Honolulu Republican, Volume IV, Number 499, 17 January 1902 — A CHINESE 'PHONE EXCHANGE. [ARTICLE]

A CHINESE 'PHONE EXCHANGE.

Gorgeously Fitted Up and Supplied With the American “Hello.. From the San Francisco Chronicle. The new Chinese telephone ex hang is open and ready for busti ness, after months of preparation The exchange differs from ail oth•rs in this city or in the World in that it is gorgeous with oriental beauty and a marvel of luxurious good taste and splendor. The telepnone company has made it a point to make the new exchange one of the show places in Chinatown. It has r pared no expense to obtain this re- , suit, and Chief Engineer Cantin. un der whose direction the work was none, feels justly proud of the re--aits of his labors. On entering the ante-room one is met by a smiling and bowing functionary. whose sole duty it is to make visitors welcome. Close by the door is a richly carved teak-wood table, on which are kepi tobacco and cigarettes and a nest of tea bowls, while in • a silk-cover» d caddy rest? a large tea- , pot. which is alwavs kept filled with tea of a good quality. Tea and tobac- ' o are always served to visitors, a i ( mplcment of hospitality without which no Chinese business transaction is complete. Before giong into the telephone •wrni its. if a brief inspection of the : rooms in the rear of the reception room is not without interest. In the extreme r<ar is a kitchen, small, but ! mat and complete. There is an ♦ qjally diminutive dining room, and ikewtse a bedroom, in w hich are four small bunks. This is where Loo Hum Vhu, th nanag. r of the exchange. I.res. with his assistants. They are always on duty, and the exchange is never clos- d from year's end to year’s end. The front room, in which is placed ! the swifi bboard. L the most attractive feature of th> place. It is gayly dtvorated with dragons and serpents: there a** rare lanterns hanging from :hs ceiling, in which electric lights hav* ’n p’a<* making a contrast of modernity and antiquity, j The work of th" exchange would drsve an American operator insane. For, in ad : tlon ’ the 555 numbers cn th • x hinge, there are at least 1.5 tel i ;i< - which ar-’ either in Chine 1 " tyre h< -■ ~ or in clubs. 4 the eperativf. have nearly 1.500 lame* • r-memiier. together with ’heir ow i<-s’ pis.ee of residence. For example. tVoo K o rings his tele- . phone and says he wants to talk to ! Chung H Kin, H- gives no number. ■ for Chung > in s. me big tenement and h;'s uo t. i. phon number It is ' the duty of the operative to remem her a’i tl se names, and it is c!a:ml*d he doe* so without effort. The Chinese telephone company has | been ?n existence since ISS7 and has slowly made its way. moving from place to place as its increasing business made larc r quarters necessarv Mr 100 K.inr. t?h;i has been th' manager for rhr pa*t eight years. He speak* Erg'.i>h without a trace of | accent and is a man of great intclli(fen'e. He is very proud of his new quarters and never t’res of showing viait; rs about the place.