Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-11-19
TeLeoRApHERs.
How Lives Are Frightened by Funny
Incidents.

rather confused by the ticking OF tne
hundreds of Instruments with wnicn
the room is filed.
They probably would think Wheh
they had recovered their mental equn
ibrium that the operators get contuseu,
too, that it Is a hard task for them 70
keep their thoughts on. their work, anu
that 1t must be trying to silt ana Ns.eh
to the incessant ''tick, tick OF tue '"-
struments hour after hour.
This is so to a great extent most Oh
the time, for very often they are re-
o,,ired to send or receive from 80 to ID
words a minute, and to good operator
this ia the average speed. when the
wire is in good working condition. II
often happens, though. that serious
trouble occurs, as in the case OF wires
crossing or OF stormy weather any
whore along the line, either OF whlch
renders a wire practically useless.
The up-to-date operator uses a type
writer. or mill as they term u
among themselves, to write the mes
sage while receiving, which is a great
help when speed is required.
Nevertheless, although kept busy
during their hours on duty, they find
considerable leisure in which to have
fun among themselves in the office and
with the operator at the other end OF
the wire, and they employ a universal
code. familiar to all operators through
out the country, and various phrases
which might be termed slang" in COM
municating jokes. ETC.. to each other.
1t often happens that a good opera
tor gets on a wire at the other end OF
&C. ri makes
mistakes. for which he is told to "send
Morse which is equivalent to the term
talk United States"
Many couples have become lovers,
| and afterward married, through get
| ting acquainted" in the use or the
wire. The affair usually starts with
the sending of my % to YOU by one
or the other. This means my compli-
ments and regards" By and by 1t is
| my 81 to you," which means love,
and eventually my % to you." which
means "a kiss" and unless these ad-
yances are resented by one or the other
| il is to he expected that the mystic ~
| or 49," which means the three symbols
combined, travels frequently through
space between the two, and by and by
a meeting is arranged, which in due
/ course Of time ends with visit to the
minister. ....
A rather peculiar thing that happens
| quite unconsciously with all telegraph
| operators is that if they hear a joke
| while at the instrument which causes
| them 10 laugh, their finger will inVari-
| ably seek the key" and tick off, the
letters III A." which means laugh.
Much enjoyment is had at times In
| small offices (of which a great many
are usually on one circuiD by the oper-
ators listening to a pair of lovers
talking" to each other, and at IA
| vOrabe moment breaking" in with a
remark that causes the lovers much
| embarrassment.
The following is n sample of how this
| really took place not long ago: The
| yonng man said, well, my dear, 1 sup
pose you will soon be going home?
Yes answered the girl, and it Is
Just raining in. torrents and I have nc
rubbers here
II wish I could send you NINE" re-
| piled the young man. 81 have them
here in the oiiice" What size are
they?" asked the girl.
| At this juncture the listener. who was
| also Il girl, broke in with Twelve B.
| Instances are on record of prisoners
| signalling to each other by means of
| The Morse alphabet. the dot and dash
being made by tapping On the wall or
| rafting a lock or Dolt, and many dar-
| ing escapes are said to have been PLAN
| ned by this method of communica ton.
| A story about n party of telegraph
| of hn .,
! who was the possessor of a very red
nose is worth repeating here. This
| man was an inspector for a railroad
| telegraph company. and his duty was
| to travel from place to place and see
| that everything went well with the
| system, and. of course. he was thor
| oughly conversant with the entire BUSH
ness.
One day, while on a trip to remote
station. he was compelled to wait an
hour at 4 place where he had 10 change
TO another train. He thought It good
opportunity to get some dinner, and,
going to the only hotel in the town. in
CURED if he could be supplied with re-
freshments. Well" said the proprie.
tor. there is n party of young women
telegraph operators here today. but
there is one vacant seat at their table.
If you don't mind taking that 1 will see
VI they have airy objection.
The visitor assured him of his viii
lingness and arrangements were made
for his accommodate ton.
On seating himself at the table, one
of the girls placed her knife between
the tines" of her fork and licked off,"
Girls. get on to the old fellow with the
red headlight" OF course the ''old fell
low with the 'red headlight under
stood the message as well as any of
them, but he gave no sign until he felt |
that all eyes were centred on his nose.
when, without looking up, he calmly
took his knife and fork and licked off,
Are you all on to him, girls?" He was
soon in sole possession of the place. for
the girls did not stop for dessert.-NewI
York Tribune. |