Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-03-13
,S MEYER BREAKS.
tzho Marvellous Work of an Efficient
Telegraph Operator.

Philadelphia North American.
The demands of the times, more than
tbs ambition Of the operators themselves,
hays made IL possible for good
talearapher Of to-day to receive over
1000 words an hour, and to transcsibe
then legibly and correctly on type
writer. It Is comparatively only few
years ago when such performance was
regarded as remarkable. Now it is re.
Rarded as an everyday occurrence, and
this enormous speed il not looked upon
as speed contest Of an hours duration,
but is maintained for the full length OF
working day.
A reporter OF The North dmsricGn was
permitted the other day to witness some
OF this remarkable work, and was thor.
oughly convinced OF ita praoticability
through one of the most expert knights
OF the key" in the city.
Ascending the steps OF the establish
ment, where the best OF talent only is
employed, and whore the most excellent
work is done, the reporter ventured to
ask small, fat gentleman il he could be
permitted to interview the best man in
the Office. With tho injunction that he
must not talk to the man too much, leat
he might cause him TO "bresk," the
aorihe was directed to an old gentleman,
with an infantila moustache, at the far
end CT the room.
"Mr. Gosh, believe" suggested the
reporter.
''That's rly name, air."
81 have been referred to you as the
best operator in the Office, and am az,
signed to write story about the remark
able speed lately attained in biography"
well, say, you got on the right track.
just sit down and I'll talk To you al day
and never break"
''I'm afraid Tn interrupting you"
"What! Me2 You can't bother me.
I'm the fippest man in the shop. inst
look ut this break sheet Opening his
key to explain its sisnihrsnoe.) You see,
Haven't had break fora whole week. y
"What is meant by 'breakT"
"Why, that's when you don't get the
matter transmitted, and have to send the
you received"
81 should think you would have to
break quite frequently
'Me2 No, 1 never break Opening his
key TO demonstrate by the break sheet
that his statement WAS correct); can't you
See by those large Os that don'tS"
''What are those large figure 1's, &C
numerous on the sheet 2"
"Thoso represent breaks the othe,
men make" Opening HE key again &c
count them up for the reporter).
"Well, when you open your key tina
way so many times doesn't that count as
break ?"
"Well, you'don'tsee any on the break
sheet, do you n
"Have you any other good operators
in the Officer"
"Weli, there are three or four pretty
fair ones, but they break That mar
over there, whose moustache curls up il
such manner that an ordinary observer
would think that he signed ~, is pretty
good. The night men we have thinl
they are great men, but they amt. Now
Charlie (call him Mao in your story, bu
be sure You get mine in tirst), he breaks
TOO, and that spoils his record. Th,
other night men, like his buddy, wear
diamonds, but 'pon me soul they keeE
bresking all night long"
Glow can you tell the number o
breaks which occur at nightp"
''Why can Judge from the record a
il app4ars on the 'break' sheet, and an
always able to designate mine by the sizt
well formed"
"Do you always keep the key open 81
long as that when person comes in 4
zee you ?"
''Oh, that don't matt.r; II don't coun
ns break"
1T must have taken long Tins to be
come SO expert OF the business 7" querie,
the reporter.
"oh, no; not long. You see was sor
of horn for it,"
"You liks it pretty well, then2"
Like IL Well, should say &C
Why, say, when get off at O'clock
Htay around the utlioe pretty nearly el
night TO get more practice by relieVia
tho night men and letting them 60 on
for walk. And, say Opening his ka
TO whisper to the reportet), that's Tia
secret of my great success. / keep i
good form all the time"
"Ycu must receive large salary tC
ouch arduous work."
.'Wall, should smile. I've Just built
row of houses over in West Philsde
phiG, and after next Friday I'm going
negotiate ior the public buildings just q
u keepsake. But 1 never bother sbor
the money. All want to do ia TO PR
Rerve my reputation az the man VIII
never breaks. And say (sgain openin
his key to whisper, so those around hi
should not hear), hear the boys are &c
ting up o uniquely designed leatht
medal for me, and they are going to pr
sent i. 70 me on my Sch birthday. The
expect to surprise me, but Butch GO,
the snap away"
''Who is Butch 2"
"Why, he's that nics-looking fat fe
low over there. He goes to the BIAS
ball games good bit, but tho trouble
he breaks sometimes just like the other
Otherwise hos pretty slick, and the oiit
cat has been named after him."
How long have YOU been OF the bus
ness ?" M..-
"How long? Why, say, was the hye
msn in the business when Morse was
ham ~
',How do You distinguish one operatt
from another on the wire Z"
"Why, each man has signal. For i
stance sign q o. everybody kno1
that sig"
After thanking Mr.. Gosh, the report
Lett, being admonished to ''leave one
Dooner's for me and I'll get it when g
of at g."
suffered with rheumatism In the should
for months md tho only thing tou ID that j