Evening star., 1934-09-22
"reminiscences of the First
Telephone at the G. P. o.

walked out Of "Uncle Toms Cabin"
In these days I doubt if his name
would have familiar sound, but at
that time he was recorder of deeds
of the District of Columbia, and he
was pretty well known throughout the
country as being the only slave to
receive an education. As the story
goes, his mother in slavery days was
cook on her masters plantation, thus
giving Fred easy access to the kitchen.
The masters son, about Fred's age,
was attending school, and, like most
small boys, surrounded an enormous
appetite. Fred possessed a great de-
sire to learn, and, with food smuggled
from the kitchen. bribed the white
boy to teach him what the white lad
was learning in school, All this must
be done secretly, as it was crime to
teach slave. Before the plan was
discovered Fred had acquired his
education.
One day the door opened and look
ing up to see who was entering was
quite surprised to see President Ruth
erford B. Hayes. He was the first
President to come to the Office un-
announced. Former Presidents had
always sent word of their intended
calls, and the office would be placed
in excellent condition for inspection,
but President Hayes wanted to know
just how the Office was conducted
when President was not expected.
Thomas B. Edison one day came to
the Office. He was young man then,
and had just recently come into
prominence through his inventions.
Gen. James B. Chalmers, who led
the division of Forests Cavalry
which attacked Fort Pillow, Tenn, on
April II, 1864, was at that time a
member of Congress from Mississippi.
AS the fort at the time of the attack
was occupied by about TOO men. most
numbered $500, the capture of the
fort was not difficult, but of its in
mates but 200 were taken prisoner,
the others being killed. This battle Is
known in history as the Fort Pillow
Massacre" A wave of INDICATION
spread over the country at the un-
necessary slaughter, but the Confed-
crate officers denied responsibility
for it. Personally think the officers
were not to blame. The soldiers
probably were angered by the re-
sistance of former slaves and vented
their wrath on them. The Norther-
ner, however, had pictured Gen. Chal-
mers as a large, savage, fire-eating
type of man, and when a slight. mild
hammered and pleasant man walked
into the office, giving his name as
Representative Chalmers, our as
tonishment was SO great that we just
stared at him when he was not look
ing in our direction. Could this be
the man who had led a charge re-
sulting, according to official repu..
in the Mississippi River being dy<
red with blood for 200 yards?
The Remington No. l typewritlHf
machine had been on the market twt
or three years, and I acquired one
while in the Office. It was quite un-
satisfactory in many ways. 1t printed
nothing but capitals, thus making the
reading Of manuscript therefrom
rather trying. There was no auto
matte shift of the ribbon, and If the
operator, becoming interested in his
work, neglected to watch the ribbon
and to shift it in the other direction
when the end was reached, he found
hole worn through the ribbon and
no record made of what he had for
some minutes, been trying to write.
In addition to other duties in ths
office I had charge Of the sale Of
extra copies Of such documents print
ed at the Office as were desired by the
public, thus becoming practically the
first superintendent Of documents,
which has since become an important
office. FRANK HALL CHILDS.
Pacific Palisades, CALI.