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March 15, 1930. Publication of "The Elevator Starter." The New Yorker.

Back to the days when probably all elevators had human operators. My office building in New York in the late sixties had them. I would not be surprised of they were all gone now.

I enjoyed this small piece. Here are some excerpts.

   Say, George, come here. I wanna talk to you. Got a few things I want to tell you.
   George, you been here two weeks now. I took you on temporary. You remember what I said? I said if you made good in two weeks I'd make it permanent, thirty-seven-fifty a week. Well, George, your two weeks is up today. I guess you knew that, but I wanted to get it straight in your mind ...
   ...   I just want to review your work. I notice the first couple days you didn't smile much. Well, George, you gotta remember about good-will. This is an office building. Not a hotel.
   ...  Ya know, George, that's one of the reasons why I'm a starter. Before I was here a month I knew all about ... the value of a smile.
   I like your technique, George. Busy as I am, I still keep a watchful eye on the indicator, to see whether you're stopping even with the floors. Technique's a great thing, George. If you can combine speed and technique, then you're a born Operator. I'm satisfied with your technique.
   It shows you love your work. Even if I am a starter, I still like to take a car for a trip once in a while, just so I don't lose the feel of it.
   Well, I guess you reelize by now, George, you're hired permanent. I think I'll have reason to be proud of you.