New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-18
HOY THEY HEARD THE NEW TELEPHONE
TRAVELLING BAKIRs DECEIVE CROWD OF
CURIOUS CoUNTRYMEN.

any partner was a bad man, said tho tramp,
he curcd his legs under tho park bench and tried
to persuade himself that lie not cold, because the
spring sun was shining. al confess that was oiteh
led into sin by JIM" and his eye twinkled as MS
mind recalled some piece Of choice iniquty which
his face and voice tried TO mourn for
4" Jim was a gIb-talker and he took me into
partnership selling patent medicines down South, IN
the country towns of the line Of the railroads, at
fairs and on n/rkct days. l was the capper VINO
came up and bought the stun when the sale hung
fire and Jim did all tho oratory. Our luck was as
good as the average, but one day we struck a town
In Alabama where welattended fair was going on
but we could not sell enough corn plaster or ague
cure to pay for meals. Too many OF our kind
had been through that town recently.
"'Jim,' said, You're beat at last And believe
you're no good
"'rm not beat YETI said Jim. Give time to
go on another tack. II can't catch these jays one
way, 1 can another The telegraph operator here
is an old friend Of mine and get him drunk In
half day, il set about it, and then I'll show you
trick worth knowing
"Then he got some dodgers printed at job-ofice
and sent me to distribute them through the town,
while he devoted himself TO the telegraph operator.
These dodgers read as follows: Wonderful exhibition
of Edisons new elephoneAfer the close Of business
at the telegraph Office this evening exhibition Will
be given OF this marvellous instrument-By arrange
ment with the head Office ct NewYork, visitors can
hear the famous organ in Chickering Hall playing
popular muslc-Admission ESQ.,
al had no Idea how the trick to be done, but /
had faith in Jim. Tho telegraph Office closed at
9 O'clock and by that time the operator was duly
parayzed. When the crowd began to arrive Jim had
big funnelshaped tin attached to the telegraph In
stPument and he had the sounder" detached and an
"open" wire attached to it, and arranged under his
desk that he could, with hand telegraph to him
self. Then he made fine speech. telling how he
was travelling the country Just to Introduce the
new telephone. The simple funnel they saw before
them was connected by wire with the telephone In
Chicken ing Hail. New-York and he would now turn on
tho music.
arnen the telegraph instrument bryan to tick and
the music noated OIL; ever the room and the people
hogan 10 express their establishment in obs and
| sAb,s Of apureciatiou We had taken in good many
onarters at the door and Jim felt encouraged He
began TO talk eoquenty about the wonders Of the tcle
phone, when an old chap asked ,yo,, ...n
w. nj Just that, my dear sir,' replied Jim' sliOy
%" That's no organ interrupted the old man. It's
am very sorry for your ignorance SAYS Jim
with calm gall. II you don't know a piano from dn
I SU not so ignorant as you would like me to be
nv fine fellow answered the old chap angruy.
believe you're fraud ana oeI1Fe ' tc over pcancb
the crook about the cover Of the desk and yanked !
omen. revealing inside little music,6oX that wa
Dtovinp "The Star Spangled Banner full TIL ri 49,,
There was yell of rage and g rlsh for Jim anc
me and fhe telegraph operator. But we hsd osen !.
HIGHT places before. Quick as fash lXocRea oyel
one lamp and jim the other ana IN 1e tbe Inc
less though innocent operator TO the tehuer Ae0i'
Of the swinded SOutherners'