Smyrna times., 1872-12-04
Modern Convenience.

The establishment of private telegraphs all c
over our large cities is beginning to be one OF
the notable features of our material progress.
Here again physical science is supplemented
by that economic ingenuity which organizes
and systematzes our daily life through CO.
operation and division of labor. Any one may
Ot0n a private telegraph who chooses but he
may hire one Just as we'll Companies estab
liShed for the purpose will stretch his wires for
him, set up his batteries, and coach" him III
the few simple practical methods Of signaling |
required, into the bargain. For all this they |
will charge him a sum which in view OF the |
convenience attained is almost insignificant,
and on any change of residence or place of
business will patiently pick up their machinery,
and set it all up again before the wandering
client is fairly settled in his new abding-place.
Thus the merchant may be in immediate com
muncation with his cOunilng-rOOm, and close
bargains or make consignmcnts from his library
fire; or, from down town, may talk famiarly
, with madame and the little ones about the
afternoon drive or the evening entertainment.
The lawyer may know at his office just what Is
, going on in court and the politician, with his
! finger on the magic key, may make his busy
brain felt i'll q dozen different places at once.
The manufacturer may watch from his central
: point of observation the ramifcations of his
: immense industry, directing its mOmentary and
4
. Sitting with an editorial friend the other day,
/ whom late work and a headache had kept up
y town, we were amused an interested to see him
n step to his dressing table, and, with little
Il buzzing and clicking of wheelwork and few
n mystic waverings of ghostly index, inform
- ''the office" that he should be down town at :
:, p. NJ, to which the Office responded with
e cheerful but aconic o. X! As we had beef
60 told at the Office an hour or two before tha
7, the luxurious journalist had Just teegraphet
to have his mails sent up we were profoundly
:; impressed with the coZineSs of the Who'll
arrangement And behold we too hav
80 become a sharer in the blessing. Having,
i few evenings ago, to send message and parce
nv down town at a late hour Of the evening, on
he touch of the little key at the Office of tn
~ nearest hotel brought in three minutes blue
y coated, widc-awake little lad from the messeT
NO ger Office in Twentieth street at full gallop, an
20 our parcel was on its way down town in lie
II time than would have been needed to don tt
NV journalistic coat or draw on the editorial boot
~ The whole operation cost less than fifty cents
"a The same company expect soon to have Il
~ city partitioned out with districts and distri
IL offices, in such sort that private family M
as communicate their wants. and call for mcsse
Lv gers, police officers, fire service, and the TX
tIa in very few minutes at furthest Th
Ii;S Bridget need not leave her steak spelling
-; the kitchen fire while she runs for the doctC
in and as the circular roguishly suggests, t
md timid househoderin process of being 'burglc
!. may call down squad of policemen on I
;rL artistic cracksman, who is working away at
NV area window in all the security Of conscio
bay doing
49, Such improvements are welcome, not mer
ho, because they make life more scnsuOusy co
and Portable and easy, but because they help
'aS. make it more effective. The province
-''' society is to offer to mind the freest play a
tho influence over matter, and everything VIII
oh;t helps us to throw off the needless vexatonS q
non. hampering limitations of time and space, e
- n the world forward not merely in seeming
born - in fact The future of this curious applicat
toj of familiar principle seems incalculable.
octs may not be many years before the hOuset
G' ,;no over our heads, the very steepleS, and fl
t;an poles, aud trees shall be knit and tangled in
~ oi interacing net work of wires, over which
%ord thoughts and plans, desires and passions of
snta- crowded population shall so swarming
T%o tinging with pusatiOn constant as tha
ntrv our lungs or our hearts-crossing, in:ersect
t;tn. ' and blending, fit emblem in their 81
30 activity of the more evident strife and bus
,Sat 1 trial and work and suffering belOw.-ScriJ
ssnn for December.