The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-11-25
Caiff0sniasss Story OF q TeI s..3
sxrasssa Operator

The following story originated. we beli =. \.
with the san francisco Posi-. We gtse III tih
the words Of The California writer:
q asany assassing stories have been tola 5ct
The fesfsra freaks OF Iti operators VINO,
wheneyeraffnrlled an opportunity Tor the CTS
NAV of their ,enchant Tor @ good JOKE, rarely
faii 10 improve IL. Almost everybody has
heard sc cue operator Ia an eastern city, VINO,
or a hot summer day, desiring to borrow a
chew Of fobaceo from one Of his fellows 10 the
same room, instead Of making known bis re-
Quest by word OF mouth, chose what he
deemed the least exhaussing measure OF IN
diting asaispatch, which, travelling over q
circuit Of upwards Of thousand miles. ID
about two minutes reached tie Identical
office whence il started. much to the surprise
OF the other chap. who blandly SHE'D his 10
bacco-box at the head Of the irrepressioie
iokist.
IL often happens that telesraphers are
called intoseryiee at the representation OF
stage play, in which occurs what Is known
ss u Telegraph scene,' such as the one shown
10 Byron's fAcross the Ccbtinent,' or bouci'
cault's Long Strike and 1t Is then That tht
operator behind the scenes manages to au1lise
himself by, stalking to the fraternity in
the audience, unknown, Of course, 10 most
pI ttiOSC ptScSHtg UhV hhA NV AA1N''S
click Of the instrument.
LAS an evidence that the operators OF our
CITY are not behindhand in the matter OF nav.
in. their fun, the following is related O! Jlm
-. q well known attache Of the western
Union:
"Dnring the theatrical season. OF last year
the drama Of rThe Long Strike was pro-
dIced at one Of our theatres, and for the
manipulation of the telegraph Instrument.
which plays an important part IN the most
important act Of the play, Jim was engaged.
ssHis position was such that he could see
the audience without being seen, and when,
upon taking his position. discovering IN the
auditorium brother operator from Mem
This, by name Pepper-who had that Gay
arrived in town-he determined to have
little sport on his own account.
Accordingly, when the time came FOR the
sending of the first dispatch, jim loudly
sounded on his machine the words, How
are you, Pepper"
"The quick professional car OIL Pepper
caught the words instantly, and wondering
who the deuce it was Strengthened up ana
stared at the stage as il he would have gwen
two dollars and half To know something
moro.
..Pepper. how's your mother?' came from
the instrument, and Pepper, thoroughly mys-
tiled. turned confidently to bis fair partner
to express his utter establishment at the most
singular circumstance.
"As luck would have 1t the auditorium
held quite delegation of telegraphcrs, who,
ly this time, saw that Jim was up to one OF
his old tricks, and with one accord they be-
gan to look about the theatre for Pepper
Jim saw the effect Of his experiment,
and c,Iinvpd himself hugely.
"Pepper hadn't got through telling lls
GIRL all about it when there came another
message.
,"That won't do, old Pepper; know
YOU well, and you hadn't better be fooling
that confdipg creature with any soft noli-
sense
"This reused the telegraph boys to the
very pitch Of curiosity, and many OF them
stood up, gazing longinsy about them as if
their only Object in life was to discover Pep
per.
Pepper felt that they knew him, aud the
confusion which had been gradual y covering
his handsome features grew into mortified
ton when he saw so many eyes evidently
lcvetled ut him, and at last eliminated III bis
withdrawal from the theatre. But Jim was
bound to give bin parting shot, and rs he
faded from view he heard borne to his ears,
GOOD bye, Pepper. Put yoprtrust in Pro-
Sdcrcc, but keep your powder dry.
Those who appreciated the affair were
much amused, and so, indeed, was the vic
tim himself, when OH the following day he
lcllned who had so neatly captured him.