The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-02-10

the corner, replied, "That Is my name,
sir" and jumping down briSkly. The ur-
chin politely asked his antagonist II he
could be Of service to him to-day, Stand.
ing in striking contrast to his tormenter
Of the morning, the angry operator re-
garded him for q moment with contempt
tious surprise, and calculating sentence
indicative OF his familiarity with the in.
iernal regions, rushed out In time TO catch
a returning train, reaching home sad
der II not wiser man. No two opera
tons write. the characters precisely alike.
Their articulation, so to speak, IL as dill.
ierent as the utterances Of the human
voice. From familiarity with those with
whom they daily correspond, operators
soon learn 70 readily recognize the htele'
graphing Of Q particular operator In q dis
tanT city. A more torclble illustration
Of this truth cannot be given than the
incident narrated Of the insane operator
who, escaping from the asylum In which he
was confined, was sought for in vain. For
upwards of aYear no tldings Of him had
been obtained, when one day an old col.
league recognized his familiar writing
over the wires, and cautiously informed
the manager Of the office over another
wire OF his Insanity and escape, and took
the necessary steps to secure him. It
seems he had entered the office and asked
the privilege to "try his hand at the old
business" when the first click Of his mes.
sage, like the tones Of familiar voice,
discovered his identity and caused his ar
rest.
Abreviationis observed by all classes
in writing kilograms, except "dead
heads" These privileged characters new.
or condcnse, and their messages are all
marked by an unnecessary fullness OF de.
tails. The practice of condensing thus
acquired, has extended to the ordinary
business correspondence Of our merchants
and manufacturers; an accomplishment
very desirable in this progressive age,
when clear, concise, and pointed letters
have supplRnted the old.fashioned elabor-
ate etfusions which distinguished the
commercial correspondence Of the past
Novel methods Of condenslng messages
arc at times adopted, as witness, the fol-
lowing shrewd evasion OF the companies
rules. Capt, Q. telegraphs his wife as fol-
lows: "Third John, 18th and 14th
verses" Upon reference, the pleased
wife reads: II had many things to write,
but will not with ink and pen write unto
thee, but trust shall shortly see thee,
and we shall speak face to face. Peace
be to thee. Our friends salute thee.
Greet the friends by name"
1t was happy telegrapher who In
Scriptural Language, thus telegraphed a
lady friend Of an advent in the family:
isaiah 9th, 1st clause Of 9Th verse" The
propriety Of the young lady was not
shocked by reading: "Unto US q child 10
born. Unto US q son is given"
The novelty Of the above Is hardly
equal to the following Of q like character:
"Io Hans Wilhelm:
What a Pdby last night.
[Signedl "GoTLEIB SomuDT.
Goiieib would not even divide the hon.
or with his frau.
Misconstruction Of kilograms some.
times causes ludicrous errors. Atleast 80
thought the professor and President Of q
renowned southern college, who desired
obtaining for his college portion Of the
fund appropriated BY the late George
Peabody, Esq, and had set out to meet
him and personally present the claims Of
the institution. Not knowing exactly
were to join hin, he employed the services
ot,the leading paper in the city whittier
he was solourning 70 obtain the informa.
ton, Inquiry was made by this journal
as follows:
"I6 the Editors Of tie Baltimore american:
"Please telegraph as to Mr.. Peabody's
whereabouts and movements for few
days"
The American conStruiug this message
to mean a request for Especial"
assigned q jenkins to "work the
case up" and prepare the special. In
the evening the impotence Of the COL
lege President was relieved, by . lengthy
special to the Journal making the inquiry,
informing him that the Hon. Geo.
Peabody left Frederick Md. this morning
at seven A. n. In a sumptuouS palace car,
accompanied by the Hon. Jno. W. Garrett
ESQ.,, President Of the B. & o. R. R. whose
guest he Is, arriving OF Camden Street
they entered Mr.. CARROTS private carriage
and were ct once driven to Mr.. CARROTS
residence, where after partaklng OF q gen.
erous repast he refreshed himself by Q lew
hous sleep SC" The astonishmehC OftheI
learned Professor at this elaborate and
satisfactory reply, was only equalled BY
his chNgrin when he was informed by the
smiling operator that several dollars
accompanied 1t. Contingencies for the
unavoidable delay on the transmission Of
messages Is rarely made and frequently
this neglect causes serious consequences
as the following narrow escape will teSti.
ly. During the war, the Post Commander
at Cumberland / think, Col. Mulligan,
determined 10 put o stop to the wholesale
desertloA Of his soldiers on visits home
without iurlough, had arrested q young
corporal on this charge, tried him by
drumhead Court Martial, which senten-
ced him TO be shot at 10 O'clock the fol-
lowing morning Sunday. Friends Of the
soldier had interposed in vain; the com.
mander was unrelenting. As AlASt re-
sort telegraph petition was was sent to
the tender hearted Lincoln, reciting the
extreme youth Of the culprit, his previous
good character and marked bravery on
tho battle field as extenuating circum-
stances and closed by begging q pardon.
The direct wire oyer tho B. 8 D. R. r.
being in possession Of the enemy this mes.
sage was forwarded via. Wheeling and
Pittsburgh. In those days Of excitement
the matter entirely escaped the minds OF
the repeating operators. The following
morning the operator at Wheeling was
| leisuFelV baSanteFinG toward the 0{flnA