Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1878-06-24
TOM EDISON.

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Memphis. He was a gawky boy, about
eighteen or nineteen, and was reading
everything about electricity that he
could pick up. He had lean and hun
CRY look, and always seemed to be under
the influence of some secret excitement.
He had got into his head the idea of
sending duplex dispatches and all his
spare time was devoted to experiments
irp the office. Coleman stood it for some
time, but at last began to growl. He
allowed that Tom was crazy, and said
that any damned fool ought to know
that wire can't be worked both ways
He declared that he wouldn't have Tom
putting around the Office with such silli-
ness, and finally discharged him in dis
gust. The boy went back home to some
town in Michigan. and lost track of him.
Some time afterward was transferred
to the Boston office. At that time wire
No. l, as it was then called, was consid-
cred the track wire Of the country. The
fastest men were working it. For some
cause the operator in Boston resigned.
It was difficult to find man to take his
place. A half dozen fellows tried it, but
found it too much for them. One after
another they dropped it like a hot potato,
and sloped, wiser than when they came.
There was man in the Office named M.
F. Adams. He thought world of Tom
Edison and recommended him to the
place, vouching for him as first-class
operator. G. f. Milliken, the manager,
telegraphed to the little town in Michi-
gan, asking Tom if he would come on
and accept the position. Tom answered
yes, and without further words started
for Boston, via the Michigan Central and
Grand Trunk railroads. In running
through Canada he got showed under,
and was kept on the track in one spot
twenty-four hours, cold and hungry,
without bed. AS usual he owned but
one suit of clothes, and that was on his
back. He might have frozen to death
had he not bought an old roundabout
overcoat from Canuck railroad laborer.
But he finally got through all right.
was in the Boston office when he ar
rived and l must say" continued Mr..
Specimen f5sanSs Of pf humanity MAI ever saw. The
modern telegraph tramp isn't marker.
He wore pair of Jeans breeches six
inches too short for him. pair of very
low shoes, the Canuck-j Jacket, and broad
brimmed butternut hat, relic of his life
in Memphis. The wide rim was badly
torn, and hung down so that you could
see his ears through the opening. There
was the slightest trace of dirt on his up
per lip, that he called mustache. His
hair hadn't been combed for week and
he wore the blacklist white shirt that was
ever seen on the back of a human being.
Nervously pinching his upper lip-a
habit that he had-he inquired for the
manager, and was sent to Milliken.
Are you the boss 2 Tom asked. Mil
liken said he was manager. Tom then
introduced himself, and asked when they
wanted him to 60 to work. Milliken
stared at him as though he could not
believe his ears, and then said, AT half
past FIVE. 1t was then well along in
the afternoon. Tom began to look around
the Office for clock, and Milliken said,
young man you have to work pretty
heavy wire.' Tom gave what he called
his mustache an extra twist, and with
all the assurance in the world blurted
out, AL right, boss; I'll be here at
half-past fve.' He sloped SO quick that
it made Milliken's head swim.
The operators burst into peal of
laughter. They had seen and heard
everything and their remarks were any
thing but complimentary to Tom. Oh
said one of them, he won't last as long
as that Jerseyman that tackled the wire
the other day why that felIqW q9Wg5, can't AM,
shouted another. A thiro oeoi@io0 '"@
Tom was the worst he ever saw, and
when a fourth wondered whether the
walking between Michigan and Bostan
was very good, there was general roar.
Well," continued Stewart, ''half-past
five came, and SO did Tom. Everybody
was on the qui vive. Milliken was just
taking from the vault the suppy OF blanks
for the night operators. As Tom came
ND he pointed to a pile of them saying
Take what blanks you want and LII
show you your table. Tom innocentiy
picked up the whole bundle and followed
Milliken to his table. The operators
began to grin and snicker They all
thought he would get bounced after try
ing to catch one message. 1t was the
No. / wire to New York. Jerry Borst'
then considered one Of the fastest tsenders
in the country. worked the New York
end. AS Tom seated himself he heard
the call b. and turning to Milliken'
asked if that was the call for Boston
YES replied the manager, watching
Tom, 3 movements with intense curiosity
Thereupon Tom opened his key anf
licked the answer I. l. Jerry begal
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