Your Number Please The old crank telephone and the familiar voice "Your Number Please" have long vanished from the telephone. With the sharing of party lines, back in those years it was enjoyed and missed, when more modern changes did take place. According to stories passed down, the old party line saved listeners the price of a newspaper. Time listening in supplied the daily news and gossip going on in the community. One gentlemen told how he saved himself money in not having to buy a clock, with one crank of the telephone, he could get the time day or night. It was also convenient for him he remarked, in many other ways. Living alone the party line was great company; he made sure no one could hear his clock ticking, as he covered it with a pillow. With the tolling of the church bell, he could find out by listening in on the party line who had passed away. The party line was also great company during long winter days, with no radios or televisions in homes back then. A merchant liked to tell a story of a gentleman arriving at his country store. He forgot what his wife told him to bring home and asked if he would call. The merchant wanting to know what ring he should ask the operator for, the gentleman replied, ring any number, they all listen in anyway. 155