Through the Telephone.

Evening Star, Issue 6951, 10 July 1886, Page 2 (Supplement)

Through the Telephone.

Those who are familiar with the use of the - telephone know well how frequently an imperfect contactin the switch-room of a telephone exchange, or outside, will have the effect of putting them into communication with the wrong person, or sometimes with two persons at once. In the latter case a sort of triangular conversation is carried on for a while, which it is sometimes ludicrously difficult to get to the end of. Something, for instance, in this form: — " Aye you there ?"—" No." " What do you mean ? What'B your number ?"—" Yes. . Are you the editor of the ' Weekly Fabricator ?" "Yes. What is it?"—"I want your price for short prints."" "Short prints of what?"—" And also black poplins." " " Who are you ?"—" We are Messrs Mule and Jenny. I want No. 351."

" No. 351 is gone to press—Won't appear for a fortnight."—" Gone where? Tell mm I want him at once!" "Want who? Where's the editor?"— " What editor! Lthought you said he was gone away for a .fortnight. Please answer my question."—"l know nothing about black poplins. Who are you ?—." lam 351. Editor of 'Weekly Fabricator.'"—"Why, bless my heart, I thought —oh, he must be a blooming spirit!" Then the clerk' at the Exchange takes a turn—

" Are you there, 351 ?—" Yes, the whole family of us 1" Then follows a cannonade of savage rape from some one of the telephonic spirits; and "the rest is silence." _^^