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Show GREAT CARE IS EXERTED FOR TELEPHONE GIRLS' COMFORT All Companies Doing their Best to Alleviate Nervous Strain-Work Strain-Work Requires Capable and Conscientious Women-Tragedies Women-Tragedies of the Switchboard By LAURA A. SMITH Tho telephone was rung overy few moments for the family physician. "Tho 'phono is" busy," drawled the operator each time. When he was reached by sending a messenger for him it wa3 too late. Tho wlfo died, leaving tho husband insano from grief aud little children motherless. The physician, who understood the case and might have saved her, had been sitting by his 'phono all tbo afternoon and It had not rung. Tho operator knew tho wiro was not in use all the time, and must have known from the agonlyed calls it meant life or death. Had sho been conscientious or under tho strict espionage given operators today, she would have reported tho 'phone out of order and that tho physician phy-sician was being callod urgently. In fire, In flood, in strikes, in peace, wo call on the telephone operator. Sho Is our hopo and our dellvory. So much of tho world's business and the world's news is carried over tho 'phono today, that no telephone operator oper-ator can feel her position is an unimportant un-important one. In tho big city exchanges applicants on the waiting list aro many. Girls learning tho business go to school in tho oxchango building. They sit at desks, receive instruction in tho theory of telephoning and manipulating manipulat-ing switchboards, When ready to work they sit on high stools before rows of switchboards, with numbers in certain multiple and tiny lights flashing In and out like so many eyes winking. Tho cords aud plugs which rccross boforo the operator seem very complicated to tho onlooker. . Tho Bpeed with which tho operators man-jpulatotheso man-jpulatotheso cords In marvelouH, Back of each group of Kirls Is an inspector, inspec-tor, who assists when calls como in too quickly for tho operator to manage. man-age. The long-distance operators have separate switchboards. The girls work in shifts, bolng relieved after so many hours, so the strain win not be too great. The wages of telephone operators compare favorably with those of girls In stores or offices. Accuracy and Courtesy Tho telephone operator proper Is not tho only one whoso dally duty is answering tho 'phono. In offices this duty generally falls upon ono person stenographer, 6ecrotary or messenger. messen-ger. Should this duty fall upon you, remember that accuracy and courtesy aro jusb' as necessary to you as they aro to the oxchango operator. Cultivate Culti-vate a pleasant and distinct voice, and a dignified way of answering. You may not know it, but tho atmosphere of an office or Btoro can generally bo judged by tho manner of tho employe em-ploye who answers tho 'phono. Personally, Per-sonally, I can estimate, and generally j correctly, whether or not it is a busl-i nesB-llko office, or whether It is ono run without system and whero courtesy cour-tesy is not demanded of tho employees. em-ployees. One can estimate whether tho operator is educated, refined, pleasant so many elements of character char-acter show in tho volco which answers an-swers tho 'phone. It pays, too, from a business viewpoint, to answer each call courteously. You have no way of knowing Just who Is calling. You may snap at the wife or mother of your employer, or at tho very man with whom ho expects to closo a big deal. It takes so little to put strained nerves on edge that your unpleasant manner man-ner may be tbo last straw in that man's aggravations and your employer em-ployer may reap the benefit. It must bo a great temptation to an operator to repeat Inside Information. Informa-tion. It is very dangorous, though. Whllo you may pleaHo tho party to whom you give the news for tho moment, mo-ment, you will dlspleaso your employers em-ployers mightily and probably lose your position, unless your friends are moro loyal to you than you arc to your employers. Betray no confidence about matters you overhear. A question ques-tion asked you carelessly and apparently ap-parently off hand may bo to "pump" you. Take messages over the 'phone accurately. ac-curately. Do not bo afraid to repeat until you aro certain Just what Is wanted. Do not depend on your mem ory. but have pencil and scratch paper at hand and Jot down numbers. Bo certain that a person is out, before answering to that effect Tako it for granted that when ono person calls another on tho 'phone, ho really wishes wish-es to communicate with that porsou. Unless otherwUo instructed, do not tako upon yourself to Judge whether or not his message Is to be delivered. If you work in a big city where offices of-fices aro run by system, it is not necessary to advlso you not to use tho 'phono during business hours. If you are In a smaller place, whore employers em-ployers are lenient, this advice may cot como amiss. In the smaller towns, telephone switchboards aro sometimes located In the railway station. Sometimes the telephone operator Is also tho telegraph tele-graph operator. Once I saw a woman wom-an station agent out signalling with hor lantern. If you havo tho exchange located In your store or house, thero Is no reason why you cannot install notions, books, periodicals, or any commodity you choose, and add to your earnings. Responsible Positions Toll exchango operators on trunk linos have very responsible positions. They talk with patrons. In cities from coast to coast Thoy have opportunities opportun-ities to make friends the country over "Comrade Rose" is such nn operator, and so uiee5&isdsbas she won that OUITE the happiest ' telephone operator of my acquaintance has the exchange installed in w the cozy sitting-room of her cottage in a tiny dot of a village. She answers calls between doing tho family fam-ily sewing, cooking, caring for her children and feeding tho chickens. The contrast between hor quiet surroundings sur-roundings and those of city operators who sit before complicated switchboards switch-boards Is very great indeed. Tho nervous ner-vous strain on the city telephone operators makes the work a gTcat bugbear to girls seeking employment Consequently, while managers are Btudylng constantly how to Improve tho equipment and to introduce inventions, inven-tions, they aro also studying how to make the work attractive to girl operators. oper-ators. So much depends on these girl operators that they aro treated as a most valuablo asset. Recontly I wnt through, a telephone building, just completed, where every modern device was invoked for tho health and comfort of the girls employed. em-ployed. Thero was a roof gardon, which became a un parlor in cool weather, very handsome baths with maid lu attendance, a sickroom with trained nurse to call, and a light, attractive at-tractive lunch-room, whero tho girls . wer furnished tea, coffee and bread and buttor free of charge. I havo gone through big manufacturing plants also, where this Bame care is taken of Kir employes, and feel it is a fino tribute to American men who thus smooth the pathway of tho llttlo working work-ing girl. The operator who learns tho switchboard switch-board of office, hotel or any one building, build-ing, receives her Instruction from an agent of tho company, and can usually master the plugs and switches in a very fw lessons. The main Instruction Instruc-tion she receives Is "not to get rattled" rat-tled" and to speak in a low, distinct voice. She soon finds, however, that It calls into play all her polso, tact, concentration on her work, and quickness quick-ness of brain and fingers. Moro temper is lost in calling telephone numbers than in any other way. Do not. think you can lose your own temper and "train" your subscribers. Your career as an operator will bo brief, unless you are so accurato and efficient tho telephone company cannot afford to lose you. Standard is Hloh Do not feel that any kind of a girl can become a "hello girl." Tho standard stan-dard is very high, both as to morals and attainments. Did you ever stop and think how much depends on tho tolophono operator? Of how sho takes an unconscious part in our tragedies end our joys? Hero Is one of tho tragedies: A wife and mother was laku suddenly and alarmingly ill. |