faintest justification for such combination in the new code, but even that cannot fairly be pleaded when the integrity of the community’s ear is imperilled. A proper corps d’esprit would impel to the conservation of a professional brother’s prosperity, but even that laudable sentiment must have subordinate place when the profession at large, who are the conservators of society, see that society is likely to turn a deaf ear to the varied forms of human plaint, and all owing to the men who can neither stop or start an open car of a horse railroad without blowing out the ear drums of the community. The public is in peril and who shall be the Curtius to jump into the breach. The conductor cannot be appealed to. He is insensitive, and, besides, he is in authority. One cannot knock the beastly clarion from his lips’ embrace: there would be the claim for assault and ejection for disorder. The directors are a weak reed; they dread a strike. Municipal ordinance would be vainly sought: workingmen have a union and votes. The police, even the finest, are not open to bribery: they are at home in a brawl, and noise is their normal condition of repose. The profession must interfere. Henceforth let the cry be “boycott the whistle.” If it must exist, let the instruction be boldly posted at the starter’s office: “Conductors must aim their whistles at the curbstones and not in the ears of the passengers.” PROMPT TELEPHONE SERVICE. The telephone is too useful not to be treated properly. It is always an affair of two parties and each is in duty bound to be considerate of the other. The bell rings, it is answered promptly, and patience becomes well nigh exhausted before “central” succeeds in establishing the connection, and the time of the respondent is wasted. The reason for this rests on the thoughtlessness or selfishness of the one who makes the call. He rings and asks for a certain connection, and then hangs up his instrument, goes away to wait for a summons. In the meantime the respondent answers, stays by his instrument, “central” endeavors to call up the caller, perhaps through another office, the connection is often broken, and after much tribulation the connection is fully made. This is of very frequent occurrence and could be avoided, for the most part, by the caller staying by his instrument for the few seconds usually required to make the connection. There are occasional instances of bad management and some ugliness in the central office, but they are quite rare, and the service is very prompt. More delay and annoyance are caused by thoughtlessness of the users of the telephone than by any neglect of duty on the part of the operators at the central offices. One who is called up has a right to consider that he is wanted, and that promptly. It is the duty of the caller to be careful not to annoy the central office or waste the respondent’s time. Moral: When you call, stay by your instrument till the reply comes.