On to Rome by wireless telephone from the Whangpoo, the conversa [tion was clea access led to, the ldesixe for a talk to London. Two British journalists were on tap 0 conversation. Their respective organisations were named and the names communicated to the gentleman in Rome. He had ging, unscea but easily-heard
Moats. 'The landline to London was in good order. The earpieces were put on by one of the expectant cumalists, 'The fun boran: splutfor, splutter, roar' and. crackle broken by conversations, now. in French, now in Italian, from oddly vivid, invisible, " perso Saddenly it seemed that' China, been left and the listener was back fin Europe. The roar in his ears was like the heavy rolling of the Waves on the seashore in rough 'Then came the word "Londra" and the familiar call "Hello." There was lady' politely addressed from Rome as "mademoiselle"" She was it his isa call answer "on the steamship Conte Rosso." seemed that visions of legpulling fashed across the lady's mind. She wavered and then came 0 the conclusion that. Chi had really Become. vocal. routine but the good Post Ofice has roles: It was neces-ery to. be cautious even with furious folk who spoke from China Sy' way of Rome. atwaye tobe poles Wala But telephone nymphs are taught
moment™ she aid. Alas! it may have been politeness but it was of equivalent to the cut off. Four times Rome managed to get at the lady. Pour times she said "walt 2 moment" and then-—silence and utter, silence and" splutter, The ournailats would not talk that evening. Itigh dignitaries in Rome spoke. reprosehfully "bat courteously to the mandarins at St. Martioe-lo-Grand. Beautifully pleasant was the conversation but. the Rslephone nymph was. supported, Before she centd be moved from het refusal to give the last four or five fRondred. yards of the 10000 mie link: thera bad to be consultation with Downing Street.
All that goes to show that the British Constitution still Rourishe [And what better upholders could ave "than the. sim, ontmpresed lady of "London's switchboard and the genial despots ut. the Foreign Oftce?™ And it was such a treat 10 en the rae mater sacked again cockney shorn of Sam Wellr's faeperites and. transformed into most. ducal refinement, but ea hey for all Chat, bless the girl!
But the Marconi operator on the Conte Resto, who ad. celled. for fours in getting his beloved machine Inti didnt say leg took quite a long time to explain to
eapectable young woman dexervin thatthe "aay wan "cal all the: money. which a grateful Government could give forthe better replenishment of her bottom drawer. mit ly not certain, that convinced. at all atthe end. "He nought. that. the. British Journalists were trifle eccentric iso, "He: most be" forgiven for he could mot know that. most London {clephone nymphs come yom Brix: ton. Brixton ham strict nigs of etiquette foo nymphs; one. being Speyer fet a strange man speak 2 you without an introduction" Perhais that is the secret.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.