Posted by Adam Quinan on March 13, 2006 at 12:58:05 from 72.136.51.111 user Adam.
In Reply to: Telegrams posted by Peter H on March 13, 2006 at 12:31:22:
I am not sure that Peter H really wants my opinions on this but since he raised the questions, he is going to have to rad them or skip quickly on!
My grandparents only had one phone in the house and it was fixed to the wall under the staircase in the hall. However, it was one of those modern ones with a handset. It didn't have a dial until it was upgraded when dialling came in in the 1960s.
Long distance (trunk) calls were expensive and probably telegrams were cheaper. A reply paid telegram was precisely what it says, the sender paid for a certain number of words to be sent in reply which explains why Nancy was limited to twelve words, otherwise she would have to pay extra. The practice in rural areas where the house had a phone was to call the number and read the telegram. A paper copy would then be delivered as a permanent record.
The telegraph clerk didn't necessarily know to switch from Mrs Blackett to Ruth Blackett, we only have Cook's words. We don't know how the GA addressed the telegram, the conversation may have gone something like this.
TC: I have a telegram for Miss Blackett.
Cook: Mrs Blackett is away.
TC: No, Miss Ruth Blackett.
Cook: Wait a minute.... Hold on please I'll call her.
As for the telegram being followed by a letter, oncethe facts were established, the GA could plan her moves more carefully and letter post was far cheaper and it was quicker in those days so a follow-up letter could convey more information and a tenth of the cost and it didn't have the same urgency.