The
Scene: Telegraph office in Houston.
| Enter handsome black cape, trimmed with jet and , with Tibetan fur collar, all enclosing lovely young lady. | |
| Young lady | Oh, I want to send a at once, if you please. Give me about six blanks, please. Writes about ten minutes. How much will this amount to, please? |
| Counting words. dollars and ninety-five cents, ma’am. | |
| Young lady | Goodness ! I’ve only thirty cents with me. . How is it you charge so much, when the post-office only requires two cents? |
| We claim to deliver messages quicker than the post-office, ma’am. You can send ten words to Waco for twenty-five cents. | |
| Young lady | Give me another blank, please: I guess that will be enough. After five minutes’ hard work she produces the following: “Ring was lovely. Come down as soon as you can. Mamie.” |
| Clerk | This contains words. That will be thirty cents. |
| Young lady | Oh, gracious! I wanted that nickel to buy gum with. |
| Clerk | Let’s see. You might strike out, “,” and that will make it all right. |
| Young lady | Indeed I shan’t. You ought to see that ring. I’ll give you the thirty cents. |
| Clerk | To whom is this to be sent? |
| Young lady | It seems to me you are rather inquisitive, sir. |
| Clerk | Wearily. I assure you there is no personal interest expressed in the question. We have to know the name and address in order to send the message. |
| Young lady | Oh, yes. I didn’t think of that. She writes the name and address, pays the thirty cents and departs. Twenty minutes later she returns, out of breath. |
| Young lady | Oh, I forgot something. Have you sent it off yet? |
| Clerk | Yes, ten minutes ago. |
| Young lady | Oh, I’m so sorry. It isn’t the way I wanted it at all. Can’t you telegraph and have it changed for me? |
| Clerk | Is it anything important? |
| Young lady | Yes: I wanted to underscore the words “awfully lovely.” Will you have that attended to at once? |
| Clerk | Certainly, and we have some real nice violet extract; would you like a few drops on your telegram? |
| Young lady | Oh, yes: so kind of you. I expect to send all my telegrams through your office, you have been so accommodating. Good morning. |