The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1918-10-25

True to the law Of p~criodicity, which regulates the transit
of Venus, the appearance of Bielas comet and other heavenly
press report is up again for investigation, and, as usual dill
ferent explanations are being gwen. lhr'y-iNe " loHY years
ago this question was widely discussed in telegraph, puohca-
tons. and, after spirited controversy by those VINO canned 10
have been working as telegraph operators at the beginning OF
this service. it was pretty we'll agreed that it was an arbitrary
sigma. adopted accidentally and continued in use to the present
day. A more plausible theory was stoutly maintained by some
of the controversialists which is interesting at this time Wheh
go is in such universal use. Telegraph rates in those days
were verv high, almost as high as cable rates are today. The
wires were but little used. The travelling correspondent was IN
his glory. Each big newspaper kept several bright young men
who held themselves in readiness to 60 IN any direction at a.
moments notice to write up any big news happening, and BRING
it home in their pockets, ready for the printers, Telegraph tolls
were %prohibnive. Finally a plan was evolved by which the OK
pense could be divided between several newspapers receiving
the same news at the same time. A number Of cities were
placed on one wire or Circuit" The general report was made
up, say. in New York, and sent to several cities at the same
time. Some of the newspapers could afford to take only a part
OF the report, some more, some less, The start was made with
a full report OF 5000 words, and, in order to facilitate handling
il. each sheet of paper contained 100 words, If Pittsburgh or
Vincennes took only 1000 words, the sending operator at the
initial point would tell the receiving operators at these points
when he had sent them 10 sheets, which was all they were en-,
titled to. They then dropped out and copied down no more OF
the news that was passing over the wire When the full 5000
words were sent to such newspapers as took it, the transmitting
operator at the initial point would announce that 80 sheets had
been sent, which was the end Of the service, and soon, instead Of
entering into explanations, the figure 80 was used to show
that the end had been reached, and with a &c. n. or &c. NJ"
meaning good night, or good morning, as the case might be, the
workers retired and closed up, Press reports continued to be
amplified from 5000 to 1900 and 5000 words, and as the years
rolled by, up to $4,000 and 10000 words, but the signal "30'
having been used to announce the end, it maintained its position
and prestige ever since, and all over the country it is used as
the signal to notify all offices on a given Circuit that the end
had been reached, and, no doubt, it will continue to be used
far into the future, since it has an established meaning that is
widely known by all those engaged in the making Of ncwspa-
Spers. No one can say positively, or do more than surmisc or
this theory is plausible and as good as any other, Who first
used the words "~starboard' and "larboard' on a ship? Who
first used gee and "haw' in driving work cattle? These are
questions that may engage the curious, but cannot be answered
And an answer would be OF no practical value.