XVI 11 



AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



February, 19 13 



Always on Guard 



No matter where a ship may be along 

 the American coast; no matter how dark, 

 or cold, or stormy the night, the coast 

 guard is on watch, patrolling the nearest 

 beach or rocky cliffs. 



This man, always on guard, could, by 

 his own unsupported efforts, do little to 

 save life, or to guide ships away from 

 perilous points. 



As a unit in an efficient system and 

 able, at a moment's notice, to command 

 the service of his nearby station, he be- 

 comes a power to whom all ship owners 

 and passengers are indebted. 



In the same way, the Bell Telephone in 

 your home and office is always on guard. 



By itself, it is only an ingenious instru- 

 ment; but as a vital unit in the Bell System, 

 which links together seven million other 

 telephones in all parts of this country, that 

 single telephone instrument becomes a 

 power to help you at any moment of any 

 hour, day or night. 



It costs unwearying effort and millions 

 of dollars to keep the Bell System always 

 on guard, but this is the only kind of 

 service that can adequately take care of 

 the social and commercial needs of all the 

 people of a Nation. 



American Telephone and Telegraph Company 



And Associated Companies 



Every Bell Telephone is the Center of the System. 



How Do You Keep Your Music? 



Can you always find it when you want it? 

 Is it torn or misplaced? 



& {Kinbale JluStc Cabinet 



solves once and for all the vexing problem 

 of keeping sheet music and music albums. 

 Any piece can be found or replaced in- 

 stantly and without unnecessary wear and 

 tear. 



£ {Etnbale fflu&it Cabinet 



will save you the annoyance of never being 

 sure where any piece will be found ; will 

 save your time and energy and 

 enable you to get full enjoyment 

 from your music. 

 Small Sliding Trays: — 



Simple Index: 



These do the work. 



Tindale Cabinets are made 

 in various sizes and designs 

 in Mahogany or Oak suitable 

 for residence or studio. 

 $15.00 upward. Monthly 

 payments if desired. 



Send for illustrated 

 Booklet No. 19 



Tindale Cabinet Co. 



1 West 34th Street 

 New York 



Send for catalogue A 27 of pergolas, sun dials and garden 

 furniture or A 40 of wood columns. 



Hartmann-Sanders Co. 



Exclusive Manufacturers of 



ROLL'S PATENT LOCK JOINT COLUMNS 



Suitable for 



PERGOLAS, PORCHES or 



INTERIOR USE 



ELSTON and WEBSTER AVES. 



CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 



Eastern Office: 



1123 Broadway, New York City 



TELEPHONE TALK 



UPON entering your house or your 

 place of business, suggests the Youth's 

 Companion, you have no doubt often been 

 told that So-and-so wants you to call him 

 up on the telephone. If he is an old friend, 

 or if you have reason to think that the 

 message concerns your own interests, you 

 respond willingly; but more often you have 

 exclaimed impatiently, for you have felt 

 sure that the other person is asking you to 

 take the initiative about some affair of his. 

 You have acceded to his request rather than 

 rudely ignore it — although you feel that he 

 was rude in making it. 



Sometimes when your telephone rings 

 and you answer it, you are told by an office 

 boy that Mr. Smith wants to speak to you. 

 Then you wait with your ear to the re- 

 ce : ver; you may perhaps hear Mr. Smith 

 dictating a letter or carrying on a conversa- 

 tion ; anyway, you wait and wait and wait. 

 When at last Mr. Smith does turn to the 

 telephone, he does not make any apology 

 for his delay. You think that the next time 

 you are thus made to wait upon Mr. 

 Smith's convenience you will ring off and 

 teach Mr. Smith a lesson. But somehow 

 you are too gentle — or too cowardly — ever 

 to do it. 



Frequently, through "Central's" mistake, 

 you have been connected with some one who 

 wants another number. The person, suspi- 

 cious of your voice, does not say, "Hello! 

 Is Mr. So-and-so there ?" He says, "Hello ! 

 Who is this ?" In the circumstances, it is a 

 peculiarly irritating query. You do not see 

 why you should be called from vour dinner 

 or your work to tell some stranger your 

 name. So you answer coldly, "This is num- 

 ber five five one." "Well, I want number 

 five nine one," the voice replies, complain- 

 ingly, as if you were to blame for the 

 blunder. 



Perhaps you have given Central a num- 

 ber, and Central has in some way got the 

 lines crossed, so that you find yourself 

 breaking in on someone's else conversation. 

 Usually in that case you are not given the 

 chance to apologize civilly for the uninten- 

 tional intrusion. "Get off the line!" an 

 angry voice will say to you; and you "get 

 off," wishing that you knew the name of the 

 ruffian. 



In these ways, if you are a frequent user 

 of the telephone, you have doubtless had 

 your temper ruffled. 



A NICKEL-IN-THE-SLOT BENCH 



DROP a nickel in the slot and get a re- 

 served seat for two; that is the idea 

 of the new park bench, in use in San Jose, 

 California. The plan of the inventor is to 

 place his bench in public resorts, parks, 

 etc., not to do away with the free benches, 

 but in addition to them. This will take 

 care of the unusual Sunday and holiday 

 crowds, who cannot find accommodations, 

 and it will also appeal to people who wish 

 an exclusive seat and do not care to rub 

 elbows with strangers. Many people would 

 gladly pay a nickel for this privilege, and 

 the inventor expects to make enough on 

 each bench to add to the revenues of the 

 Park Commission, and pay him a modest 

 profit besides. 



The bench is so adjusted that it cannot 

 be used until a coin is dropped in the box at 

 the side. This releases a lock and the 

 bench can be swung back, making a reclin- 

 ing or .rocking seat if desired. It is also 

 equipped with an awning. When vacated, 

 the bench resumes its former position auto- 

 matically, and locks, ready for the next 

 patron. 



