Pleiades Club—Telegraphers' Paradise on Planet MarsHayes, J. W. (Jeff W.)
Science
Pleiades Club—Telegraphers' Paradise on Planet Mars
Hayes, J. W. (Jeff W.)
Mars (Planet) -- Fiction; Telegraphers -- Fiction
It was announced upon the ever-ready bulletin board, viz., the bright
firmament of Mars, by the usual magic touch of the wireless wand, that
there would be an entertainment given at the Telegraphers’ Tabernacle,
the chief feature of which would be a phonographic concert, to be
followed by an exhibition of perfect Morse sending. There would also
be an exhibition of “ham” sending and a rendition of a scene supposed
to have taken place on “Old No. 4 East” upon Mother Earth in the early
’70s.
The records were made by George W. Conkling, the past master of rapid
transmission, who very recently joined the Pleiades Club, and Secretary
Moxon did not inform his audience how he acquired the records,
believing his duties did not extend to giving out state secrets.
Many thousands gathered around to hear the music, and it was certainly
worthy to note that the clamor was for the patriotic national anthems.
When the “Star-Spangled Banner” was rendered, everyone arose to his
feet, many so-called foreigners also, thus showing their respect and
admiration for the flag.
This preliminary was the beginning of the real event of the
entertainment, and when the dots and dashes came humming over the
talking machine much enthusiasm ensued.
“Puts me in mind of the time when I worked the Kansas City duplex
alongside of Ed. Foote, with Paul Bossert and Jim Delong at the other
end,” said James B. Coulter.
“Yes, it sounds like the way Adam Beidler used to try and paste Emil
Shape, on the first Milwaukee wire,” ejaculated Harry McGill, who was
an interested spectator and listener.
“I really believe that this talking machine is the same as the one we
see illustrated in Telegraph and Telephone Age, and which I was going
to purchase just shortly before I took my long flight,” remarked Wm. H.
Magehan, of St. Louis, a late arrival.
Selections from the talking machine were again in order, and each
individual stated his preference of pieces to be played, and they were
courteously taken care of.
Mike Tully asked to have “My Wild Irish Boy” played; Charlie Newton
designated “My Old Kentucky Home” as his choice, and Lara C. Boone gave
“St. Louis-Louis-Louis” as his favorite, all of which were rendered in
the highest style of the art.
Joe Anderson, of Buffalo, would not be content until he had listened to
“John Anderson, My Jo-John,” and Billy Thurman laughingly remarked that
the occasion put him in mind of the summer evenings in Oregon along in
1883.
Everybody voted the entertainment a big success and all expressed a
desire to have a repetition of the programme very soon.
Timothy Collins, who was one of the “Great 8” in Omaha, and who later
became a guardian of the peace in Buffalo, passed up the sun-kissed
walk, whistling “A Policeman’s Life is Not a Happy One,” and Court
Cunningham suggested that record should be procured so Tim could get
the right swing to the air, which suggestion was acceded to.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account