Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 34, Number 93, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 July 1902 — Deal Gently With the “Central." [ARTICLE]

Deal Gently With the “Central."

j■T am gland of this chance to saj something of the telephone operator —one of a class little understood and much abused. A girl who has charge of t switchboard controlling the stationa of a number of businese houses, is, the busy part ol the day, one of the very busiest people who exists, She is not only employed every moment, but it is only by the most rapid movements and the most unremitting energy, , and only after great experience, that she can keep abreast of the demands upon her. She is literally doing half a dozen things at once, each of them requiring a half dozen ( arm-movements, and a few words of talk. Moreover, while she is doing this, keeping in mind a half 'dozen other things to be done as ( saon as opportunity offers. She is ( reaching here and there with both arms, running her fingers over a row of levers in front of her connecting, disconnecting, ringing, waiting, (but working, too,) talk- | ing in a steady stream of formulas, and accepting impatience and even abuse without irritation. It is a wearing nerve dragging business, this being a “hello girl” on a busy board, To be sweet and patient after eight or nine hours of such strain, dots not prove the possession of a good disposition, for even the best disposition could not stand it. It proves something better—attained control of the nerves and temper. If you are in the habit of giving your “central” just four seconds to answer a ring, and some ten other seconds to get a connection (and on failure in either regard to grind the bell crank viciously and indulge in language,) let me advise you to go up to the operating room at the central office and watch your operator at her work. If you don’t receive an object lesson in patience this article is space thrown away. —Ex.