The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-02-10
and tho Telegrapher'.
rcoNcLupEp.l
To Tho editors or the IntOlllgcnceF'


rC6NCLUDED.1
To III. Editors OF the 1ntolligcuccF:
The Telegrapher occupies the position
n, a public confdGnt. Men of all shades
ofopinion, political and religious, repose
thar most profound secrets to his keeping,
and with implicit confidence bound by no
stronger obligation than a ruling sense OF
honor. The telegrapher, speaking IN a
worldly sense, knoweth all things but be-
usyeth nothing.
bsstened 10 Cairo Id advance Of official
diSnstches with the glad tidings Of Gen.
Grants occupation Of Vicksburg, the
thrilling message electrified the hearts Of
every operator along the lines, the War
Department epjoinlng secrecy until off,
cisi intelligence was received. These pa.
triotic men, although burning to proclaim
The joyful news, contained 1t in their own
hearts for twenty.iour hours, until the
official dispatch, which caused such re-
IoiCing throughout tho land, was promul'
gated.
At later and darker day in the great
struggle, when the heart Of the nation was
oppressed with successive defeats, and
lie lowering clouds gathered thicker and
more forbidding, brave Christian Gen
eral, the hope OF the West, photographed to
Christian friend: "Pray 9 victory for
this army" The anxious expectant oper-
atOr waited not long tho result OF the
movement thus indicated. In q few days
the Army OF the Cumberland achieved
The victory Of Stone River, and the hero
Of CarniiAx Ferry added new laurels to
bis brow. sasftrb r4,
Sitting by his instrument with busy
hands and active brain the Telegrapher
feels the pulse OF tho world. With equal
nonchalanCe he one moment receives
messenger Of death, and the next q har-
6lnEer OF Joy. Over the tireless wire
sweep defeat, prosperity and ruin; alike
speed the swift winged messengers, and
Hood might have written oil the electric
wire, that there Is not chord attuned
lOmirth but strikes noteln melancholy"
The world accepts theposition man as
Sumes In the social and business relations
Of life without dispute. The telegraph
having in many instances knowledge OF
their true position can smile at its credul.
iLy. Merchants on the verge of bank
riptcy, struggling to maintain their totter'
Ing fortunes, express their weakness only
to him; intriguing politicians reveal their
deep LAID schemes to his gaze. The tu-
gitve from Justice employs his aid to es-
cape the penalties Of the law, even fraud,
diShonor and treason conceal their crimes
beneath his cloak Of secrecy.
The fraternity Of operators are for the
most part intelligent enterprising men,
alive to the demands Of progress and re-
form, arduous in the performance Of duty
and attentive to the public wants. Their
occupation peculiarly unhealthy-the
close confinement and want OF bodily ex.
erCse combined with the impure air Of
crowded operating rooms engender disease
Of the lungs which annually carries hun
dredB 10 untimely graves. Operators may
10 divided into three classes, tho ex-
perienced operator, the cratic profession.
al, and the plug. The PROFESSIONAL is
distinguished bYshis unstable character
and unsettled habits, fastidiOus in dress,
easy and self complacent in manners,
witha well defined inclination to DO fast,
he 70 strongly attached to his calling and
has attained the height of his ambition;
when reputation for rapid manipulation
q receiving has gained him the applause
and envy Of his colleagues; no Office, how.
ever remunerative the position, can hope
10 retain his services Tor long period,
hs inoTdinate desire to see the world,
keeps him constantly on the move; an &C
copied dead head" on all railroads, stea.-
men and express companies, he
has been employed in every
city Of Importance In the land
Embraced in the class euphoniously desig.
mated plugs" arc all operators lacking In
'Elll, either as manipulators or receivers,
old time paper operators, &C. 1t was a
member Of this class that was responsible
Tor tue conspicuous announcement in a
western daily Of the return OF o "a RICH
bhhop PURCELL who had been attending
IN" EcoNoMIcAL" Council at Rome, Evil
Gently neither operator nor compositor In
hlS instance was a good Catholic. An
oIher member Of the same family trans,
lSfmed message ordering a horse to the
GGepot on the arrival Of tho train 10 q
SSar'e, thereby precipitatipg q whole fam.
ny in sudden sorrow and tears. Still an.
oIaer distinguished plug, when the Ma.
sons were In council atSan Francisco, re.
Ie'Ved message to prepare acCommoda.
IONS lot sig rams, causing six r. A. Ms.
ENoya Arch Masons) to Toundly anStlis-
mauze telegraph companies In general,
End that telegraph plug IN particular, for
them. ~ = ~ = - w.
twas apluG who, In Telegraph par,
I1nee, "bulled" a message ordering the
shipment Of 3 large quantity of salt from
Louis 70 the East all sal to read all
tas, In consequence oil which the GONNA.
ny sustained law suit, and the assignee
several thousand dollars loss. These Door
IeIloWs arc made the subjects Of practical
4SkeS and the butt Of eYerybOdy's ridicule
Ane numerous errors for which the tele-
tapa 70 q times noted is laid at their
Toota, in fact they answer for the sins of
me entire fraternity.
a., common trick perpctrated on opera
IO.S o. this ilk upon their initiation
lug q new Office Is for com
Sue 10 connect the wire which
Nc IS assigned TO work, with an
SSuOccupied instrument in remote cor.
o oOE o. the room, and giving tho other
operators the wink, he proceeds 10 torture
tn SI SMeHm in ways that are dark and
GckS thatAre vAin," while his colleagues