Something New

On a beautiful day, brothers Hoss and Joe Cartwright were in Virginia City. At the post office it was a bustle of interest.

“Come Hoss. We're going to see what's going on”, Joe said curious.

They walked into the post office and forced them in. Post Office owner Fred Baker was doing a demonstration.

“Fred, do you have something new in the shop?”, Hoss asked cheerful.

“Yes. Virginia City has its own telephone exchange as of today. A phone can be placed in your home that allows you to call someone else. You call the power plant first, so me, and I'll connect you to the number you want. Simple”, Fred explained.

The brothers looked at each other asking and amazed.

“Shouldn't you be visiting that person instead of calling? That seems to us much faster”, Joe said after a while.

“If that person lives nearby, yes. Not if he lives in Boston, for example. Then calling is easier”, reacted Fred.

“Hmm, there's something in there, too. It would be something for the Ponderosa”, said Hoss.

“That's true. Then I can call all the girls in the world and ask out”, Joe said laughing.

Hoss said corrective, “I mean for Dad to do all the business about the ranch, nincompoop.”

“Fred, what does such a phone cost?”, asked Joe.

“The device itself costs $175. Then there's the connection fee, and that's $60. Finally, the very low-cost subscription of $25 per month. Total price: $260. Really a bargain for rich guys like you Cartwrights”, answered Fred.

“It's a little pricey. All that extra cost”, said Joe.

Fred showed a brand new black phone.

“This is really out of place in Ben Cartwright's office. Don't you think so?”, he asked.

“Nice toys. But I'm sure Dad wouldn't want it. Come Joe”, said Hoss.

Fred made another attempt to smear the brothers.

“If everyone hears that there's a phone on the Ponderosa, I'm sure everyone wants one at home. People look up to you very much”, he said.

“And soon you'll tell us that in about 150 years, people with such a case will be walking down the street without a landline connection”, Hoss said laughing.

“Hoss, you never know what's going or can to happen in the future”, answered Fred.

Hoss didn't answer but left with his brother.

Coming home, the brothers told the whole story to their father Ben and older brother Adam.

“When something like a phone comes into the house here, it's purely for business use. And only I'll take care of it”, Ben said when he heard everything.

The boys understood that all too well.

Because the Cartwrights didn't take a phone subscription, Fred's action went on the bottle very quickly. And it would be a long time before the word phone fell again, especially on the Ponderosa.