Hardy on phones
[Hardy] had a morbid suspicion of mechanical gadgets (he never used a watch), in particular of the telephone. In his rooms in Trinity or his flat in St George’s Square, he used to say, in a disapproving and slightly sinister tone: “If you fancy yourself at the telephone, there is one in the next room.” Once in a an emergency he had to ring me up: angrily his voice came at me: “I shan’t hear a word you say, so when I’m finished I shall immediately put the receiver down. It’s important you should come round between nine and ten tonight.” Clonk.