Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-11-28
PEPPER.
A California Story OF q Telegraph
Operator.

A California Story OF q Telegraph
Operator.
The following story originated, we be-
lieve, with the San Francisco Post
SIT often happens that telegraphers are
called into service at the representation Of q
stage play, in which occurs what is known
as telegraph scene,' such as the one shown
in Byron's ACROSS the Continent or Bou-
cicault's Long Strike and it is then the
operator behind the scenes manages to
amuse himself by talking to thu 'frater-
ity' in the audience, unknown of course to
most of those present, who find no mean-
| ing in the click of the instrument.
GAS an evidence that the operators Of our
| city are not behiDdhand in the matter of
having their fun, the following is related of
Jim -, well-known attache Of the
| Western Union:
"During the theatrical season Of last year,
the drama of The Long Strike was pro-
duced at one Of our theatres, and for the
manipulation Of the telegraph instrument,
| which plays an important part In the NEST
| important act of the play, jim was en-
gagged.
"Hls position was such that he could see
the audience without being seen, and when,
upon taking bis position, discovering 10 the
| auditorium brother operator from Mem
| phis, by name Pepper-who had that day
| arrived in toWn-he determined to have q
| little sport On bis own account.
Accordingly, when the the time came for
the sending of the first dispatch, Jim loud
| IL sounded on his machine the words, tHow
are you, Pepper?
"The quick professional ear of Pepper
| de f..a lxy arI xD0v1Aoripov
who the deuce it was Strengthened up and
stared at the stage as II he would have
| given two dollars and half to know some
thing more.
"'Pepper, how's your mother" came
from the instrument, and Pepper, thorough
Iy mystifed, turned confidingly to his part
ner to express his utter sstonishment at the
most singular circumstance.
GAS luck would have it, the auditorium
held quite delegation of telegraphers, who
| by this time saw that Jim was up to one of
his old tricks, and with one accord they
began to look about the theatre for Pepper
"Jim saw the effect Of his experiment,
and enjoyed himself hugely.
"Pepper hadn't got through telling his
| girl all about it, when there came an
other message.
"'That won't do, old Pepper, know you
well, and you hadn't better be fooling that
confding creature with any soft nom
sense"
"This reused the telegraph boys to the
very pitch of curiosity, and many Of them
stood up, gazing longingly about them as
if their only object in life was to discover
Pepper.
"Pepper felt that they knew him, and
the confusion which had been gradually
covering his handsome features, grew into
modification when he saw 80 many eyes
evidently leveled at him, and at last culmin-
ated in bis withdrawal from the theatre.
But Jim was bound to give him parting
shot, and as he faded from view he heard
borne to his ears: Good by, Pepper. Put
your trust in Providence, but keep your
powder dry
"Those who appreciated the affair were
much amused, and SO, indeed, was the VIC
tim himself, when, on the following day, he
learned who had so neatly captured him."