The evening times., 1899-04-29

pose the Wall Street bear confides his most
secret and important plans to the entire
market at the same moment, what cata-
clysm will take place then! On the whole.
it seems as ii this earth would not be a
very pleasant place to live in when wire
less telegraphy is being learned by the in
habitants.
We have all had the experience Of stand
ing by the telephone and listening to the
conversation of two people talking over the
same circuit, sometimes while we were
aching to make connection with friend
chat an important matter might be discuss
ed. We have overheard intimate details
of the latest fashion in overskirts and the
possibility that Name" would go to the
dance tonight and Charlie would be
there: and we have heard opinions about
the matinee idol of the moment and the
newest thing in chocolate creams, and IN
the midst of all that We have heard
huge masculine voice roar imprecations on
Central" and enquire why in the name OF
many bad spirits he had been cut OIL All
these things shall we have reduplicated
when the system of wireless telegraphy
once begins its operations. How does the
thoughtful reader enjoy the prospect?
1t would not be so bad to Overhear con-
versation on the state Of the market. II
one intended to invest a few dollars, nor
would it be cause for grief to get election
returns without the trouble OF holding
receiver to ones ear; but think OF all the
other things which might go flying about
the country, Fancy all the Names and all
the Charles. and Jims. and Jessies pom
harding one with their private conversa-
tions held publicly! Fancy being made
cognizant of the private affairs OF every
body in town, 1t would be worse than be-
ing in a street car when 1t comes to
sudden stop. and all the people call out
loudly, in the silent moment which follows.
information about their families ana
friends and ailments.
Moreover, the telegraph and telephone
are not always used by people In an ann
able frame of mind. Suppose a man VINO
has lust lost ten thousand dollars on a
slump in wheat should send few mes
sages by wireless telegraphy and they
should miscarry and drop into farmers
field of grain, Then there would be an
other slump in wheat. and the innocent
farmer would suffer. Suppose an election
manager should discover that owing to tne
folly Of one of his "henchmen." as he calls
them. a district had gone en- masse for the
rival candidate. Somebody's barn would
be set on fire, If not provided with light
ming rods. Why, such a state OF affairs,
during the few days before and after cleo
a. t,a hap yyapE nf thun-
der, lightning and cyclone combined. 1t
might come to such pass that all eau
tious people would take care to be insu-
lated before retiring at night. The per-
sons who now are careful to wash and
iron their paper money and scour their
half dollars with soap and sand, so as to
get rid of the germs. would have no peace
at all if wireless telegraphy were to play
any pranks about the country. Those who
refrain from attending the theatre and
the opera because there are houses where
bad plays are given, and who deny beer
to the soldier because some soldiers get
intoxicated on bad whisky, would go in
sane. They would be peited with pro-
gressive and worldly ideas whenever they
walked abroad. 1t would be OF no use to
tell them that they need not accept all
that they heard, and that. as the old prov
erb runs. EVIL thoughts may come into
your head. but you needn't offer them
chair and ask them to stay" They would
feel contaminated under any circum-
stances. Clearly, the inventors OF wire
less telegraphy must devise some way to
keep il within bounds.