davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-08

and 1879, always excepting the whispering
gallery in st. Peters Cathedral of Rome,
and the wonderful whispering pavement in
our own national Capitol.
Edison, like other famous inventors, was
simply the ampli6er of an idea which had
occurred to him-perhaps when be was out
hunting and heard the sweet voice of Mis-
tress Echo, and got to speculating upon the
composition of sound waves. Franklin
looked at the fires of heaven, and was seized
with desire to pull them down to earth.
So Edison may have heard echo-like any
mundane woman-having the last word,
and been seized with the desire to make
something besides dells and cliffs carry the
sound of the human voice to some
practical purpose. Or he may have re-
fected that if marble OF granite could trans
NIT vibrations of the voice, why should not
other and more ductile material. At any
rate, the telephone idea grew in the brain of
the Menlo Park enchanter, and was born in
eogent shape.
Awfully lucky was be that he did not
live in the good old DAYS when witches were
spitted and staked. He might even have
been drawn and quartered as being in direct
league with the Prince of Darkness, the
acknowledged master Of the black art.
But the wizard lives in an age when
utilitarianisn is searched for like needle
in haystack. There was the practical,
however, in his great idea, and the whole
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-08

American Indian in assaultlng the Masta-
don Of terra irma, or the Maori's attack
upon the, giant bird of the Antipodes. An
incomplete skeleton of fact is all that is left
us from ancient authorities, which, for the
most part, we must fill out with fable and
fugitive fancy. r.s
Among civilized nations the Basqnes and
HolIanders fitted out whaling craft some
centuries agone, but these were doubtless for
the smaller species of cetaeea, and did not
cruise far off soundings in their vessels Of in
significant tonnage. The English, however,
were persistent Whalemen, even prior to the
age of King Alfred, and have continued the
pursuit down to the present day to greater
or less extent, although their whaling fleet
now mainly consists of few steam vessels
from Hull and Dundee, Scotland, sent out
to traverse the Greenland seas.
Before the early part of this century the
English whalemen possessed q virtual mon.
opoly of the Pacific cruising grounds, but
the raid of Commodore Porter in the gallant
little Essex during the War Of 1872 upon the
British whaling marine in that ocean, in
ficted an irreparable blow upon them. From
1872 to 1845 a few English whalemen still
frequented the South Pacific, while at rare
intervals boats were still lowered from an
occasional visitor to the same seas, floating
the French or Bremen flag, but the ships Of
all these nationalities have totally disap-
peared for many years past, and left the
chase in those waters as monopoly and
monument to American enterprise and per-
severance.
No one names Nantucket without recall
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-08

in a district containing {, 900 telephones and
81, 1000 connections, is short pleasant feat
ured gentleman with profusion of gray
hair and gendarme mustache, and occupies
Offices on the floor directly over the bank
room. He talked interestingly of the growth
of the local company and as an instance OF
the extensions Contemplated in the near
future, mentioned the fact that the line force
will have a trunk line wire into Johnstown
in few days. A trunk line wire is one
from one exchange to another. He said that
fine exchange would be placed in Johns
town. A line is also being put up from
Sharpville to Mercer and one from Pitts
burg to Butler. ALI of the above will be
ready for use inside of two weeks. Lines
will be Iun from Pittsburg to La.
trObe, Clairsville, and Indiana. The
growth Of the telephone transactions
with Greensburg has compelled the erection
of two more trunk lines, making three in
all, and, indeed, that is the same state of
affairs as exists in every city and town
tributary to Pittsburg. In the two cities
also, it is proposed to do away eventually
with the 'Ring One" "Rine Two" Ring
Three" and "Ring Four idea entirely.
There are at present not nearly as many
wires as local telephones, and it is the
present intention to have wire for each
telephone direct The plan Of having
several telephones on one wire is provoca-
tive of confusion, delays prompt service,
results in endless inconvenience, and is in
countless ways Objectionable. When
present plans are carried out the Pittsburg
telephone service will be the best in the
country. It might be remarked that it is
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-08
A PECULIAR Co1NCIDFNCE.

1t lis q singular fact that all the operatives
wear the head receiver-an eight-ounce con-
traption which is held by a steel spring
on the top of the head. with the ear-piece on
the left ear. Whether that particular
auricular organ is the best, or what the
custom is due to, it would be hard to say.
Seniority in service is what tells in the
remuneration scale. In the first year an
average salary is paid. at the end of two
years raise of S5 per month is always made
and the same raise is also the accompani-
ment of four years service. There are sew
eral instances on record of a telephone
young woman impressing customers as
much with that beautiful gift-a low and
pleasing voice, that acquaintance has
ripened into promotion to the agreeable
position of saying "Hellol" when the man
of the house arrives home from protracted
lodge meetings. The hours are from in
the morning to at night with time afforded
for luncheon. There are always extras on
hand, SO that if an operator becomes weary
she can have few moments to rest. School
teachers and clerks have become operators
and seem to enjoy the life.
As to the matter of speed-one operator
in the Office has answered 102 calls in an
hour. The lowest days work on record is
450, and the highest was !, ,15O, the latter In
the day after the Johnstown food, when an
importunate public nearly drove the oper-
ators crazy. In an adjoining small room
are the two long distance switchboard
operators, who handle between 500 and 600
messages day between them. At % cents
per message this cuts handsome figure in
the daily receipts.
Chief Operator Gray says that he wants to
assure the public that the incredulity very
often expressed as to a telephone being
busy" is very unjust to the operators, who
can have no possible interest in saying a
line is busy. as it is far more trouble to
answer call and then try to argue that the
line is engaged than it would be to make
the connection.
The bulk of the telephoning of Pittsburg is
done between 9 o'clock A. NJ. and noon. 1t
falls off very materially toward evening.
Six boys operate the exchange from P. II.
to midnight and are relieved BY TIVE boys,
who run things sill morning. The Aforesaid
boys are chiefly remarkable for impu-
dence.
WALES,
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-08

cade about 75O whaling vessels hailed from
the ports Of the United States. These were
of all classes, from the "plum puddingers"
of Provincetown, as the schooners were
termed that fitted out for a six months cruise
in the Atlantic, up to the fine and experienced
square-rigged ships and bsrks, which sailed
for a voyage OF from three to four years dur
alton to the nethermost parts of the three
great oceans-parcelling out between them
the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian waters.
During this period it seemed as if every sea,
bay, strait and lagoon were vexed by the ad-
vancing keels of our "blubber hunters"
WHY WHALING DECLINED.
From 1886 until the outbreak of the Civil
War in 1861, there was a gradual, yet not
serious decrease in the number of vessels
fitted out. The rebel privateers then flashed
over the ocean like baleiul comets, and in
hicted what, at the time, appeared to be
the death-blow to this branch of our marine.
1t is, however, reasonable to believe that
the war only hastened the inevitable.
Whales had become more shy, and seemed
to have instinetivelY acquired a greater
degree of cunning, as evinced in change Of
habits and feeding grounds, while the in
cessant onslaught on their ranks for more
than half century had reduced their num-
Der. To all this add the facts of the in
creased cost of outfits and the greater length
of time required to fill ship, and it was
not strange that the ablest and wisest whale
men had serious forebodings for the future.
The discovery Of coal oil in 1859 antedated
the war tornado about year, and with its
substitutes for the products of the
fishery would have effected the same end az
surely, if not so speedily, and the prestige
of whaling have departed with the general
and use of petroleum.
For some years after the war eompara-
lively few ships were fitted out for the pur-
suit. The loss of the Arctic fleet near Cape
Barrow in 1871 dealt another crushing blow
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-08
A VOICE FROM AEDOEER.
Prof Austin Phelps says the Nicotine HablE
Oaends Nature.


Prof. Austin Phelps says the Nicotine Habls
ORends Nature.
Some concessions must, in fairness, Be
made to the smoking habit. It is not . sin
in any man whose own conscience does not
so instruct him. It should not be made q
test Of character. even in our private judg-
ments Of men. As man thinketh 50 Is he,
1t is not proper subject of ecclesiastical
prohibition. The distinction is not wise
one which fOrbids it to elergymen more I'M
peratiYely than to laymen. That is not
healthy type of religious faith which lays
the clergy under prohibitions which are not
thought necessary in regulating the con-
duet of other men.
Yet there are few, if any, usages morally
innocent in themselves Of which 50 many
things can be said 10 their discredit as may
be said Of the use of tobacco as an induL
genee.
The habit is against nature. Tobacco il
neither food nor drink So far as know,
Il IS not medicine except to q sick sheep.
No natural appetite of the human body
Graves It Of the whole animal creation,
but one species naturally takes 70 it-and
that is a worm. intellectual culture is not
fostered by it. Nor does it quicken o.
crafty spiritual aspirationss
General Stonewall Jackson once said 70
his daughter that since he had reached adult
years he had never taken q mouthful Of iood
at any hour Of dav or night without asking
the blessing Of God upon it. The General
was native Of tobacco growing State, and
probably smoker. But it may Be reason
ably questioned whether he ever sought The
divine blessing upon his daily e1gar2 What
smoker ever did, Yet why not? Can ,
smoking elergymen answer the question:
An immense and increasing number Of
Christian believers condemn the habit a.
being uns7mpathetic with the imitation q
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-08
DR.. TALMAGE ONCE A SMOKER.
An OGer of Free Cigar. Caused Him 10 Quls
the Habit.

An Offer Of Free Cigars Caused Him 10 QuIs
the Habit.
1t seems to me that this question Of the
use of tobacco by clergymen is one that
every minister should decide for himself.
do not, therefore, speak for others, but ex-
press only my own individual opinion
when say that believe tobacco to be ruin
ousto ones physical health, whether he be
clergy or layman. 1t is not a rapid poison.
The taste for tobacco may be endured for
generations, but sooner or later believe it
acts disastrously in some way, either to the
mind or to the body. Nor is this state
ment of glittering generalities. know
whereof Ispeak.
For many years I smoked cigars, but do
not do so now. would not now think OF
smoking a cigar any more than I would
drink vial of laudanum. I came to give
up the habit in this way: I was living in
Syracuse, n. Y, but had just been called
to Philadelphia. An elder in the Philadel-
phia church to which 1 accepted call
offered, as one OF the inducements to nv
coming, that he would give me all the
cigars I wanted the rest of my life free
OF charge. He was a wholesale
tobaeconist, and would have kept
his promise. At that time cigars were
higher in price than they are now, and the
offer meant the saving Of great deal Of
money to me. 1 was then smoking up to
my full eapacity-that is, used as many
cigars as health would permit. I thought
to myself what would happen If should
get them free! The thought so appalled, me
that made resolution then and there to
stop smoking, and never touch tobacco again
in any manner or form. And from that day
to this never have. Now, I would not
take up smoking again for all the surplus IN
the Treasury.
As said before, every clergyman must
settle the question for himself according to
his own conscience and belief But as for
myself, smoking is utterly out Of the qnes-
ton. Isis my opinion thai many elergys
men who have on their tombstoner
.Died in the Lord"
might have for more appropriate eDitaph
"Killed by Tobacco"
Brooklyn. T. DE WITT TALMAGE.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-08
IT WAS TOUGH ON TRE POET.
The Old Carpet Weaver Who Needed Brains
in Her Business.

The Old Carpet Weaver Who Needed Brains
in Her Business.
A young poet, not averse to letting
strangers know that he was poet, was one
day in the country with a party of friends.
Stopping for some milk at an humble farm
house, they saw an old lady weaving a rag
carpet on an old fashioned loom in small
out-building.
Several Of the party had never before seen
rag-carpet woven, among the number the
young poet.
After watching the progress for several
minutes, he said in patronizing tone:
THAT looks simple, but dare say, grand
mother, could write poem easier than
could weave yard of carpet.
Like enough" +" replied the aged weaver,
simply, with no intention of placing the
young man in an embarrassing position be-
fore his friends, ''like enough, sir; for after
ell, it takes some brains to do this"
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-08
PERSIAN MENDACITY.
A Good Story il Never Spoiled for Lack Of
Word Painting.
WALES,

A Good Story IL Never Spoiled for Lack Of
Word Painting.
The forms of untruth which prevail
among people are always highly charac-
teristic of mental, if not of moral qualities.
The humorous exaggerations of our people
are in strong contrast with the bold inven-
tions of the Persians, which resemble the
extravagaDces of the "Arabian Nights. -
The author of "From the Indus to the Ti-
gris," tells the following as specimen of
Persian mendacity:
One of the Persians of our escort assured
us that the wind often prevailed with such
furious force that it knocked people of their
legs.
why, only last year." said he, with
most animated gestures, 'sit tore up the
sand in that hollow away to the left with
such force, and swept it away in such guam
titles, that it exposed the remains of an an
cient town of which nobody ever dreamed
the existence before. The houses were dis
covered in rare order. The chambers were
clear of debris and clean swept OF dust, and
marvellous to relate, the furniture was found
just as it stood when the city was swallowed
up in the EARTH"
you astonish me" said, ''this is some
thing very wonderful"
"Yes," he continued, 'you speak the
truth-it is wonderful. God is great, and
His power is infinite. But I will tell you
the most wonderful thing of all. Everything
looked perfect and most substantial, but the
moment hand was stretched out to touch
an object, the object at once crumbled to
powder. The place is only few miles off
our road, would you like to gallop over and
see?"
"Your description said, ''is so COM
plete that I see the place before my minds
eyes. Why incommode ourselves in this
rain for what is SO apparent?"
saw that he felt the sarcasm, though,
with genuine Persian monchalance, he
covered his retreat with an ''as you will
There the place is, and if you wish to see it,
am ready TO aceomnanv Won"
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-08

each wire trained in the way it should 90.
About three feet from the rack is a LARGE
testing board through which the wires pass.
The board is II feet high and 80 feet long.
The wire direct from the telephone ends at a
switch, from which piece of gold foil paper
connects with the wire to the switchboard
proper, where it reaches the operator. There
is just enough metal on the ioil-paper to
transmit the 30 volts of current generated by
the crank the cranky subscriber twists To
the switchboard. This is largely
A PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE.
as the foil-paper will not conduct electric
disturbances or lightning strokes into the
operating room. The foil paper is the only
connection with the points of contact upon
the testing board. From this latter appar-
atus two wires run to each connection on
the board, but in opposite directions, so that
not only can the would-be converse talk ad
libitum, but the testing wire coming from
the other direction guarantees an uninter-
rupted chat, as, if call for q telephone
number in use is made, all the operator can
do is to touch the number with a little
nickel plug and feel very clearly the
whirring OF the anDunciator
The 30 switchboards present an animated
sight A long row of young ladies. two to
each board, sit in comfortable chairs deftIv
manipulating plugs, levers, buttons and ali
manner of small appliances. Each SWITCH
board has five panels, and in each panel
there are 100 numbers. The point of contac-
tive connection is very small. and the ut
most care must be taken to give the number
called for. The wires enter at the back and
are connected by means of "epring jacks'' to
the orifces in which the pegs are pushed by
nimble fingers. The insertion of the connect
ing plug removes the contact with the wire
going toward the annunciator, and turns on
the wires outside of the exchange. BY press
ing down small lever the two conversation
alists are left to their own devices, while the
operator becomes ready to receive the next
call. Calls are so frequent that the opera
tors have mighty little chance to become ab-
sorbed 10 what is being seid over the line
The public which loves privacy win be
pleased % learn thar ninety-nine one-hun-
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-08
NO GOOD REASON FOR sMOKIEG.
DE-. Lyman Abbott Sets HI, Face AEaIn.s the
Habir.

DR.. Lyman Abbott Sets His Face Against the
Habir.
I have never used tobacco in any form,
and therefore write without that knowledgs
which is derived from personal enjoyment
of the cigar
From such study as have been able to
give to the matter, am not able to dis
cover any physical or moral argument for
smoking. The arguments appear to be all
on the other side. While the evils Of aloo-
hol are vastly greater than the evils OF
tobacco, on the other hand it appears to me
easier to construct an srgument in favor Of
the moderate use of alcohol than in favor Of
the moderate use of tobacco.
The physical evils that result from the
tobacco habit are notorious. The moral
evils appear to me also serious
Whatever may be the imagined benefit Of
smoking to overworked men (and Women2
if 1t is sedatiYe, who need it more than the
wives and mothers?), it is by substantially
universal consent an injury to the young.
And yet not only the young men in our
stores and colleges, but the boys in their
teens are inveterate smokers.
The minister should teach by his life; he
should set an example which be is willing
his congregation should follow; he should
walk in the paths which be desires that the
boys and young men who look up to him
should walk. As personally DO not wish
to see the boys in my Sunday Schools nor
the young men in my church and eongrega-
ton smoking, do not propose to set them
the example of the smoker. And eanEos
but think that, on the one hand, if all mini
sters were Of this opinion, and set q univer-
sal example against the cigar, it would
count for something; and, on the other hand,
that there is certain incongruity in .
smoking clergyman preaching q sermon on
crucifying the lusts Of the flesh, or denying
ourselves for the sake Of our neighbors.
And yet some of the noblest, most devoted,
most consecrated ministers in the Church Of
Christ, men before whom I bow in rsVer.
ence, are habitual smokers.
Brooklyn. LYMAN ABBOTT.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-08
HOOKED RATHER CHEEKY.

An Elegant Lady Makes Remarkable Dis.
play of Nerve.
Detroit Free Press.I
A lady drove up to the postofice in bug
gy yesterday and called to gentleman who
was passing.
"would you be kind enough to mail these
letters?'
"Oh. certainly, he replied as he bowed
and scraped and received them.
Get stamps and put on, please"
Certainly"
At the end of five minutes he came out
and she fished out $40 bill out Of her por-
temonnaie and asked:
'Can you make the change?"
''No, ma'am.''
Then I'll bring it next time come.
Thanks and good morning"
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-08

dredths Of the communications passing
through the exchange are unheard by others
than those participating in the sound-wsVe
colloquy.
1t is too bad to take the romance out
OF ideas which prevail, but the belief that
the failure to answer quickly is due to fliEta-
tion among the operators, is shattered utterly
by the cold fact that all the day operatives
are young women. There are 26 Of them,
and they are bright and good looking. Mr..
Gray said that women were more equable
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-08
THE PASTORS CIGAR.
Famous Preachers of Two Continents
Discuss the Question:
SHOULD OUR CLERGYMEN SMOKE9
And Decided Difference of Opinion d
Thereby Disclosed.
MINISTERS WHO ENJOY THEIR CIGARS
WRITTEN FoR rHE DIsPlroH.l

1t has always been an interesting question
in the minds Of many whether elergymen,
from point of example, should indulge in
smoking. 1t is a common belief that the
cigar in the mouth of the minister is an in
furious example to the young. Up to this
time the voice of the clergy has, save in one
or two scattering opinions, not been heard.
Accordingly, more than year ago began
TO secure the opinions Of the most famOna
preachers Of America and Europe, as writ
ten or spoken by themselves especially for
this publication. Whether the question,
"Should Clergymen Smoker" finds its solu-
tion in these opinions or not, leave the
readers to judge. EDWARD W. Box.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-08

to the reviviDg interest. Still more recent
losses in the same seas have also wrought
dire disaster to the waning industry.
There are now ahoat scarcely one-ssventh
of the number Of that whaling phalanx.
whose sails whitened every sea in its palm
lest days. Ofthese the largest tonnage, as
Of yore, follows the current of the Pacific
from the equinoctial line to the ice limits of
either pole. The remainder Of the feet is
spread over the various grounds Of the At
laptic, while few or none now press the
chase in the once famous hauDts Of the
Indian Ocean. Z. G. SANFORD.