• that's probably why you've quit
giving the anxious pub ic the time.
I remember when we Imagined we
could get the correct time any min
ute of the night or day by Just call
ing central. I dare say she RiO
a fleeting look at tho Ingersoll on
her wrist and told us jum any old
thing, but we were satisfied,' never
theless. Those were the good old
fays."
“For tho operators they were
what they would call ’the bunk' if
ynu will excuse me. They cou’dn’t
give off dent service because every
Tom. Dick and Harry was constant
ly dal'lng for the time. Rafne way
with fires. Let a fire whistle scunf
and everyone in town would on
the line asking ‘where's the fire?’
and while the operator was jump
ing from one line to the other nn
nwering ‘Sixth nnd Center, Sixth
to speakers for the annual meet
ing. Instead of Inviting an outside
speaker, to make an extended ad
dress. tho Chamber will Invite
speakers from five - different sec
tions of the stat© of Wyoming, who
will bo requested to make ten
minute Tutoresses on a subject of
equal Interest to the state, or of
spocial Interest to a particular
community In it's relation with the
rest of the state, or surrounding
states.
the only occupants of tho apart
ment.
If there was no Mrs. Horton, po
lice believe Mrs. Duffy was murder
ed by a jealous rival. If there was
a Mrs. Horton, then it is believed
th© couple was slain in an under
wvrld or beer war.
Both Duffy and Horton, police
«ny, were connected with a beer
running “syndicate." They are said
to have served a large cllento'e
with choice liquors smuggled
through Detroit from Canada.
First knowledge of the double
killing came with the discovery of
Duffy's body. It wns nearly burled
in a deep snow drift and had ap
parently been thrown from nn au
tctnoblle.
An mldress in Duffy’s clothing
led police to- his Apartment. When
no response camo to their knocks,
they broke In and found the body
of Mrs. Duffy stretched out on a
davenport. The apartm<-nt was In
disorder hut many valuables were
lying about in consplclous p'aceh
eliminating a theory of robbery.
While It is believed both Duffy
nnd hl» wfe were slain In the
apartment, polios have not decided
why Duffy's body was taken away
and his wife’s left in tlw rooms.
PAGE NINE
31,000 Calls Are Now
Handled Daily by
Operators.
I and Center - like a parrot, aonw
really urgent call was escaping at
tention. Ro that's how It came about
that w© had to refuse such Informa-
1 tlon.",
I "It was probably necessary."
agreed the rrpirter. ‘but It’s really
too bad. Seems like th* operators
| could really glv© so much useful in
| formation If they on’y would. Npw.
In a small town it isn't imposAlbln
; to find out from the operator just
; when tho m<*in H going to b© full.
; when s th© best time to plant th©
j garden .or when the sotting hen
( might reasonably he expected tn
hatch. The small town operator Is
| really just a bureau of information.
* hut I suppose, of course, no nn*
could expect tlmt of the c | r ls here ”
“But they do expect it" proteste-.'*
I the supervisor. "Why, not long ng*,
i on© woman called up to ask if w®
i could te|| her where to get a setting
' of goohe eggs, another wanted to
, know ‘f the operator wv«j d work
|nn algebra problem tor her little
I girl, and still another Inquired one
; day If WC- could tell her the amount
of freight on a carload of furniture
to I*© ©hipped from Chicago to autno
I jx>lnt in Kentucky nnd how long it
would take it to get there."
"If I could 'listen In' on the
| lino© for just one minute.” sug
gested the reporter. "Would you
, mind? You see it would add so
much ’color' to the story I’m going
to write. If I only could hear some
thing like the girls arc hearing all
the time.’’
“Take this place." suggested the
supervisor. "And you can hear tho
girls taking their numbers."
AA hat the listener heard was
something like this: "Hollo, Cen
tral." in a man's rough, foreign
voice, “Central, ‘hey,’ Gimm© 'One-
Double O-Nuttlngs'.”
"Number, please." cut in th®
operator's pleasant voice. “One-
Doubt© O-Nuttlngs.” cam© tho re
ply. And when several mild Inter
rogations failed to bring any other
reply the girl said, “I'll give you
Information." And the party was
passed on to the girl whoso duty
li was to And out whose number
was “One-Double O-Nuttlngs.”
A woman's smooth, cultured vole®
was next heard. "Number 503-W,
please." A blank, then a "hello."
in’ a man's brisk voice indicated
that 503 W was on the Job. “Hello,
Jim, dear. I want you to go by the
teleplione office as you come homo
nnd see why we enn’t get a little
better service there. I'm never able
ot get Central, and when I do—"
“I beg yor pardon. Madam," the
other party. Interrupted. "You evi
dently have the wrong number.
This is 503-W." Then there was a
pregnant pause, during which one
could almost hear the angry woman
thinking, and Central was on the
wire again-
"Central, what do you mean by
always giving me wrong numbers.
I called 305-W, and I'd thank you—"
There was no response from Cen
•ral, but almost immediately there
■ame a greeting from 305-W.
"That's about all I want to hear.”
volunteered the listener. "I really
don't se© how these girls control
their temper so well."
"Thoso ars only little incidents,"
said the supervisor. "The girls nr®
so busy they hav® no time for
quarreling.”
After the exchange the rest rooms
were visited. They comprised an
attractive dining room, where the
girls may take their repast any
time of tho day, and a cozy loung
ing room. Mrs. Carrie Dobson, a
charming, white-haired matron is
lu charge there and she explained
how the girls spent their "off
hours.**
“You see all those packages on
th® ice box?" she Interrogated.
"Well, they're hats. The girls are
making their own hats under my
supervision. At least a number of
them are. They take quite an in
terest in It, too, and some of them,
.show quite a bit of talent."
It was explained that the girls
had the freedom of the rest rooms
at all hours, even giving their little
parties there. They are now plan
ning a "leap-year party" for Feb
ruary 28, and the only men to bo
Invited are the thirty-five employes
of the company.
As tho visitor left the building
who had a last fleeting glimpse of
the exchange room. It left a vivid
imprint of all those supple backs,
all in a line, bobbed heads bent in--
tcntly over the switch, high heels
hooked over the rungs of tho
Htools, little, fluttering hands dash
ing to nnd fro, and little colored
lights flushing on nnd off, on and
off. red. whit® nnd green.
Then she saw another picture, a
mental picture of many tired busi
ness men, and of women bent on
"a friendly chat” with a neighbor,
of lovers impatient with delay, and
of harried newspaper folks—just a
host of people all over tho city,'
worriedly ringing for numbers,
wondering what In the world that
te'lephono girl “can be doing that
she doesn't give better service," and
floating out over tho wire went the
hello girl's sweet itaponse, "Num
ber, please, number?"
365 -I- 1 = 366
?
What Does It Mean to You