Democratic Sentinel, Volume 20, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 May 1896 — COSTLY STUTTERING. [ARTICLE]

COSTLY STUTTERING.

Why the Firm of Hobson & Dobson Are at Loggerheads, Hobson stutters. Hobson is a firstclass business man, and his vocal infirmity has never interfered until recently with the profits of the wellknown firm, Hobson & Dobson, of Chicago. Hobson is a progressive man, ever on the alert to adopt modern methods. He was one of the first subscribers to the telephone, and has kept right up with the march of inventions in all its ramifications. As a wide-awake man Hobson was not slow to grasp the possibilities of the long distance telephone. And that is how Hobson and Dobson came to have the first dispute which marred years of profitable partnership. Dobson went to New York last week. He made his headquarters at a wellknown Gotham hotel, and telegraphed Hobson of bis arrival in the Eastern town. It seems that an Eastern customer had failed to keep a certain agreement, the details of which were familiar to Hobson, but not to Dobson. It would take a long telegram to explain the details fully, and Hobson decided to call Dobson up on the long distance telephone. The rate for conversation between Chicago and New York is $8 for five minutes, after the proper connections are made and communlcanon established. The usual negotiations passed between the operators, and Dobson recognized the voice of his partner. “Hello, Hobson!” “H-h-hello, D-d-d-dobson, is that y-y-you?” “Yes, it’s me. Talk fast, Hobson; this costs money.” “I know it does. You know H-h-h----ham-m«rs-s-stein and P-p-p-p-polloski?” “Who?” “H-h-h-h-h-hammers-s-s-stein and P-P-P-P-pollosky ?” “Hainmerstein and Pollosky? Yes, they bought $4,000 worth of goods from us. What about them?” “Have J-J-j-just r-r-r-received a l-l-l-l-letter f-f-f-from H-h-h-h-hammerstein saying t-t-t-that P-p-p-p-pollosky r-r-r----refuses to •” “Say, Hobson, you had better ring off new and save money. It makes no difference how long or how short this message Is, we are bound to get the worst of it. You don’t stutter on a telegraph blank and I cannot understand the cipher system you have been sending. Don’t get hot about it, old man, but write It out and send it over the wire. Good-by.” “G-g-g-good-b-b-by. Y-y-y-you will b-b-be s-s-s-sorry for t-t-this.” Hobson hung up the receiver with a snap and paid the SB. He is waiting for Dobson to return. The dust and small chips from turquoise polishing can be made up Into artificial stones by means of hydraulic pressure that puzzle the best experts. Great mluds rest themselves on small ones.