PIG RIDGE GETS A "HELLO GIRL"

When the American Farmers awakened to the value of the telephone, there began a mad rush to spread a spider web of wires throughout the land. 

Though it proved of more value to those agrarians than perhaps any other single appliance, it's arrival was not without certain complications. See if you don't agree as you scan this collection of news tidbits published during the years 1903 to 1906.

The only method of communication out of Calhoun county is the Farmers' Mutual Benefit Association Co-operative Short Distance Telephone Company and its single line has been leased.-- Springfield Correspondent Chicago (Ill.) Chronicle. 

The Red Wing Telephone Company will start a daily news service for its rural subscribers. Between the hours of 6 and 7 o'clock in the evening the company will furnish a synopsis of the most important events of the day.-- Red Wing Correspondent in Minneapolis (Minn.) Journal. 

Smallpox in the telephone exchange tied up the service for five hours here. When Manager Moellering was informed that Lillian Walbolt had the disease he notified the health officers, and they sent the five girl operators home. Before the girls left their clothing, heads, faces and hands were fumigated.-- Fort Wayne Correspondent of Huntington (Ind.) Democrat.

Brokaw has a telephone system, for which Dell Robinson is operator. He is also mayor of the city, sheriff, police, president of the bank, cashier and bookkeeper.-- Brokaw Brevities in Bloomington (Ill.) Pantograph. 

The "hello" girls of the Cumberland Telephone Company went on a strike last week. They complained of the treatment received from the manager. On going out they got him in a corner and told him a "few" things. -- Grayville Grist in Carmi (Ill.) Democrat.

The Southeast Missouri Telephone Company finished putting in their system here -- about sixteen 'phones -- Wednesday. "Central" is located at Walker's store and the ever accommodating "Jimmy" will act in the capacity of "hello girl." Tell your troubles to him.-- Benton (Mo.) Record.

Wm. McPherson has a pet lamb that he has named "Central," it responds promptly whenever called, never chews the rag, or says "busy, call again." This is more than can be said of some "centrals."-- Eckford Echoes in Marshall (Mich.) Statesman.

Manager Glenn of the Crawford County Telephone Co. now looks up trouble on a brand new Pope motor cycle. It makes lots of noise, but it gets there just the same.-- Denison (Iowa) Review. 

Henry Bethke and Joseph Lundberg are digging postholes for the rural telephone line. Together they dig about thirty-five holes per day, and twenty cents a hole makes a good day's wages.-- West Vernon Visions in Milbank (S.D.) Review.

New telephones at Osakis work so well you can hear the rooster in the back yard crow.-- St. Paul (Minn. ) News.

A few days ago a telephone line was run from Highlandville to Bee Waddle's which will give good service to all. George Baucom will put in a telephone so he can talk to his girl. He then won't have to buy so many horse shoes going to see her. The name of the new line will either be the Pumpkin Hill or Hominy line.-- Highlandville Handouts in Ozark (Mo.) Republican.

The Anadarko telephone system of 233 telephones has so run down that only eight plugs are not "dead-" and if eight instruments - are in use when a subscriber rings, all central can do is to wait and tremble while the subscriber spikes the transmitter with expletives.-- Anadarko Notes in Wichita (Kans. ) Eagle.

Unless more common decency is used by some parties who use the telephone accommodations, there will be a telephoneless family or so, soon.-- Formosa (Kans.) New Era. 

Both ends of the Logan-Freeman telephone system are in working order. Stop your rubbering, Eld. Dubois; don't Buttinsky.-- Dickens Doings in Spencer (Ia.) Reporter. 

Another meeting at the Pig Ridge Telephone Company was held Wednesday night. The line is a sure "go," as most of the poles are out now. Look out, central, or some Pig Ridge resident will be calling for "number 6 on the clothes line."-- Pig Ridge Correspondent in Fairfield (Ill.) Sun.

Lightning yesterday morning "played thunder" with a number of telephones on both the city and Farmers' line.-- Winchester (Ill.) Times.

The "telephone ear" is the latest disease. It came with the advent of the rural phone system and is caused by having the receiver glued to the ear twenty-three hours out of a possible twenty-four.-- Hume (Mo.) Telephone. 

Allegan folk complain of "rubberosis" on the telephone lines. There are many party lines in that neighborhood, and when one party is called up a dozen others listen and occasionally titter audibly. The formal complaint was made by a young man who frequently had occasion to converse with his best girl.-- Grand Rapids (Mich.) Press.

The telephone poles around town have been black with men stringing new wires for the telephone company.-- Penacook Correspondent of the Concord (N.H.) Patriot. 

Don't get on your ear if you don't get attention at the telephone exchange during a thunder and lightning storm. The electric fluid has a special liking for the "hello girl" and frequently chases them out of the office and around several blocks. The woman who squats on a feather bed in the middle of a room during an electric storm should not expect a mite of a telephone girl to sit on a stool and play with streaks of lightning.-- Kimball (S.D.) Graphic. 

Dan James of Toledo paid his respects to his old home near Long's Crossing, and during the day constructed a novel telephone line from his mother's house to Robert Avery's, using the barbed wire fences along the entire line. It works to a nicety, and free concerts are held almost every night either at one end of the line or the other -- whichever house has the best crowd -- the musicians, or course, being at the opposite end of the line. Everyone declares life is now full or smile wrinkles.-- Genoa (Ohio) Times.

And if today, dear friends, we've added a few 'smile wrinkles" to your countenance, our purpose has been served.

MA

© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED