The Unlucky Number

Letter to the editor cut out and stuck into "Newspaper Cuttings"
My mother was a great writer of Letters to the Editor.

The Editor,

Sir, - Do you know your hospital telephone number? It is not the doubly unlucky number of double thirteen, but three one three one.

I hereby make a sweeping statement, whatever a good many people in Krugersdorp intend dialing, they usually end up with my doubly unlucky number.

Let me inform you that I answered my phone seven times the other morning, leaving my washing, to rinse and dry my hands hastily, and dash along the passage to the phone, or my diswashing, or gardening, or clothes hanging. Well, as I was saying, seven times I answered the phone at great inconvenience to myself. Four times the people wanted the hospital (three one three one), once someone wanted 1317 another time 1314, and the seventh time 1315.

Now, either there is something very wrong with the Krugersdorp exchange, or there is a very careless crowd of people living in Krugersdorp, and incidently a very rude crowd, because they seldom say "Oh, I am so sorry to have disturbed you unnecessarily." No this is a typical wrong number conversation "Hello, put me through to the male medical ward." (no please). I answer "I'm so sorry, I'm afraid you have the wrong number. Krugersdorp Hospital is double six three one three one." What? I repeat and the receiver is banged down at the other end of the line.

Oh yes, I am the unsung hero, the unpaid member of the hospital staff, nobody says I'm sorry or thank you, except three or four ladies who have apologised for troubling me. Thank you ladies, your courtesy and consideration lighten the day for me. Yours etc -
ONE THREE ONE THREE

Krugersdorp

Augustus 12th 1949 (Yes, that is how it is dated...)

Unfortunately no specific newspaper recorded - probably "Krugersdorp Times".