Smyrna times., 1877-05-30
Telegraph Operators.

Cat OF the millions Of people who patro-
nize the telegraph very few are E.r enough
advanced in scientific pursuits to under
stand by what process their messages are
sent and but few know anything of the
lrr"aa3 of that class Of bright young men,
vino, working by day and night, execute
the mysterious work 50 neatly and 50 well.
Photographers. IS 4 class, are very bright
set Of beings, Of both sexes, and of good
practical education and keen perceptibili-
ties. They have q literature peculiar to
themselves, publish interesting books from
time to time, and support two newspapers,
IN which their sayings and doings are duly
recorded. One Of these is the official organ
Of the Western Union Telegraph Companv
but the other one, TIE Opcras5r is written,
managed and sustained purely by practical
operators. 1t IS one Of the best specimens
OF amateur journalism in the country. and
boasts Il circulation Of 5000 copies. Pic
lures drawn or engraved by telegraphers.
and portraits Of the most prominent opera.
tors are published periodically, while the
great fund Of bright wit and curious ex-
perience 50 closely allied to the life of
every telegrapher, form its main topics.
They have well organized mutual life
insurance association with reserve fund
OF $4,000, by the rules of which the heirs
OF deceased members are paid 81 900, and
the surviving members are assessed one
dollar each for every death. A glance at
the records Of this association shows that
three-fourths Of its deceased members have
died of consumption, although the deaths
are not frequent.
Like the printers diction, their techni-
cal terms and slang phrases are extensive.
but, OF couse, expressive, while their alb
bFeyiations and arbitrary signs are neces-
sarily more extended than those used in
any other profession. Telegraphers, as IL
rule, travel extensively. The universal
application Of the telegraph, and the pecu-
liar kind Of skilled labor required to fill
their position, render a transfer from town
to town comparatively easy. 4 man in
San Francisco may, with the consent of
their principals, ''trade" situations with
man in New York, and both these men
may, after numerous subsequent changes,
be found working side by side in the same
office in Texas. Whether or not, they
never lose "sght" of each other, since
man may, by passing from one instrument
10 points of the compass.
The telegraphic profession presents to the
world the curious anomaly of being inti-
mate with, and of entertaining likes and
dislkes for other persons whoh they
nave never seen, but whom they daily ad
uress lover the wires) as atom" or "Jim"
OF Dear Miss -" and with whom they
discuss politics or war, or even the golden
words OF love, just as though they worked
slde by side. The lines of the Western
onion Telegraph Company are worked
uifect" every day between New York and
we" Orleans, and every morning the two
ci'ieS flash to each other a glib "Good
morning, Bill" which will possibly be sup
Plemented by some jocular remark by the
operator at Chattanooga
Inc English and American operators who
work either ends of the Atlantic cables,
10 " good deal of talking when business is
uu'i' and disputes as to the proper spelling
oi some big word, and good-humored banter
anu brilliant repartee pass between the
TWO men, who, unseen by each other, smile
or scowl as the situation prompts them,
ana they forget for the nonce "the dark
unlathomed caves of the ocean" that lie
oetween them. The salutations "Good
morning" and "Good evening" are relics
oi Oarbarism on the cable, since, when the
american comes on duty in the early