No Fish Story!

Here’s an amusing bit of history printed in a 1919 newspaper column. Under the heading “Public Service Announcement” was the following: “Remove apparatus from the cradle and listen for steady humming sound. Place finger on first letter of the corresponding number and pull the dial as far as it will go.” In case you hadn’t guessed, these were the instructions for using the first automatic dialing telephones on the Bell System. Until then, Bell relied on its army of so-called “Hello Girls” to connect lines at central switchboards. At the time, other telephone companies were already touting what they called “girl-less lines,” which they promised (and I quote) “never listen in, and are never impudent and saucy.” My, how far we’ve come! -1

In today’s Gospel Lesson, we get to listen in on a lively conversation between Jesus and a Samaritan woman. Their chance meeting took place at “Jacob’s Well,” where they have both come for water. The woman at the well reveals that she…