The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-08-17
WOES OF A TELEGaAPHeR.
Trouble During n Thunderstorm Message.
NOT Easily piscipheret.


"And you imagine we fellow have
slick time Of It, chg" said an operator q,
the Western Union Telegram oG,.
"Wel. YOU are away of. An Operator.
life, especially this sort 81 weather Inn
altogether pleasant one. WHOM Don h,,
got u use fan with one hand ami I'm
with the other"
How many word, DO ornior.
usually write n minute
IAN expert opecaior has 90 write n
an average from thirty 90 fu,.aga
words, and sometimes more ac,0ul.r,
TO the ability OF the transmuter at tse
other end Of the wire Ii the ,endere,
first class man lac can make Sc yeIr mn.
comfortable for the receiving operator
by sending SO fast that be won't has.
time to dip his pen ia the ink bottle. ru
81 &c were buttoncd to bis bosom 0u
in a thunder storm the lightning mrr
feres good deal with tho operator.
transmitting. The receiving operator d
his ability allows SC. can padiiv .,ta.n1
10y guessing bat he has to be- ,Drr clr..
ful. 81 any mistake that hc may mk.
will cause hi salary to be s0mou.a. ID.
minished at the end of the month m ...
count Of having 10 pay the cost of t..
message or a few hundred dollars moro
No. sir, an operators life Is not oa. o.
pleasure as is the general impression
Is one If continual wouv and b.
strictly business.
How do operation. usually learn Jas
business
"A first elias operator Frequently ars
out as messenger and through E.m
perseverance gradually learns tue up.i
and, if he Is ambitions enough Boz finally
become an operator He mas BOOT chen
be fully mp To tine standard ilr.- .,, .o
become accustomed t0 different sfy.. ot
messages. such as 'soci-l business .rl
cipher. ANY first elias operator .u ..l
down and write cipher after opHr uil
the experience be- has had with ll. D..
nomic and costly style of tclamUm
For instance, An am eNerydll .N. Uat
this: How melons ripe enough i0 r.l...
ton coming I'M hNoy. Is ail easy nH..
but when thn mc. ages get l.I- n.l.
'Somnamhnh-tic cchu buy hnul.I
middlmg. and 1t is mixed ai ll.o..I
end TO read summon $3.50 amlu.u.. ffs
bounded pills. mailm-. etc.. u. .ul
mo fritz toiw. yl- oI-r-rll u.
not quite So easy. Tine operator Iooh, I'D
such n message, turns it different "Att
and either carrie, DO back for uco.
almction or lets It go as written. fnn
again, 4 wasn't yel COON right doom ou
the wire no doubt means. wants nim e.
reply by wire. When Doc gets such a
message the operator :. in another
pickle what % d.
In cipher and cable though, SUCH
risks cannot bee taken as IL might in
yolye thousands of dollars and as ulo
operators finances are nominal be- CAL
not take the risk
There are also stock quotations t0I,
are important. ottcntImos more so tlHu
the cipher message. Aqu0taiion conn
along. The merchant does DOT intend tl
invest until b. is certain that the quota
ton has boea correctly received Aa
operator on the telegraph company c
not always be- held responsible ur mI-
spelled or badly written messages.
How should message bo written 90
insure prompt dispatch and quick doii.
ery?"
1T should first be plainly written
every word aud figure spelled ONT. Paper
is plentiful and can be- generously no..
lied for this important purpose No"
York Graphic