Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-07-10
"MlNUTE-BEAR IN MY LAP"
Origin of an Excuse for .Breaking"
ON the Part of Texas TeleR-
Hnphers.
From the New York Sun

From the Sex York Sun
1T is an operators pride" said an old
telegrapher the other day. Ito receive press
report without breaking. that is. without
delaying tine sending Office. About ten years
ago in Arkansas and Texas the work was
done by hand instead of with typewriters
as at present, and where newspapers now
expect 1900 or 900 words. they were eIat-
ed to be furnished with 500. and especially
so on the circuit extending from Galveston
by way Of Houston. San Antonio. Austin.
Waco. Fort Worth and Dallas to Fort
Smith. Ark
The manager OF the Fort Smith Office
was confirmed hunter. and invariably
after completing his monthly reports he
would shoulder his rife and start for the
afforded at that time for both large and
small game. On one Of these trips. after d
long chase extending to tine lair OF a bear.
ne managed to kill the mother and capture
two of her cubs. These latter he took to
Fort Smith and essayed to raise. They
were placed in a large box in the battery
room, which was connected with the oper-
ating room with swinging doors In few
months they had reached a weight of about
seyenty,nve pounds each and were quite
tame. although tricky.
"One morning about o'clock while Gal
weston was making the usual supreme ef-
fort to clear up for the night. one of the
Bears escaped from Its complement. and.
noticing the light In the front room. pro-
ceeded TO investigate. The manager had Il
pet dog which was rather afYecfionate, so
that when the cub came marching up TO
the press operator and climbed into his lap
no particular attention was paid to him
In fact. the sending operator was an ex-
traordinarily rapid one. and the receiver
had his mind concentrated upon the sound
er: While writing with his right hand, he
tried to push what he supposed was the
dog from his lap with his left.
The effort was futile. however. and it
became necessary to break, with the sur
prising statement Of fact both to himself
and to those on the wire: There's a bear
in my lap bothering me. Minute Not
every excuse for a delay to the report was
accepted. but with the remark That's
new one, his was. ard he got time to
restore the bear to Its place.
The report was resumed. and the sender
when the second cub escaped, and. enter
ing the operating department, proceeded TO
take the place so recently vacated by the
other. The operator was determined, how
bears have a great procliyity for being
meddlesome. and. after a few minutes OF
minor efforts at being at home In the op-
orators lap he tried to show his apprecia-
tion OF friendship by good old-fashioned
rug around the neck. This was too much
for the operator. who. opening the key.
remarked: Here's that damn bear again.
and requested a second stoppage so that
he might put him out and nail the door
shut. for which he was numerically guyed.
office was too much even for Texans.
This operator. at last accounts. was en-
plOyed by a press association in New York.
and the sender recently won the fast send
ing prize in tournament. Furthermore. 1t
may be stated that up to the time OF the
installation OF leased wires in Texas ia
vorite excuse for standoffs was: Min:
got bear in my lap.