New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-03-13


;nso -. .u0 hn and whose charaster be fain would
iaee,n from bis looks. JERK, jerk, jerk-rattle,
r.,,ia r.ttle-all was done and writing down
~ message on a slate beside him, he copied it
.Jterward on paper to give TO one ofthe porters.
!, was about some bexes sent on to - by the
last tTsin.
Il know what clerk sent down that message,
he sad. 1T -
But how do you know which clerk it vast
BY the manner Of bis handling the needles,
and their corresponding movements am SIRE
who is working them as if saw the person with
ny eyes. You Of course would no. detect any
difference in the vibrations, yet there Is very
great difference. There may be timidity, indie
cis,on, furry, or frmness. in their movements -
You see quite clarly il the person speaking 70
Won is master Of what he is about if be does It
with ease and decision, or II he 10 spelling his
way, ard anxious about getting through the mat
ter well. And it is not only the quickness OF the
delivery that shows whether the person is skilful
or not, but his very character communicates itself
20 the wires, and shows itself in the movements
Of the needles. .,
How strange and it is really possiblel'
That in a mans movements much OF his char
acter is shown, you will allow Well, as ne
takes hold Of the handles TO work the telegraph,
he does il in q way corresponding with his own
particular individuality. That Is communicated
to the wires and here on the dial plate see the
inner man before me. The person just men,
toned is q very good fellow, bat cautious, unde-
cided-never sure whether what he does Will DE
Quste right or not. He is always hesitatlng; az
soon as his hand touches the instrument know
it il he instantly. There go the needles slowly
from one side to the other as if not quite certain
about going across or not they never go back
suddenly, but always take their time, and move
right or left hesitatlDgly, and with no decided
swing 1t is as like the man who ls moving them
as it is possible TO be. 1t is quite reflex OF his
mind there is the impress OF him exactly as ne
is And it is very natural 1t should be So The
Ieast hesitation or doubt communicates itself in-
voluntarily to the hands as you hold the handles
working the telegraph; and SO lind and symps-
thetc is the conducting power-so sensitive are
the wires-that every passing shade OF feeling Is
felt by them. On the dial plate IL Is all betrayed
Just as the mind OF him at the other end OF the
wire is wayeriDg, exactly so the needles are wa
vering too. Now he feels more sure; and yet
that very same instant the change that has gone
on within him is marked there alsoi the needles
swing directly with sudden decision.
This is really very interesting, L sad; and
il is besides TO me at least new wonder con-
nected with electric communication. That one
should be able to talk with person a hundred
miles off as if they were both face to iace Is Ger.
tanly extraordinary but that the affections oil
the mind and their sudden varylngs should be IN
Simultaneously transmitted such dIstance-per-
hans even before the individual himself was
wonderful
1T is not he continued, in the manner Of de-
livering a communication only that you discover
the sort of person with whom you have to do
The way ia which he receives yours is also very
Indicative One, slow Of thought will let you
give the whole word while another, of quick
comprehension, and of holder nature will give
the sign 81 understand" at the FIRST letters. The
very Jerk too, which signifies that you know what
is meant, is given by one with decided, sure
firm knock while with another, of g hesitating
character the needles seem to be hesitatng too!
Just now said |, while you were receiving
message, observed that every now and then
you gave an unusually strong jerk-much stronger
than the others. What did that mean =
Oh, said he, laughing that was an indignant
Understanding The other was stopping to
see if knew well what he had said, aud show
ed by my manner of saying yes, that | was out
OF patience with this distrust. Such m '' Under
standing" given in that brusque manner, is not
exactly very civil: but l really cant help it-One
gets at last out of patience with such dawdlng.'
And will the other. think you, understand that
bis questions and slownegs put you out OF pa
thence =?
No doubt OF that. | knew he understood the
wey answered him, and was sulky about IT, for
his manner changed directly In the way l SAID
Il understand" WAS expressed besides VI
course | understand Do get on, cant you, aud
don't stop TO ask such foolish questions! That
in whist we call an indignant understanding!
All this interested me much; and We talked on,
now about favorite author lying on the table,
now of this thing, now OF that, only interrupted
occaeiopallv by the click -clacb of the mahogany
case that, like a something endued with life, was
cains It's attendant to come to it, ana take heed,
But bile there, as one in presence OF some de-.
mOfiaC thing, the telegraph eXercis ed sort OF
spell over me and always REQUIRED TO It, mach
as our conversation on other matters would have
pleased me at any other time.
lany fho nh q.
mept7 l observed. There must be always
some one here TO watch 1t, and be in readinessT
Yes; l or my brother remain here always
We take it by turns. Night aud day he or l am
here. He is gone to day some miles Off so
have taken bis watch for him. was on duty be-
fore TO night therefore, will be the third night
have been upl'
1t must be very fatiguing for you beside
you cannot venture to doze little, lest something
should happen
Though l were to do so, the wires began TO
move, should awake directly. cannot tell you
hosc or spAy is but if there ia the slightest tre
NOR, am sensible Of it at once. Whether hear
it or feel j.. do not exactly know but ara SEN
sibe that they are moviRgl
But intense watchfuness, by constant COM
partnership with that animate yet hteless thing,
sort Of sympathy. or magnetic inhueDce-cal It
what you will-may exist between you and 1t,
observed.
1T may be So, he replied but really cannot
say The strain of attention that all occupation
with the telegraph produces is very crest. While
reading of the communications Just given, your
mind is on the stretch. The intentness of obser-
walton with which you must follow the needles in
their movements is very fatiguing There is
nothing hardly that demands such minute atten-
tion; for slight mistake, and you oss the thread
OF the meaning, and this directly causes delay.
Beside which, you get confused
This constant state of excitement must
should think, at last make itself felt It would
be highly interesting to observe tho influence It
would exercise. Now, in yourself, have YOU
asked, remarked that any change has taken
place since you have been occupied with the
telegraph-thst you are more irritable and ex.
citable than before-or that the constant tension
IN which the faculties are kept has at all affected
you'll