The farmer and mechanic., 1915-06-15
OPERATOR WITH
UNIQUE RECORD
R, R, Best Twenty Years Con-
seCutively Knight of Key
At University
(By S. X. WINTERS.)

Chapel Hill, May 29.-Twenty years
Of continuous service in a college COM
munity may not entitle a telegraph
operator to place on the superan-
nuated payroll, but his claims as an
enduring fixture to the college life are
unchallengedi Whom among the hun
dreds of "old grads" of the University
of two decades cannot visualize the
familiar figure of the University's
telegraph operator-R. r. Best? His
continuity of service and immediate
contact with thousands of college
boys entitle him to a unique position
on the University campus.
The shifting scenes of outgoing
graduating classes and subsequent in
coming classes, the perpetual change
of faculty, the construction Of new
buildings to modify the campus views,
and introduction of modern transpor-
tation vehicles to convey luggage from
the depot-these changing scenes
make college life sort of moving pic
ture panorama. How often does the
returning alumnus wonder at the
number of new faces that greet him
on his return engagements?
But such figures as Mr. Best afford
background of retrospection for
viOuS to the environment of shifting
scenes. He is at the same old job of
twenty years ago when at the age Of
i5 he learned to manipulate telegraph
keys and transmit messages by dots
and "dashes." His office quarters
may have been removed from one side
Of the street to the other. But his
office equipment has not been radically
modified.
The approach to his office is up q
ramshackle. steeply-inclined flight OF
steps in the Brockwell building Il
is 12x14 room and by its natura
location is dust collector. Among
the Indispensable articles of furniture
OF the room are a couple of chairs
countless packages of telegraph
blanks. an oil stove, a set of playins
marbles, and a checker board. Th'
last mentioned article is the subjec
of local championship disputes be
tween Mr.. Best and John Guthrie, tn
delivery clarks. John has been spas
medically associated with the tele
graph office for many years-bu
when a raise of two cents on each de
livery is not forthcoming he declare
strike!
The office is a great information
dispensing bureau-and Mr.. Best pa1
cells out the particularly sought infOr
nation with inQuisitive interest. H
sits at the operators table with HI
right hand lingering the telegrap
key and sometimes his left han
punching" his -whiskers ths
dangle in mingled confusion on til
table. His pair of slasses-hung o
the rim by small strands of wire
seems to furnish equal strength Of v
sion when elevated on his forehead {
when properly focused-because h
deciphers his messages somehow
either instance.
He is 65 years old but you could NJ
designate him by declining years.
road-brimmed black hat, bla6
cravat, a watch chain conspicuous
placed on his vest, a huge damon
ring-all these things encase benig
countenance, a genial personality, ar
"a manner that reflects a big hear
He will hustle out Of bed at 2:30
m. in mid-winter to do you a favor.
When Mr.. BE It became the cole.
operator twenty years ago his bus
ness was a meager venture. The &C
lege community now in bulk receiv
and transmits IL, 900 messages yearl
His office number sometimes regist
rs to 100 from a days business. T
content of the messages runs I
gamut from a congratulatory wO
to weighty messages Of all desert
tions And, too, the spendthrift S
at college often hurries up his che
from home by the money trans1
telegraph instrument!
John Lawson, Gentleman, Su