Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-11-14

LAilsuSAPni@ were known 10 outside per-
sons. La the office we began to look upon
each other with suspicion, and finally
determined to do some detective work. |
kept Watch or our visitors and finally dis
covered that complaints only reached US
concerning such kilograms as were re-
ceiVed while our friend ''Bull0 was in the
oihce. therefore determined to have all
visitors excluded, and an order was
posted to that effect. Our trouble ceased
az once, and my suspicious were con-
81 knew Bridges had not seen any mes
sages, and / wondered how he could
nave known their contents. When | ac-
cused him he burst out laughing and ad-
United the whole thing. He had the
JicK OF the recorder down so fine that he
could take message by ear and he was
the hrst man that ever did 1t. Not long
aiJerward the sOunder was introduced,
ana since then almost all telegraphiug in
TINS country has been taken by ear"
Nv as there any system of rapid COM
munication before the invention Of the
electric telegraph
YES, indeed, quite number. The
system most generally used was the In
Yenti0n OF the Chappe br0thers. two
French boys, who first utilized it in 1894
at school, where they saw each other only
at distance. They used piyoted beam,
which, being placed in different positions,
indicated different characters. After
ward the French government adopted this
system. and one of the inventors was
made Geographic Engineer and placed in
charge. Lines were established all along
the coast and from Paris TO the frontier"
"How we're these signals seem"
by the use Of powerful glasses. The
stations were only about 10 miles apart.
and with good telescopes the signals
could be readily distinguished, and the
receiving station would then communi-
cate with the next station"
''COuld this be done rapidlvY"
Yes. / remember a line that was
worked from the top Of the old custom
house here to Sandy Hook. The operators
used blocks Of wood with large letters on
them, and could telegraph at the rate OF
about 100 letters in five minutes between
stations ten miles apart.
''BeacoRs were first used. Long before
the Christian era. Roman Generals were
able to communicate with each other by
means OF flames in different positions,
and Of various numbers. Some of the
Indian mounds in the West are supposed
to have been constructed for signal pur-
poses, fire and smoke being used, The
herYscross of the Highland chief quickly
summoned the faithful to war. In later
times drums, trumpets and flags were
used for signal purposes. particularly by
armies. Most barbarOus people bave
methods Of telegraphing. Among the ne
grOes IN the CamerOOns country. on the
west coast of Africa, they communicate
by means of sound for great distances.
The instrument they use is a sort OF
drum. and the words are represented by
various beats upon it. | Will tell you an
incident connected with telegraphing by
sound. L6'
"After l came to New York lived in a
quiet street, which is now noisy thor
Oughtare. l spent most of the time when
away from the office in my room. One
evening, while sitting at my window, |
happened to look across to the opposite
house, where | saw a pretty girl at one OF
/ the windows. She was leaning against
the easement, tapping on the glass with a
pencil. After this [ saw hor at the same
place many times. We had gOtas far as "A
n0dding acquaintance, but | had no Op-
portunity of speaking to her. One after
noon, having come home somewhat early.
| was at my window thinking of my pref
ty friend opposite. l almost unconscious
ly tapped salute to her on the WipGOY
pane with my pencil, using the tele-
graphic signs. | was very much surprised
when a reply came from her in the same
way. she understood the signs and could
use them. After that we had long talks
across the street, and, as our interest IN
each other deepened into warmer feel
ing, many a teBder message was sent by
the air line. You may not believe it, but
we were engaged TO be married before we
had ever exchanged a word or before
either had heard the other speak a word.
Afterward was introduced properly, and
married the young lady the following
Christmas, and that is what l call getting
a wife ION tick.r