Charles R. Barnes, On the Sweeny wire (1926)
“ A party telephone wire is like a political picnic—lots of strangers on the ground and all full-fledged listeners-in. And Belle Sweeny, the race-track gambler’s widow, found her neighbors’ conversation irresistible, but, sad to relate, almost as disastrous. ”
Charles R. Barnes, On the Sweeny wire (1926)
“ When he come in, he says to me:“‘Belle,’ he says, ‘Mike ain’t such a bad feller.’“‘There’s worse,’ I says, ‘but they’re in jail. Take it from me, Danny, the Wop is the kind that’ll meet you with a glad face and then forget that he ever looked pleasant—he’s a smile-that-won’t-stay-on feller,’ I says. ‘I like him much,’ I says; ‘about as much as you’d like doin’ the housework,’ I says.“You see, mister, a woman’s got a’ instinct that’s wound up all the time and rings up people and things like a cash register.” ”
Charles R. Barnes, On the Sweeny wire (1926)
“ Big Joe that I’d ought to stick around and take care of her, but she let out a awful holler at that.“‘There is big things to be did this day,’ says she, ‘and I’m sure I’m able to take care of myself,’ she says, ‘for there’s the nurse to bawl out,’ she says, ‘when I want somethin’ to do. And, anyway, I want Mike the Wop to understand that ladies has a puffec’ right to listen at a telephone. I do it myself,’ she says, ‘and I ain’t goin’ to stand for no call down from no cheap Sicilian,’ she says. ”
