The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1896-06-05
Pleasures of Telephoning.


The wonders and pleasures of the long
distance telephone are most agreeably
illustrated by two pretty stories told by
the Tacoma Ledger. The first has to do
with Chicago man who had been hunt
ing in the Northern woods and happened
into Merrill, Wis, on the very day that
the long-distance telephone line opened
innovation, he decided at once to inn
prove his opportunity.
He went into one of the ''soundproof''
booths and had himself put i'll communi-
cation with his family. AS they had a
telephone in the house the task was a
small one. He chatted with his wife,
told her fish story ut which she might
smile without embarrassing him, since
he could not see the sign Of incredulity,
talked with his boy and girl, and then
called for ''.Gyp."
"Gyp" was setter, great family pet,
who had been left behind because of an
accident which rendered him lame. Gyp
on Il chair, his forefeet on the back,
and his mistress held the transmitter to
Hello, Gyp!' called the master from
Merrill. And the dog in Chicago pricked
up his ears and whined. The master
whistled cheerfully, and Gyp parked d.
rectly into the receiver. He knew his
master = VOICE. anu tUC WHISKY do "SH,
and the master cheered him by ready
laughter at the prompt and eager reply.
1t was worth the 50 or So that it cost.
A lady living near Indianapolis, who
had for more than Il year been in deli
cate health, was brought to Chicago ear
ly last winter, where she received sur
gical treatment in a hospital 1t was
Christmas celebration, although she had
so far recovered that she could walk
readily all over the hospital.
She had three beautiful children at
home, and the father prepared a Christ
mas tree, just as he had formerly done.
Only he added one new feature. He had
the electricians come in on the afternoon
telephone into the tree. where it was
concealed with pine needles and tinsel.
He arranged with the long-distance
people, appraised his wife of her part in
| the play, and at a certain moment in the
evening, when tile children, bubbling
| over with joy at their presents, still felt
a sadness at the absence of their mother,
he clapped the receiver to the ear of his
youngest child, and the gentle voice of
mamma" came over the Wire.
1t was their most precious Christmas
present.
The Oldest Lock.
The very oldest lock in existence is
! one which formerly secured one of the
| doors of a palace of Nineveh. 1t is a
gigantic affair, and the key to it, which
| is as large as one man can conveniently
carry, reminds one of the scriptural pas
sage where the prophet makes reference
to such instruments being carried on the
shoulder. The exact words in the pas
sage referred to are, "And the key of
the house of David I will lay upon his
shoulder
This enormous key to the lock from
and Of the thickness of a finch drain
tile. 1t was found at the end of ruined
| chamber, where large wooden door
had probably once stood, the gigantic
brass hinges and heavy bars being still
in fair condition. though somewhat cor
roded. This relic of the olden times
has but few points of resemblance to
to those of the early part of the Chris
tan era. The tubular idea had never
been thought out in those days, but the
key is fearfully and wonderfully made
being equally as intricate a piece of
machinery as the lock in which it was
used. great many of the bars and
pegs in the. lock are believed to have
been made of wood, as their places are
now empty. The notches and pegs in
|
corresponding pegs and bars in the lock
at one time. The great lateral iron bars
at the end of the key, with their COM
plicated series of notches, crossbars,
bumps, etc, are proof that the lock was
once similarly provided. This being the
case, it is reasonable to suppose that at
one time the door to that palace could
not have been opened until that key
had been inserted and the impeachment to
the drawing back of the bolt removed by
raising up so many bars and pins which
had fallen down into their places upon
the key having been withdrawn. Similar
| locks and keys were in use in EgyDt
5000 years ago.-St. Louis Republic
| Monkeys as Gold Miners.
Capt E. Moss, who has just returned
to London from the Transvaal, tells the