THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. 



cut and pointed, usually half a dozen. When the transmission 

 of the message commences, the electro-magnet dictates it to him, 

 letter by letter, at the same time indenting it upon the paper 

 ribbon. He writes it down, and, in general, it is delivered by 

 the magnet as fast as he can write it, availing himself of all 

 such abbreviations as are intelligible to those who may have to 

 read it. As the points of the pencils are successively worn he lays 

 them on the table at his right hand. A person engaged exclu- 

 sively in that process, visits his table from time to time, repoints 

 the pencils lying on his right, and replaces them on his left. This 

 person passes round the telegraph office, from table to table, keep- 

 ing up a constant supply of properly pointed pencils at the hand 

 of each telegraphist. 



The most expert telegraphists are able to take down the mes- 

 sages in this manner by ear, without any reference to the ribbon, 

 and so correctly that there is no need of subsequent verification. 

 When the message is concluded, the sheet on which it is written is 

 handed to another clerk, who is provided with a stock of envelopes, 

 in one of which he encloses it ; and, writing the address upon it, 

 delivers it to a messenger, who forwards it to the party to whom 

 it is addressed. Meanwhile the paper ribbon, on which the 

 message has been indented in the telegraph ciphers, is cut off, 

 folded up, and preserved for reference. 



It is only, however, the most expert class of telegraphists that 

 can operate in this way. Others, less able, are always obliged to 

 verify and correct what they have taken down, by comparison 

 with the indented ribbon, after the message has been concluded ; 

 while others less able still, cannot trust themselves to take down 

 by ear, and sit before the ribbon as it is discharged from the roller, 

 writing out the message from it by eye. 



The salaries allowed to different agents vary according to the 

 skill they attain in these operations. One who acquires the power 

 of taking down rapidly and correctly by ear will receive twice the 

 amount allowed to him who can only take down by eye, the latter 

 being always much slower than the former. 



It often happens that the power of interpreting easily and 

 correctly by ear is very important, as in the case in which the 

 mechanism of the instrument for moving and indenting the paper 

 may have been accidentally deranged and disabled, or in which 

 the office may be deficient in its supply of paper ribbon. 



By the oral method of reception the entire receiving apparatus, 

 except the electro-magnet and its armature, is dispensed with. 



If a mistake is committed by the transmitting agent, in conse- 

 quence of which a word or phrase is unintelligible, the receiving 

 agent intercepts the current, and signifies that the word is to 



