The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-01-07
SPA RKS FROM THE
TELEGRAPH WIRES
How They are Caught and Conveyed
by the Messengers.
MANY UNIQUE INSTANCES.
The Trouble He Gives and How He
Gives It-What He Has to Bear
and How lie Bears it-liis
Pet Aversion.
MANY UNIQUE INSTAN CES

4 telegraph office has the popularity
OF presenting during its dullest hours its
busiest scene. 1t is then that the blue
coated messengers are croWdinS each
other in the office, while on the very
busy occasions they are all out deliver
ing messages. One cannot relate with any
accuracy. the history of the messenger
boy, without vast injury to that person
himself For though they are messengers
they are by no means angelic as will be
subsequently, shown.
These messengers stalk III carry Ill tHe
morning. and il the operator ticks away
right merIiy, they are on the go all DAY
long. If. however. the wire be not gar
rulous, a number of them, having handed
in their books, gather in the blclz-room--
the waiting no small dust do
they raise. Several boys have been dis
charged on account Of the pernlcloHs
effect of the atmosphere of this room,
ana many are the antics played here be-
hind the backs OF the managers.
Some time ago seven boys were put IN
soak for trying TO soak each other. They
armed themselves with cups OF water ant.
commenced pouring it down each others
back. They soon had covered the floor
and themselves with the water, and about
this time the manager 1loated In and you
may bet your life the boys 1ioated out.
A new boy gets into this room and
being of a sleepy nature, slumpers on
bench, placed here particularly for that
purpose His number rings while he IS
in the land OF dreams, and the manner
OF awakening him is the most unique.
You hear several suggestions: Jam the
poker in his eye! Pour the scalolns
water in his ears!'' stuff his nose full
of ashesv' Upon which summary meas
ures a vote is taken, viva voce, a rso!u-
ton adopted and carried out. The sleeper
awakes in sad plight and proceeds TO
the manager who banishes him TO o'Vo
west Cary street with measly envelope
inscribed in purple ink.
MANNER OF DELIVERY.
Their manner of delivering these mes
sages is the most original Two boys
getting messages out in the West End
MACE themselves on either side of the
street.and see which can count the greatest
number of palings on the FENCES on the
way up. Now. it Is very hard to count
paiings fast, but this is not the worst or
it. Arrived at their journeys end they
state the number of painss counted by
each, and when one gently inslnuates
that the other is not coninirE himself to
the truth they fight. Smash! Smash:
The hammers whanS. sparks ny, ana req
blood flows. Meanwhile. the person 10
whom the telegram is addressed are IAN
EuiSnlllS III eSpSCtdHSS, ~ ~ ~ go >-N
sWer, and are wondering why the delay
Could they but know!
Then they have a nasty way OF Slttln%
on a fence-poSt and goinS to sleep "hen
sent out to deliver 4 message marked
urgent, Life or Death" Rather IMAM
miss their little trip TO the Land OF NOD
thew would see four hundred men die; and
who can blame them? You tell them to
hurry, and in their haste they fall down
the stairs and break two or three collar
bones and to what purpose? The speclai
doesn't get there any quicker
THE NEW BOY.
But the new boy is the terror OF the
community. What one hears from MN IS
best known individually. Why, they
change so often. is. of course nobodys
business, but it is a marvel nevertheless
But having in such heinous terms, de-
nounced the telegraph messenger boy, it
is but meet to say word as 10 what ne
has to bear. Take the general run OF
night messenger, and who will wonder
that he stands on his head against the
telegraph pole and slumbers from sheer
exhaustion and WEAKNESS Of spirit? He
"catches'' message to be delivered at
u o'clock, midnight, at house by no
means near the Office. If 1t be winter. ne
travels the distance through coid. and
maybe snow and Ice, and when ne arrives
at his destination. what then? He has
another hours hard. manual labor, knock
ing on the door with his freezing fingers,
or ringing the bell, and finally. hears a
window. three stories up. open and q
gruff, sleepy voice yell shut up! 1t you
don't stop ringing that BELL I'll wiring
YOUR reek. Here am trying for the last
half hour to sleep in all this din, but
can't stand it any longer. What do you
want anyhow" Being told that tele-
gram with its bearer awaited his pleas
ure. and being assured that 1t was mark
ed Maid. he descends and takes the billet
from the boy. He now assumes an inn
nortant and mysterious air and after con-
lsiderins the matter. tells the boy that
there is no Immediate answer. Just as If
tho how hadn't opened and read that tele-
o,.om long ere he; reached that neighbor'
hood.
Another great trouble Is when a man
cannot be found at his residence and has
to.1,ave his whereabouts traced. Without
any extra pay whatever, they have to
visit each hotel and the post! office seek
ing their man. If he Is at none of these,
then he is given up, but not till then.
But the bette noir OF the telegraph mes.
seneer is a building. fve-stories high,
without an elevator. You may safely
bet that they do not hurry up the stairs.
either Frequently they. are to be seen
stretched full length on the third floor,
physically exhausted or very: lazy. One
fellow had the audaclty to remove his
footwear on the stairs Ione night and
had his shoes stolen by another boy, who
left them on, the first floor. 1t served
him right.