Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1886-05-07
Always Placid.

The receiving clerks behind the desks
at the telegraph offices are cool, placid
fellows. They take your aessage OF life
or death with perfect indifference, me
chanically count the words, and look
bit bored as they reply:
"It will be sixty-five cents, please"
/ had my eye on certain chap for
several weeks before humbled his
pride. He insulted me. He insulted
me by softly whispering to himself as
he counted the words in the following
message:
"Grandmotber died last night very
suddenly. How many of you can at
tend the funeral?"
When handed him that message
expected him to exhibit little emotion.
While he could not have been personally
acquainted with my grandmother. he
must have suspected that she was nice
old lady, and thar her sudden death had
greatly overcome me. Why didn't he
look up with Il Bit of sympathy In hi
eye and say:
TOO bad, know just how you feel,
and am sorry for you"
But, no. He whistled aud counted,
made scratch or two with his pen, and
remarked:
Three WORDS over-seventy cents. y
And as he made change he told one
of the boys behind the counter that he'd
be - If he wasn't going to dog fight
that night. Then he picked up my dead
grandmother despatch and banged 1t on
a hook, showed me over some change,
and turned away to resume the perusal
of a sporting paper.
The next week went in with de-
spatch announcing that my grandmoth-
er's will had been opened and that l
came in for $4,000. That man must
have seen by my face that | was highly
e,ated. Hang him, he never had the
fifth of that sum, and his salary had just
been cut down $40 per month, but when
he had read the despatch he calmly an
nounced:
Forty cents, and you forgot to date
it,"
And then he began talking to one OF
his fellow clerks about slugging
match, and how he won So by betting
on the right man. | don't say he ought
to have swung his hat and cheered over
my good fortune, but why couldn't he
have extended his hand aud said:
SCH, old boy? In luck, amt your
Well, Pm glad Of it. Send around the
cigars and we'll smoke to your good
health"
made up my mind when | went out
that would upset that mans equanim'
ity or lose a leg. I'd tumble him OF
that pedestal of placidity if 1t cost me a
thousand dollars. I'd Upset, unbalanee,
and unEinge him or die trying. gave
him two weeks to repent. II isn't right
TO rush telegraph man out OF the world
on days notice. | went back one
evening, and felt bit sorry for him
as he glanced up and then let his eyes
return to his Police Gazette. | knew
that his wife and child were in Ohio on
a visit, and | stepped to the desk and
wrote:
DETROIT. June q, 1885.
J. II. Smith, Columbus. o.:
Please telegraph us full particulars OF the
accident by which Mrs. George Taylor and
daughter Of this city were instantly Killed
this afternoon. - r.
felt bit sorry as handed IL in, moi
knowing but the man might faint Gead
away as he read the terrible news. Still
had vowed revenge, and | would not
forego il. lie received the despatch
whistled softly as was his wont, clat'
tered the point of his pen along the
words AS he counted, and then he
drawled out:
"A dollar and twenty cents, and
where shall send the answer"
"Did you read that despatchy'
asked, after looking at him for half
minute.
Yes
''Do you know the parties?"
"Yes, sir"
Isn't your name George Taylorf"
eyes, sir"
"Aren't the parties your wife and
daughter?"
eyes, sir. They returned home this
morning. Here's your change!"