Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1877-09-05
"HOw are You, Pepper 2,

| -.
play of their penchant for good
joke, rarely fail to improve it. AL
most everybody has heard Of the
operator in an eastern city, who, on
a hot summer day, desiring to bor-
row a chew of tobacco from one Of
his fellows in the same room, in
stead of making known his request
by word of mouth, chose what he
deemed the least exhaustive meas
ure of indicting a dispatch, which,
travelling over circuit Of upward
of a thousand miles, in about two
minutes reached the identical Office
whence it started, much to the sur
prise of the t'other chap, who
blandly SHE'D his tobacco box at
the irrepressible jokist.
1t often happens that telegraph
ers are called into service at the
representation of stage play, in
which occurs what is known as
telegraph scene," such as the one
shown in Byron's "Aeross the Con-
tinent," or Boucicault's "Long
Strike" and it is then that the ope-
rator behind the scenes manages to
amuse himself by talking to the
fraternity" in the audience, unbe-
known, of course, to the balance of
those present, who find no meaning
in the "click, click" of the instru-
ment.
AS an evidence that the operat-
ors of New York are not behind
hand in the matter of shaving their
fun" the following is related of
Jim -, a well-known attache of
the Western Union:
During the theatrical season OF
last year, the drama of the "Long
Strike" was pronounced at one of
our theatres, and for the manipula-
ton of the telegraph instrument,
which plays an important part in
the most important act of the play,
Jim was engaged.
His position was such that he
could see the audience without be-
ing seen, and when upon taking
his position, discovering in the au-
dience a brother operator from
Memphis, by name Pepper-who
had that day arrived in towD-he
to have little sport on
his own account.
Accordingly, when the time came
for the sending of the first dis
patch, Jim loudly sounded on his
machine the words, allow are you,
Pepperl"
The quick professional ear Of
Pepper caught the words instantly,
and wondering "who the duce it
was" Strengthened up and stared
at the stage as if he would have
given two dollars and a half to
know something more.
"Pepper, how's your mother!"
came from the instrument; and
Pepper, thoroughly mystifed, turn
ed confidingly to his fair partner
to express his utter establishment
at the most singular circumstance.
AS luck would have it, the audi
tnrium held quite a delegation of
telegraphers, who, by this time saw
that Jim was up to one of his old
tricks, and with one accord they
began 70 look about the theatre for
Pepper"
Jim saw the effect of his expert
ment and enjoyed himself hugely.
Pepper hadn't got through tell
ing his girl all about it when there
came another message.
"That won't do, old Pepper. l
know you well, and you hadn't
better be fooling that confiding
creature with any soft nonsense"
This reused the telegraph boys
to the very pitch of curiosity, and
many of them stood up, gazing
longingly about them, as if their
only object in life was to discover
Pepper.
Pepper felt that they knew him,
and the confusion which had been
gradually covering his handsome
features grew into modification
when he saw so many eyes evident
ly levelled at him, and at last actu-
ally eliminated in his withdrawal
from the theatre. But Jim was
bound to give him the parting shot,
md as he faded from view, he heard
borne to his ears "Good-by, Pep
per. Put your trust in Providence,
but keep your powder dry"