Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1885-04-14
A TELEoRAM's STORY.

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Its Rapid Journey, and the Glad Message
it Conveyed at Its Destination.
am called "a telegram, and wish
to relate my experience. The man who
originated me was Gilbert Hardman, an
old bachlor, who through meanness
had made himself rich. Half of the
money he had when he arted in the
world did not belong to him but to his
only sister, who was widow with three
children, the eldest of whom was Rob
ert, at this time lad of fourteen years.
Mr. Hardman had defrauded his sis
ter of her portion of their fathers estate
by means best known to himself, and
the money he thus basely obtained
placed him IN profitable business, and
lie became rich, while his poor sister
and her children often suffered for food.
OF this he was well aware, but his
avaricIous nature would not allow him
to do what his conscience knew to be
right in the matter.
But one evening friend gave him n
ticket to lecture the subject of which
was "Justice. In some way the words
of the speaker found their way to what
little heart he possessed, and as result
the next moring l was born "a tele-
gram, and read as follows:
NEW YORK, July Is, 1884.
ITO MRS. HENRY MARTIN, Denver, Colo
rado-I have placed to your credit In the
seventh Ward National Bank, twenty thou
"GILBERT HARDMAN."
/ had lam on Mr.. Hardmans desk
but short time when little fellow in
uniform and with the letters "A. DIT"
on his cap presented himself at Mr..
Hardman's office. Twas handed to the
boy, who rushed to the Western Union
office with me, and there was given to
a pretty young lady, who acted as if
she was very glad to see me, for she
counted me over twice, and seemed
very careful of me.
But soon found out that she had no
angelic temper, for she turned me on
my face aud hit me a rap on my back
with q rubber stamp that nearly broke
it, V Not satisfied with this cruelty, she
rolled me up and put me into a little
boy, which she dropped into hole,
where was blown-yes, actually
b'own-through tube up to the seventh
story of the building into room where
Thought by the no Sc and racket that
there must be million little imps with
tack-hammers, pounding on tin pans.
Before / had recovered from my
fright, | was taken out of the box and
carried to table marked First Chi
cago Quad" where / was treated to
still further indignity by being impaled
ON hook, after which think must
have lost my senses, for a kind of
dreamy sensation seized me, and l
found myself being sent in sections. as
it were. on slender wire. What q
sensation it was!
From the high roof of that building
went flying over the tops of houses
till came to the North River. where /
plunged under the dark waters, to the
Jersey side; then went hurrying
along the line of the Erie Railway,
outstripping the trains, over mount
aims, through valleys and towns, rain
and sunshine, till | reached Buffalo,
where / passed through such an intri-
cate machine that, if had been pos
scssed of any will of my own, should
certainly have lost my way.
I heard the machine called IRE
peater," and l certainly did turn
more corners than an illegal voter on
election day; but | got through some
how, and soon arrived at Chicago,
where came to consciousness by being
written out by an operator, whom they
called "Jake." | heard him remark
as he finished me:
wish | could catch on TO luck OF
that kind. I'd quit work, and open a
bank"
was then passed to another opera
tor, who looked like gentleman, and
/ heard him say, as he placed the fig
ures 245 on my face:
" II hope that will make some pool
woman happy"
| did not hear the name, but l fell
there must be difference in operators
Then came the half-unconsciou sensa-
ton again, as l was whirled along the
slender wire, across prairies, undel
rivers, over the plains of Kansas and
Colorado, where the wild antelopes
herds of buiialoes, and an occasiona
band OF Indians were passing under
me, until reached Denver.
Again came to my full senses, rs
was copied from the sounder on {
blank. Whew! what ride that was
Eight minutes ago was in New York
Nearly twenty-five hundred miles in les
than eight minutes, for five of the e'gh
minutes were used for rest in Chicago
felt actually dizzy as l realized it
but my reflections were cut short by
piece Of damp paper being placed owe
my face, and was first squeezed terri
bly,, then folded and put in an envelope
i heard the clerk call out:
Next boy out!''
Aud was seized by little fellow
who glanced at the address on the en-
yeiope and turned pale. He trembling
Nv went back to the clerk, and, will
auivering chin, said:
'.Please, sir, this telegram is for m.
mother. Is there any bad newsP"
1t seemed almost too strange to b.
true. Here ! was, by wonderful goo'
HorhsnN. placed at once In the hands q