The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1884-10-11
LEARNING UNDER DIFFICULT
TIES.
Hotc Iico Farmer Boys Learned to be Tele-
DrdpI,ers-A Miniature Telegraph Line
at Home.

Hotc Iico Farmer Boys Learned to be IeIe
0raphers-A Miniature Telegraph Line
at Home.
Washington Star.
In one of the towns on the Baltimor
and Potomac railroad, from which tn
block system is worked, the travele
sees at night as he is whisked rapid,
by, the figure of young man, who's,
perseverance and difficulties and dis
couragemcnts in learning the business
of telegraphy entitled him to the mos
abundant success in the profession he
has chosen. A younger brother, who
with him, shared his tolls and trials il
learning, only waits for a few days fol
his majority to enter the service of the
railroad company as an operator.
These two young men are of fam
lily of three boys, who lived with theil
father, a plain, Woodworking farmer,
residing about mile from a station on
the railroad. When not otherwise en-
gagged, the boys spent much of their
time at the station, and watched with
curious eye the manipulations of the
telegraph Keys. They discussed be-
tween themselves the advisability of
learning the business, and came to the
conclusion that it would be far better
for them to follow this business than
that of working corn and tobacco.
There were, however, many difficult
ties in the way, the gravest being lack
of knowledge and want of time to de-
vote to learning as well as the neces-
sary instruments for practice. They
were nonplussed, knowing that it would
be tedious and almost impossible to
learn by picking up sound now and
then at the station. After few days,
however, they had reason to rejoice,
for chance threw into their way the
very thing they wanted. This was a
fragment of book containing few
pages on telegraphy, including the
Morse alphabet, found in the rubbish
barrel bought by their father. They
then commenced a regular course of
study, and arranging some nails in two
pieces of wood so as to strike the heads
together to initiate the ticking of the
instrument they went into practice. As
soon as they had learned how to man
ipulate this rude sounding key another
instrument was made, and during the
long winter evenings in separate rooms
they would communicate with each |
other. Sometimes they used their
school lessons and transmitted from |
one to the other in their course of their |
practice the whole of the Sixth Reader.
The father did not, however, take much
stock in their proceedings, hardly real
zing that they would become expert
operators without practical teacher;
)ut the tapping of the nail heads con-
inued. As they seemed determined,
md withal did not neglect the work
IN: the farm, he interposed no
objection. One fall the father
to his three bows
hat if they would cut and load eight
arloads Of wood he would give each of
hem the proceeds of one carload. The
fer they accepted, and in due time had
he cars loaded and the wood sold; each
letting S25 or $50. This was given
hem to do with as they pleased, and it
vas thought that most of it would be
pent in clothing, in which they stood
4 some need. When, however, they
eturned from Baltimore, each with a
heap suit of clothes, they brought
ONE with them batteries, instruments ,
nd wires. 1t was apparent that not ,
My had the two disciples of the art
nd out most of their money to further !
their studies. but that the ,
lird brother had helped them. With :
leir plan a line was erected, with =,
bout mile of wire running around :
lie place, one instrument being placed
| the corn house and the other in the :
itchen, and the practice went on. Dur =
70 the great Guiteau trial in this city, q
n receiving a paper one would 90 to
he corn house, and calling the brother
p at the kitchen end of the line, would =
legraph the whole report, thus the
hole family would learn the news. :,
his practice was kept up until few =
onths ago, when the elder boy re- .
lived an appointment on the Baltimore I
Id Potomac railroad, and, as stated ~
fore, may be seen every night in his =
wer as he signals that his block is =
ear by raising the red (danger) sig -
i out of sight and showing the white =,
afety) signal. y