lit. 52 • ' 620 •r ^ * T elegraphy Self-Taught A COMPLETE MANUAL OF INSTRUCTION. CONTAINING CHAPTERS AND LESSONS ON TELEGRAPHY IN ALL ITS BRANCHES. IN- CLUDING EASY EXPERIMENTS IN ELECTRIC- ITY AND MAGNETISM WHICH OPERATORS SHOULD KNOW. BY THEO. A. EDISON, M. A. ILLUSTRATED Chicago Frederick J. Drake & Company Publishers Copyright, 1902 Frederick J. Drake & Company Chicago. CONTENTS Abbreviations 135 Alphabet 55 Alphabetical Lessons 55 Battery 39 Block Signals 113 Commercial Messages 81 Dash Letters 55 Dash, with Dots, in Succession.* 56 Decimals 62 Dot and Space Letters 55 Dot Letters . 55 Dots and Dashes in Combinations 55 Dots, with Dash, in Succession 56 Duties of Line-Repair Men 112 Electricity and Magnetism 9 Explanations and Directions 51 • Fractions 65 4 How to Count the Words in a Message 104 t Instruction 103 ^ Key 44 ^ Letters and Numbers Mixed 58 ^Morse Code 49 ^Numbers 59 ^Numerals 56 Office Calls 81 4 CONTENTS. Option Months 150 Order of Transmission 82 Position and Movement 53 Private Lines 29 Provision, Grain and Stock Abbreviations .... 151 Punctuation Marks 57 Railroad Rules for Telegraph Operators 107 Relay . . .* 48 Rules for the Movement of Trains by Tele- graphic Orders 116 Sentences i 75 Sounder 46 Student, The 102 Telegraph Numerals 50 Telegraph Instruments 21 Telegraph, The 7 Train Order Forms 123 Words 67 INTRODUCTION In this little book will be found everything that is necessary to the study of telegraphy. Though telegraphy is essentially a matter of practice, it has been the aim of the author to present to those who aspire to master the art of telegraphy a book treat- ing the subject in as concise and clear a manner as possible, without eliminating anything that is im- portant, and without putting in things that are det- rimental, and which would have a tendency to con- fuse. The book contains unsurpassed essays on elec- tricity, illustrating in a simple manner how it is adapted to the different instruments, and its func- tions as applied to the telegraph. Cuts of instru- ments used and explanations will enable the learner to easily acquire a practical knowledge that will be of great use in meeting any emergency. After the beginner has set up his instruments and mastered the first ten or twelve lessons, he should get a partner-student, and they should work to- gether. This is the only practical way that will en- able them to become efficient operators. Criticism should be given and taken in a kindly spirit. The few points about numbers, decimals and fractions should be committed to memory. Also how to count the words in a message, abbreviations— in fact, there is nothing in the book which the student 6 TEIiEGRAPHY SELF-TAUGHT should not learn and always keep in mind. When they have practiced receiving and sending words, sentences, etc., until they can easily and accurately receive and transmit, they should commence on the messages. Accuracy, not speed, is the first requirement. The student should sacrifice any desire for speed until his accuracy is beyond dispute. The failure of a few unsuccessful students is due to the fact that they did not give proper attention to the first few lessons. Had they mastered these, failure to become efficient operators would have been impossible. May, 1902. Theo. a. Edison. Telegraphy Self=Taught THE TELEGRAPH. The word telegraph^’ means literally ‘‘to write afar off.^’ That is, one man can speak to another though thousands of miles intervene. He can send his thoughts over deserts, through forests, over mountains and under oceans. But in order to do this he must harness an unseen force called elec- tricity. What this unseen force is no man knows; but he does know to a certain extent what it is capa- ble of ; and, accordingly, he uses it to the best of his knowledge and ability. Electricity is thus defined in Webster’s Interna- tional Dictionary : Electricity means a power in nature, a manifesta- tion of energy, exhibiting itself when in disturbed equilibrium or in activity by a circuit movement, the fact of direction in which involves polarity, or opposition of properties in opposite directions; also, by attraction for many substances, by a law involv- ing attraction between surfaces of unlike polarity, and repulsion between those of like ; by exhibiting accumulated polar tension when the circuit is broken; and by producing heat, light, concussion, and often chemical changes when the circuit passes between the poles or through any imperfectly con- ducting substance or space. It is generally brought TELEGRAPHY SELF-TAUGHT into action by any disturbance of molecular equilib- rium, whether from a chemical, physical or mechan- ical cause. Electricity is manifested under the following dif- ferent forms: (a) Statical electricity, called also frictional or common electricity, electricity in the condition of a stationary charge, in which the dis- turbance is produced by friction, as of glass, amber, etc., or by induction, (b) Dynamical electricity, called also voltaic electricity, electricity in motion, or as a current produced by chemical decomposi- tion, as by means of a voltaic battery, or by mechan- ical action, as by dynamo-electric machines, (c) Thermo-electricity, in which the disturbing cause is heat (attended possibly with some chemical action). It is developed by uniting two pieces of unlike metals in a bar, and then heating the bar unequally, (d) Atmospheric electricity, any condition of elec- trical disturbance in the atmosphere or clouds, due to some or all of the above mentioned causes, (e) Magnetic electricity, electricity developed by the action of magnets, (f) Positive electricity, the electricity that appears at the positive pole or anode of a battery, or that is produced by friction of glass, called also vitreous electricity, (g) Negative electricity, the electricity that appears at the nega- tive pole or cathode, or is produced by the friction of resinous substances, called also resinous elec- tricity, (h) Organic electricity, that which is devel- oped in organic structures, either animal or vege- table, the phrase animal electricity being much more common. ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM 9 SOME EASY EXPERIMENTS IN ELECTRIC- ITY AND MAGNETISM WHICH ALL OPERATORS SHOULD KNOW. The first knowledge of electricity came from the fact that when amber was rubbed it attracted light particles. This was discovered by the Greeks, and they called the amber electron. You may prove this by taking a piece of sealing-wax, or of resin, or a glass rod, and by rubbing it upon a piece of flannel or silk, it will be found to have acquired a property which it did not previously possess: namely, the power of attracting to itself such light bodies as dust, or bits of paper, etc. Although a large number of substances possess this property, amber and jet were the only two in which its ex- istence had been recognized by the ancients, or even down to so late a date as the time of Queen Eliza- beth. About the year 1600, Dr. Gilbert of Col- chester discovered by experiment that not only amber and jet, but a very large number of sub- stances, such as diamond, sapphire, rock-crystal, glass, sulphur, sealing-wax, resin, etc., which he styled electrics, possess the same property. Ever since his time the name electricity has been em- ployed to denote the agency at work in producing these phenomena. A good way to observe the attracting force is to employ a small ball of elder pith, or of cork, hung by a fine thread from a support, as shown in Fig. 1. 10 TELEGRAPHY SELF-TAUGHT A dry warm glass tube, excited by rubbing it briskly with a silk handkerchief, will attract the pith ball strongly, showing that it is highly electri- fied. Immediately when touching the glass tube the pith ball acquires an electric charge and is at once repelled by the tube. Should the ball be ap- proached by a piece of resin previously rubbed with silk it will be attracted. This shows that the electricity produced by rubbing resin with silk is of a different character than that which is pro- duced by rubbing glass with silk. This experiment shows that there are two kinds of electricity, viz : Positive electricity and Negative electricity. In rubbing one body with another, both bodies become charged with electricity of an opposite character; that is to say, if a piece of glass is rubbed with a piece of wool or silk, if the wool or silk receives the positive charge the glass will receive the negative charge. ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM 11 Opposite conditions of electricity attract one another, and although electricity cannot flow through glass it can act across it by induction. For example : placing a plate of glass between two pith balls, one being electrifled positively, the other negatively, will not interfere with their at- tracting or repelling one another, although the elec- tric charges cannot pass through the glass. On this principle was invented the Leyden jar, and other condensers. The Leyden jar was accident- ally discovered by Musschenbroek, and his pupil Cuneus, in the town of Leyden, from which it de- rives its name. It usually consists of a glass jar on which is pasted two coatings of tin-foil, one on the inside, and one on the outside, the coating cov- ering the jar three-fourths of its length. Electric connection is made by a chain, or a flexible wire hanging into the jar from a brass rod, which may be supported by a wooden cover to the jar, to which the rod is fixed. A brass knob is attached to the top of the rod. To charge the jar, it is neces- sary to hold or connect this knob to the prime con- ductor of an electrical machine; the outer coating being either held in the hand, or connected to the earth by a wire. The jar can be easily charged in a few minutes in this way, and if made of good glass, kept dry and free from dirt will retain its charge for many hours. The jar may be discharged by holding it in one hand by the outer coating and touching the brass knob by the other hand. The person so doing will see a bright spark pass be- 12 TELEGRAPHY SELF-TAUGHT tween the knob and the hand, making a sharp re- port, and at the same time giving the person a con- vulsive shock. A very simple Leyden jar can be made in the following manner, and was the original experiment of Musschenbroek and his pupil : Take a glass bot- tle, fill it two-thirds full of water, make a hole through the cork and push through it a long nail, so that it hangs low into the water, when the cork is in the bottle. This jar can be charged like the modern Leyden jar, and in the same way, the water acting as the inner coating and the hand as the outer. When the jar is charged, it can be dis- charged by holding it in one hand and touching the top of the nail with the other. Thin glass has a greater capacity as an accumulator than thick glass, but if the glass should be too thin, the jar will be liable to be destroyed by the spark of a pow- erful charge actually piercing it. A powerful bat- tery may be made of Leyden jars by connecting a number of them together by thin inner coatings; then also uniting their outer coatings. Care should however be taken in discharging this battery of Leyden jars, by using a pair of discharging tongs, as a shock from such a battery might prove fatal. The discharging tongs is an arrangement consist- ing of a brass rod with two brass knobs, and insu- lated from the hand by a glass handle. The elec- tric discharge we see during a thunder shower is the same kind of so-called electricity. Electricity is often found in belts, running pul- EliECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM 13 leys and shafting in factories. Placing your fin- ger, or hand, or what is better, holding a piece of copper near a large belt which is running shafting, you will hear a cracking sound and sometimes re- ceive a perceptible shock. The writer has seen enough electricity collected on wires from large belts to light coal gas. This experiment is more successful in cold weather. Quite a quantity of frictional electricity is developed in cylinder print- ing presses when moving at full speed, which elec- trifies the paper so that the sheets will stick to- gether quite firmly, and should you pull them apart the same crackling sound spoken of in regard to the belt is heard, and the person separating them will sometimes receive quite a shock. Electricity can also be obtained by joining two dissimilar metals by soldering, and then heating their points of contact. The same result may be obtained by lowering the temperature at the point of contact. For example, the metals joined, may be copper and iron or bismuth and antimony. There are a number of other metals which if joined together in the same way here described will pro- duce Thermo-Electricity. A very pretty experiment showing ^‘molecular bombardment^’ and the aurora” may be made by rubbing an incandescent lamp on the clothing, or on paper, leather, sheet rubber or tin foil, when the bulb will become filled with light; if you stop it grows dark. If touched with the finger, the fila- ment and the interior will be a bright glow, lasting 14 TELEGRAPHY SELF-TAUGHT from one to three seconds; if touched again it is repeated, by drumming or drawing the finger slowly over the glass the light is quite continuous. If rubbed on a newspaper in an absolutely dark room, the larger letters can be read at a dis- tance of two to three inches. Fan the bulb with sheet rubber eight or ten inches away, but do not touch the glass, it will light the same quite bright if the fanning is very rapid. Most of the miniature lamps will give the light, but not all. The Edison, 16 c. p., 20 and 22 volts will ; but the 110-volt store lamps will not. Fig. 2 It is evidently charged through the glass, as the glow will occur if the metal parts are enveloped in rubber. Everything used should of course be dry. It seems to be an electrophorous effect, the discharg- ing only exhausting a section at a time. The best effect is obtained by rubbing with a dry newspa- per. If a wire from the terminal of the secondary ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM 15 coil of a i/ 2 -iiich spark Ruhmkorf induction coil be placed against the glass of the lamp it will glow very brightly. By placing the hand against the glass of the lamp it glows more brightly. The lamp will also glow if brought within a half inch of the coil without any wire being connected with it. See Fig. 2. 16 TELEGRAPHY SELF-TAUGHT magnetism. The discovery of magnetism has never been de- cided. It is claimed to have been discovered by the Greeks and it is also asserted that the Chinese knew of the compass at a much earlier date, yet to the Greeks we owe the name of this science. About the year 1600, Dr. Gilbert, first physician to Queen Elizabeth of England, published his work, ^‘De Magnete’’ and showed among many other things that magnetic attraction was only peculiar to a few bodies, while electricity was universal. Every magnet is supposed to have what are termed lines of force running around it and through it, or to possess what is termed a magnetic field. The same may be said of a helix carrying an electric current. A very simple experiment to il- lustrate this theory is to lay a piece of paper or glass over a bar magnet, and then to sprinkle iron filings over the paper or glass. The iron filings will be found to have arranged themselves into lines. These lines show the lines of force around the magnet. Each particle of the iron filings becomes a separate magnet by induction so long as it re- mains in the magnetic field. The filings should be very small and light, and should be sifted through a very fine sieve. You should also tap the paper lightly when sprinkling the filings. We see by this experiment that the space around MAGNETISM 17 a magnet is pervaded with this unseen force, or lines of force, as they are termed. An electro-mag- net is a magnet which is only magnetic when a current of electricity is passing through its coils and is generally made of a core of soft iron with a number of turns of insulated wire wound around it. This magnet has the lines of force like the permanent magnet. Faraday showed that if the lines of force of a magnet were broken by plung- ing or revolving another magnet within its fields, that the current of electricity was produced in the wire of the second magnet. See Fig. 3. Fig, 3. This is called induction, and it is the fundamen- tal principle of the dynamo. Should you take a common compass, hold above it and parallel to its needle, a wire carrying a cur- rent of electricity, the needle will instantly turn aside. 18 TELEGRAPHY SELF-TAUGHT When the current is flowing along the wire above the needle from North to South, the North pole of the needle will turn towards the East. If the current should be flowing from South to North, the needle will be deflected Westward. If you hold the wire below the needle the motions will be the re- verse. Thus you see by this experiment the first principle of the electric motor. Magnetism like electricity may be communicated from one body to another, and as in the case of hardened steel, it will be found to remain in the article so magnetized, after the magnetic body has been removed. In other words the second body be- comes a magnet like the first. This is also accom- plished without any apparent decrease of strength in the first magnet. Steel and nickel seem to re- tain their magnetism, while iron more easily and strongly magnetized loses its magnetism almost immediately after the magnetic influence has been removed. Another strange thing about magnetism is that it can be comunicated from one body to another through layers of glass, paper or wood, placed be- tween the magnet and body to be magnetized, and that the intervening medium is directly concerned in this transmission of magnetic force, and that medium is ether,’’ which surrounds all molecules of matter. Magnetism may be obtained from the earth, as the earth itself is a great magnet. A very simple experiment is to take a steel bar, place it in the MAGNETISM 19 magnetic meridian, with the north end dipping down, and while it is in this position strike it a number of hard blows with a wooden mallet, after which it will be found to have become magnetized. Although Faraday showed by the aid of very powerful magnets that almost every substance was susceptible to magnetic influence, generally speak- ing, some bodies are not magnetic. Such is the case with copper, bismuth and antimony. These are called diamagnetic bodies; while such bodies as iron, steel and nickel are highly efficient in mag- netic power. Every magnet has what is termed a North and South pole, which can be seen by obser- vation of the compass. A very simple experiment to illustrate this principle, is to take a small common steel sewing needle, and after having magnetized it by bringing it in contact with the poles of a per- manent, or an electro-magnet, float it in a glass of water when it will be seen to take a north and south position. To float the needle it will be necessary to lay it on a thin piece of tissue paper and care- fully place both paper and needle on top of the water ; the paper will soon absorb water enough to sink to the bottom of the tumbler, leaving the needle floating on the surface. It is supposed that should you divide a bar magnet into the smallest molecules possible, each molecule would be a separate mag- net, endowed with a North and a South pole. This may be illustrated by dividing a small bar magnet or by magnetizing a darning or knitting needle, and breaking it into small pieces, when each piece will be found to have become a separate magnet. 20 TELEGRAPHY SELF-TAUGHT There are various ways of magnetizing bodies. Should you bring a bar of steel to a red heat and let it cool in the magnetic meridian (that is the bar should lie in a north and south position) it will be- come magnetized . The most powerful magnets are made by winding insulated copper wire around the steel to be magnetized, and then sending through the coils a strong current of electricity. You may partially or wholly destroy the magne- tism in a steel magnet by rough usage, as by hit- ting it, or knocking it about. It will also lose its magnetism on heating being heated to redness. TELEGRAPH INSTRUMENTS 21 HOW TO MAKE A TELEGRAPH INSTRU- MENT. The most satisfactory way the author knows for an amateur to make a telegraph instrument is to saw wood, or apply himself to any other remunera- tive form of labor until he has made enough money and then buy himself one. A cheap or poorly made instrument is a con- stant source of annoyance, and even the better kind TELEGRAPH SOUNDER will occasionally take freaks. There exists, how- ever, a class of people who take a much greater pleasure in anything home-made, and which they • understand from beginning to end, than in the store article, even if the latter does look and work better, and it is to this class that I address myself, repeating my warning that they cannot expect to have a very pleasant time operating a home-made instrument. This instrument is one that cannot be ^‘simplified’’ to any great extent without sacri- ficing its good qualities, so the form described will follow very closely that in general use at present. 22 TELEGRAPHY SELF-TAUGHT The cores of the magnets are to be made of % inch round wrought iron— Norway iron preferably, on account of its great purity and softness. Cut two pieces 1^ inches long and tap one end of each for a inch machine screw. Fit over each end of them a washer made of fiber of ebonite 1 inch in external diameter and Yg inch thick— they must TELEGRAPH INSTRUMENTS 23 fit tightly. Insulate the cores between the washers and bore a 1-16 inch hole in one washer on each spool to take out the beginning wire and then put the spools in a lathe and wind them full of No. 24 insulated wire, according to the directions given in previous articles. It is customary to slip over the spool when winding is finished a casing of ebonite both as a protection to the wire and to improve the appearance, but it is not essential. The yoke is also soft iron % of an inch wide, 3-16 of an inch thick and 1^ inches long. Drill a Ys inch hole in each end, 1^ inches distant from each other and one in the middle tapped for a 3-16 inch screw. Screw the spools you have wound to the yoke making a U-shaped electro-magnet. This magnet stands on a base made of % inch sheet Fig. 1. 24 TELEGRAPHY SELF-TAUGHT brass, 2i/4 inches wide and 5 inches long. Drill a 3-16 inch hole through the base 2^/4 inches from one end and midway between the sides ; this hole is for the purpose of screwing the magnet to the base. Cut a strip of % inch sheet brass 5-16 of an inch wide and 10^ long; bend it into a U-shape, mak- ing the curved portion a semi-circle of 2 inches diameter; at 2 inches from each end drill and tap a hole for a ^ inch screw. Now file a groove in the edges of the two sides of the base plate, 5-16 of an inch in width, and % of an inch deep, the edge of the groove to be 1 3-32 inches from the end of the plate the magnet is nearest. The legs of the U-piece fit with this groove and are to be secured to the base with 8-32 machine screws. The anvil had best be cast from brass, making a pattern for the same from Fig. 1. The bottoms of the legs of the anvil are to be tapped for 8-32 machine screws, and holes drilled in the brass base through which to pass the screws from underneath and secure the anvil. The straight leg should be 3 inches from the end of the base, and toward the magnet, as shown in the drawing of the completed instrument. The hole in the short arm is % of an inch from the end, and is drilled and tapped for a % inch screw’. Another brass piece which should be cast from brass, should be made in accordance with Fig. 2. The holes Y and Z are to be drilled and tapped for a Ys inch screw, and X-drilled with a No. 30 drill. TELEGRAPH INSTRUMENTS 25 Through the hole in the little downward projec- tion of this piece is to be driven a piece of No. 14 Stubbs’ steel wire, pointed at each end, and well hardened. A soft armature of the shape and dimensions shown in C, Fig. 2, is screwed on the upper side of the brass casting, to the hole Y. Four thumb screws and check nuts will be required, and may be made by following the dimensions given at B, Fig. 2. Two of the thumb screws should have their ends slightly countersunk or drilled with a very fine drill, to form bearings for the pointed ends of the Stubbs’ steel pivot. Two more screws and nuts are needed: the screw to be made from Fig. 2. % inch brass wire, 1 inch long, and threaded the entire length, and the nut to fit this thread. Through one end of this screw drill a small hole. At % of an inch from the end of the base plate, and directly under the projecting end of the arma- 26 TELEGRAPHY SELF-TAUGHT ture carrier, back of the pivot, solder a small hook. Make a closed spring out of No. 22 spring brass wire. We are now ready to put things together. In the first place, the brass base-plate should be mounted on a neat wooden base, a little larger than the brass plate, and on the wooden base place two binding posts. Screw the magnet to the base-plate, if you have wound both cores in the same directions and have screwed them to the yoke so that both starting ends are together, con- nect the two inside wires together and the remain- ing ends to the binding posts, or, in other words, see that the wires are connected in such a way that if the magnet were bent out straight, the current will pass around the bar in one direction through- out its whole length. Screw the anvil to the base plate and put in the adjusting screws and nuts as shown in the general drawing. Place the armature in position and adjust it so that it moves easily on the pivot point by means of the adjusting screws in the sides of the U shaped piece. Put the nuts on the piece of threaded wire you made and slip it into the hole in the end of the armature. The end with the hole in it should be down, and into the hole hook one end of the spring you wound, and cut off the other end so that it will reach the hook beneath with a little stretching, and hook it there. The tension on the spring can then be regulated by the nuts on top, and should be such that the armature will be pulle^, against the top when freed. TELEGRAPH INSTRUMENTS 27 Adjust the screws in the anvil so that the arma- ture will have % of an inch play between them, and at its lowest point the soft iron piece will be 1-32 of an inch from the ends of the magnet, and your sounder will be ready for work; that is to say, whenever you put a current through the coils the armature will draw down and make a click, and when the current is taken off, will fly up and make another. The place in which the instrument is set makes a good deal of difference in the sound. A sound- ing board of some sort is necessary if it is desired to have the instrument make much noise. A good table answers for this very well and often the in- strument is placed upon a plate of glass or has a bell or curved piece of tin attached to the anvil for the purpose of increasing the volume of sound. To break and make the circuit and thus work the instrument, we must have a key which can be made from a piece of spring brass, as shown in Fig. 3. Cut and bend the brass in the shape shown, and screw a wooden or ebonite button to it. The screw head on the under side is to be filed off a little flat and another screw placed beneath, so that its head may be touched by the other when it is pressed down. The wires are to be connected to the strip and screw head as shown, though of course this is to be done underneath the board on which they are mounted, so that the wires will not be seen. The circuit must be kept closed except when a message 28 TELEGRAPHY SELF-TAUGHT is being sent, so that another strip of brass is to be screwed to the first, so it will move freely and will close the circuit when swung against the lower contact. A suitable handle is to be made for this. The contacts of the key are apt to become fouled by the dirt and sparking on breaking the circuit, TELEGRAPH KEY. Fig. 3. and must be occasionally cleaned. The fouling from the last cause can be obviated somewhat by soldering small pieces of platinum to the contacts as it does not oxydize as readily as most other metals. PRIVATE LINES 29 PRIVATE LINES. In the construction of short lines^ No. 12 galvan- ized wire is chiefly used, being of light weight and cheapest for the purpose, and measures thirty ohms resistance to the mile. Only one wire is necessary to the construction of a line, the earth being used for the return circuit. Great care should be taken to have the earth con- nections perfect. Instruments on the same line must always be of the same resistance. Whatever other difference there may be in the instrument, they should be all alike in resistance. For lines between one and twelve miles in length, the instruments are required to have their magnets wound with finer wire than those used on currents of less than one mile. Such instruments are des- ignated as being of ^‘20 ohms resistance.’’ In ordering instrument give the length of line and the number of instruments to be used on it. TELEGRAPHY SELF-TAUGHT Delivery dely. Delivery charges guaranteed dely chgs gtd. Depart d. Despatcher despr. Destroy bust Did •. .dd Double deck d d. Doubt dbt. Down dwn. Dozen doz. Draft dft. Duplicate dup. E East e. Election elect. Empty mt. Engine eng. Engineer engr. Enough enuf . Errors excepted e e. Errors and omissions excepted e & o e. Every evy. Excursion excn. Excuse ex. Express ex. Extra exa. 140 TELEGRAPHY SELF-TAUGHT Favor fvr. February Feb. Few f u. For r. Foreign forgn. Foreman 4man. Forward . fwd. Free d h Free of general average F G A. Free of particular average F P A. Free on board fob. Freight frt. From fm. G. General Baggage Agent G B A. General Freight Agent G F A. General Passenger Agent G P A. Get gt. Give better address g b a. Give some address g s a. Go ahead g a. Go ahead arrival g a a. Go ahead departure g a d. Going gng. Gone gn. Good gd. Good afternoon p m. Good evening g e. Good morning g m. Good night g n. ABBREVIATIONS 141 Gossips guff. Got . . gt. Government govt. Grain grn. Great grt. Ground gnd. Ground wire gw. Guaranteed gtd. Guess gs. H Half .hf. Has hs. Have hv. Here hr. High hi. Hogshead hhd. How hw. How is hws Hundred hnd. Hundred weight cwt. I Immediately immy. Important imp. Increase inc. Instrument inst. Invoice inv. J January Jan. Junction junc. Junior jr. 142 TELEGRAPHY SELF-TAUGHT K Knew nu. Know no. Knows nos. L Last month u i x. Laugh ha ha. Learn Irn. Leave Iv. Letter , Itr. Light lite. Limited ltd. Loads Ids. Local loc. Look Ink. Loop lup. M Made md. Main mn. Majority maj. Make mk. Manager mgr. Manifold mfld. Manifest mfst. Manufacturer mfr. Manufacturing mfg. Many mny. March Mar. Marked mkd. Market mkt. ABBREVIATIONS 143 Matter mtr. May Ma. Merchandise mdse. Message msg. Messenger msgr. Might mite. Mile mi. Million myn. Minute min. Mistake msk. Mistaken mskn. Misses mrs. Mister mr. Months mos. Months’ date m d. Months’ sight m s. More mo. Morning am. Much mch. N Namely viz. Near nr. Necessary neey. Never nvr. New nu. Next month prox. Night nite. Night press rate n p r. No more n m. None between n b. North . . n. 144 TELEGRAPHY SELF-TAUGHT No such number n s n. Not nt. Nothing ntg. November Nov. Now nw. Number no. Numbers nos. O Obedient obt. O’clock k. October Oct. Of o. Office ofs. One hundred 1 hn One thousand 1 tnd. On time o t. Opening opg. Operator opr. Opinion opn. Order ord. Other otr. Our r. Out ot. Owner’s risk or. P Package pkg. Paid pd. Pair pr. Passenger pasgr. Pay pa- ABBREVIATIONS 145 Payment payt. Pecks pks. Peoples peo. Pint pt. Per centum o o. Per mill o o o. Place for a seal Is. Please pis. Post office p 0. Pound lb. Precinct pret. Preferred pfd. Present month inst. President prest. Principal prin. Prohibition . . pro. Q Quart qt. Quarter qr. Quarterly quar. Question qn. Quick qk. Quotation qtn. R Railroad r r. Railway ry. Ready rdy. Rebate reb. Receipts rects. Received reed. 146 TELEGiBAPHY SELF-TAUGHT Receiving Reclining Refrigerator Release Relay Relief rf. Repeat Report Report delivery charges. . Republican Right Round s Said sd. Same Say Second Section seen. See See former order S f 0. See former service s f s. Seen See your service . . .'.s y s. Sending September Service Several Should Siding Sight Sign ABBREVIATIONS 147 Signature sig. Signed sined. Single deck s d. Sir sr. Slow slo. Somehow smhw. Some sm. Some one sm 1. Something smtg. Somewhat smwt. Somewhere smwr. Soon sun. South s. Speak spk. Special spl. Special delivery guaranteed spl dely gtd. Station sta. Stay sta. Stock stk. Stop for breakfast s f b. Stop for dinner s f d. Stop for night s f n. Stop for tea s f t. Straight strate. Street st. Superintendent supt. Supper supr. Suppose spose^ Switch sw. System sys. 148 TELEGRAPHY SELF-TAUGHT T Take tk. Talk tlk. Tariff tff. Telegraph tel. Telephone phone. Thanks tnx. That tt. That is i e. The t. Their tr. Them em. Then tn. There tr. They ty. Thing tng. Think tnk. This ts. This morning am. Though tho. Thought thot. Thousand tnd. Through thru. Tierce te. Today tod a. Together togtr. Tomorrow tomw. Tonight tonite. Took tuk. Track trk. Train . . trn. Transfer tfr. ABBREVIATIONS 149 Travelling Passenger Agent T P A. Trouble tbl. Try tri. U. Unchanged unchd. Undelivered undeld. V. Versus vs. Very vy. W Was ws. Water wtr. Way wa. Way-bill w b. Weather . . ’wtr. Weight wt. West w. Wharf whf. What wt. When wn. Where wr. While wile. Why wi. Who wo. Will wi. With wi. Word wd. Work wk. Worked wkd. Would wld. 150 TELEGRAPHY SELF-TAUGHT Write Wrote Y. Yard Yards Year Years Yes Yes sir Yesterday Yet You Young Your rite. . . . rote. ....yd. yds. yr- yrs. es. .... esr. esterda. et. u. . . .ung. ... .ur. OPTION MONTHS. P — January. G — February. H — ^March J — April. K— May. M — June. N — July. Q — August. U — September. V — October. X — November. Z — December. ABBREVIATIONS 151 PROVISION, GRAIN AND STOCK ABBREVIA- TIONS. In the transmission of quotations of stocks, grain and provisions, a special list of symbols is used; AE — Adams Express. ACL — American Coal. ACO — American Cotton Oil Co. AD — American District Telegraph Co, AM — American Express. MX — American Malting Co. AMS — American Spirits Mfg. Co. ASW — American Steel & Wire Co. Sug — American Sugar Refining Co. AC — American Telegraph & Cable Co. AMT — American Tobacco Co. A — Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe R. R. BO — Baltimore & Ohio R. R. BSW — Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern Ry. BG — Bay State Gas. BL — ^Boston & New York Air Line R. R. BE — ^Brooklyn Elevated R. R. BRT — Brooklyn Rapid Transit Co. BU — Brooklyn Union Gas Co. BC — Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern R. R. CA — Canadian Pacific Ry. CP — Central Pacific R. R. JC — Central R. R. of New Jersey. CO — Chesapeake & Ohio Ry. CEI — Chicago & Eastern Illinois R. R. GW — Chicago Great Western Ry. 152 TELEGRAPHY SELF-TAUGHT NW — Chicago & Northwestern R. R. Q — Chicago, Burlington & Quincy R. R. CGL — Chicago Gas Light & Coke Co. Cl — Chicago, Indianapolis & Louisville R. R. ST — Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul R. R. RI — Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Ry. CM — Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha R. R. CHD — Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton R. R. CIN — Cincinnati, Indianapolis, St. Louis & Chi- cago R. R. CC — Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis R. R. CLW — Cleveland, Lorain Sb Wheeling Ry. CPI — Colorado Fuel & Iron Co. CM — Colorado Midland. Gas — Consolidated Gas Co. CGC — Consumer’s Gas Co., of Chicago. C — Corn. DH — Delaware & Hudson Canal Co. DL — Delaware, Lackawanna & Western R. R. D — Denver & Rio Grande R. R. DI — Duluth & Iron Range R. R. DS — Duluth, South Shore & Atlantic Ry. EJ — Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Ry. E&P — Erie & Pittsburg R. R. E — Erie R. R. PS— Federal Steel Co. S’X— Federal Steel Co.— Pfd. 3rE — General Electric Co. IG — Kansas City, Pittsburg & Gulf R. R. SW — Lake Erie & Western R. R. ABBREVIATIONS 153 LS — Lake Shore & Michigan Southern R. R. L — Lard. L&N — Louisville & Nashville R. R. Man — Manhattan Ry. Consolidated. MR — Metropolitan Street Ry. MXC — Mexican Central Ry. MC — ^Michigan Central R. R. MST — Minneapolis & St. Louis R. R. MK&T — Missouri, Kansas & Texas R. R. M&B — Mobile & Birmingham R. R. MO — Mobile & Ohio R. R. MU — Mutual Union Telegraph Co. BIS — National Biscuit Co. AB — New York Air Brake Co. Cen — New York Central & Hudson River R. R. N&W — Norfolk & Western Ry. NP — Northern Pacific Ry. NWT — Northwestern Tel. Co. O — Oats. O&M — Ohio & Mississippi Ry. OS — Ohio Southern R. R. PM — Pacific Mail Steamship Co. PA — Pennsylvania R. R. PO — People’s Gas Light & Coke Co. PD — Peoria, Decatur & Evansville R. R. RG— Philadelphia & Reading R. R. PW — Pittsburg & Western R. R. PST — Pittsburg, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis Ry. PW — Pittsburg, Ft. Wayne & Chicago R. R. P— Pork. , PTC — Postal Telegraph-Cable Co. PU — Pullman Palace Car Co. RGS — Rio Grande Southern R. R. RGW — Rio Grande Western Ry. SR — Short Ribs. SP — Southern Pacific Ry. Co. SR — Southern Ry. 154 TELEGEAPHY SELF-TAUGHT TCI — Tennessee, Coal, Iron & R. R. Co. TPC — Texas & Pacific Coal Co. Tex — Texas & Pacific Ry. TC — Texas Central R. R. TLT — Texas Pacific Land Trust. TY — Toledo & Ohio Central Ry. TPW — Toledo, Peoria & Western Ry. KC — Toledo, St. Louis & Kansas City R. R. UP — Union Pacific R. R. UX — United States Express. RW — United States Rubber Co. W A— Wabash R. R. WP — ^Wells-Fargo Express. WGS— Western Gas Co. W — Western Union Telegraph Co. WX — Westinghouse Electric & Mfg. Co. WS— West Shore R. R. W— Wheat. WL — ^Wheeling & Lake Eire Ry. Wis — Wisconsin Central Ry. CATALOGUE OF FREDERICK J. DRAKE & COMPANY PUBLISHERS. 352-356 Dearborn St. CHICAGO. I TPON receipt of the price, any book advertised in the following pages will be sent by mail, postage paid, to any Post Office in the United States, Canada, or the Universal Postal Union. As to our financial standing-, we respectfully refer you to any bank or business house in Chicago. Not Respopnsible for Money or Books sent by Mail, unless Registered. Parcels will be registered on receipt of Ten Cents in addition to the amount of the order. No orders whatever will be filled unless suf- ficient money accompanies them. Write your name plainly. Give full Address, with Post Office, County and ■State. A complete Descriptive Catalogue will be mailed free on application. Send for it. We will be pleased to consider for publication any manuscripts sent us. We desire one or more good agents to represent our books in every county in the United States. Write us for terms, etc. _ HOW TO SEND MONEY. In remitting by mail, the safest means are a Post Office or Express Money Order, or a Draft on New York or Chicago, payable to Frederick J. Drake & Company. When these are not procurable. Cash may be sent in a Registered Letter. Unused United States postage stamps of the denomination of ten cents or under will be received as cash in amounts less than one dollar. Soiled stamps, or stamps other than those of the United States, and personal checks or drafts on local banks cannot be accepted. CATALOGUE OP F. J. DRAKE & CO. Frederick J. Drake & Company's CATALOQUE OF Standard Up»to-Date Hand Books on the following Subjects: Dialog^uesy Recitations, Tableaux, Charades, Pantomimes, Mock Trials, Monologrnes, Drills, Marches, Minstrel and Entertainment Books, Magrlc, Palmistry, Hypnotism, Black Art, Electricity, Speakers, Poultry, Letter Writers, Dream Books, Fortune Tellers, Popular Dramas, Photography, Etiquette, Dancing;, Etc., Etc., Etc., Etc. Each book in this list is the work of a com- petent specialist, and will be found reliable, practical and thoroughly up-to-date. Any Book Advertised in This Catalogrue Sent, Postpaid, on Receipt of Price. FREDERICK J. DRAKE & CO., 352-356 Dearborn St., Chlcag;o. SEND FOR COMPLETE CATALOGUE. CATALOGUE OP P. J. DRAKE & CO. DUTCH DIALECT. Recitations, Readings and Jokes, as told by our fore- most vaudeville stars, Weber and Pields, Rogers Broth- ers, Marshall P. Wilder, Ezra Kendall, Geo. Puller Golden, Gus Williams, £und others. Every lover of Ger- man dialect wit and humor ought to procure a copy of this new and up-to-date book, as it contains the choicest emanations of the most celebrated and re- nowned Dutch comedians and humorists of the present day. Rip-roaring, side-splitting Dutch dialect. Hot humor covers its many pages, and comedians and ama- teurs who wish to keep an audience or social gathering in a continuous stream of laughter and merriment, and receive tumultous applause at every appearance, will find in this book exactly what they require. Paper Covers 25 CENTS. Cloth, Gold Titles 50 CENTS. CHOICE DIALECT AND VAUDEVILLE STAGE JOKES. A New Standard collection of Readings, Recitations, Jokes, Gags, and Monologues in Irish, Dutch, Scotch, Yankee, Prench, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, Negro, and other dialects, representing every phase of sentiment from the keenest humor or the tenderest pathos to that which is strongly dramatic. We heartily recommend this book to amateurs and professionals as being the Best, Latest and containing the brightest dialect stories of the Vaudeville stage. It is full of ginger and un- like anything before published. There is another laugh in you, it will have to come out if read. Paper Covers 25 CENTS. Cloth, Gold Titles 50 CENTS. CONUNDRUMS AND RIDDLES. Collected and arranged by John Ray. This is the latest, largest and best collection of Conundrums and Riddles ever published. Containing upwards of two thousand choice new intellectual Conundrums and Riddles which will sharpen your wit and lead you to think quickly. They are always a source of great amuse- ment and pleasure, whiling away tedious hours and putting every one in a general good humor. Any per- son, with the assistance of this book, may take the lead in entertaining a company and keep them in roars of laughter for hours. We heartily recommend it to Amateurs and professionals for entertainments of all kinds. Paper Covers 25 CENTS. Cloth, Gold Titles 50 CENTS. Any Book Advertised in This Catalogue Sent, Postpaid, on Receipt of Price. FREDERICK J. DRAKE & CO., 352-356 Dearborn St., Chicago. SEND FOR COMPLETE CATALOGUE. 4 CATALOGUE OF F. J. DRAKE & CO. TOASTS AND AFTER-DINNER SPEECHES. Compiled and Edited by William Young Stafford. How many times have you been called upon to re- spond to some toast or speech? What would you not give for the ability to be rid of this embarrassment? This book, contains Presentation Speeches, At and After Dinner Speeches, Political Speeches, Welcomes, Congratulations, School Commencement Valedictories^ etc. Also toasts and welcomes on various subjects. From this book you may learn some lessons that will prove profitable when called upon to speak or respond to some toast or sentiment. Send for a copy and pre- pare yourself. Not only is it valuable to the novice, but the experi- enced orator will find many good suggestions. Paper Covers 25 CENTS. Cloth, Gold Titles 50 CENTS. PATRIOTIC READINGS AND RECITATIONS. This s the choicest, newest and most complete col- lection of Patriotic recitations published, and include all of the best known selections, together with the best uttrances of all eminent statesmen. Selections for Decoration Day, Fourth of July, Washington and Lin- coln’s Birthdays, Arbor Day, Labor Day, and all other Patriotic occasions. The following are some of the many choice pieces included in this valuable work: The Battle of Santiago. Hobson’s Daring Deed. Gen. Wheeler at Santiago. The Flag Goes By. In Manilla Bay. My Soldier Boy. The Yankees in Battle. The Banner Betsy Made. The Battle Field. Washington’s Name. The Stars and Stripes. Our Flag. Etc., Etc., Etc, That Starry Flag of Ours. Deeds of Valor at Santi- ago. The Negro Soldier. A Race for Dear Life. Our Country’s Call. Patriotism of American Women. The Roll Call. Sinking of the Merrimac. The Fourth of July. Columbia. Etc., Etc., Etc. There are few things more popular during National Holidays than entertainments and exhibitions, and there is scarcely anything more difficult to procure than new and meritorious material appropriate for such ' occasions. This book will fill every want. Paper Covers 25 CENTS. Cloth, Gold Titles ...50 CENTS. Any Book Advertised in This Catalogue Sent, Postpaid, on Receipt of Price* FREDERICK J. DRAKE & CO., 352-356 Dearborn St., Chicago. SEND FOR COMPLETE CATALOGUE. CATALOGUE OP P. j. DRAEB & CO. 6 «COMIC RECITATIONS’^ AND READINGS. A New Volume of Comic readings and Recitations, compiled and edited by Wm. Young Stafford. Many of which have never before been published in book form. Its contents comprise some of the best efforts of such world-renowned humorists as Mark Twain, Joseph Bil- lings Artemus Ward, Ezra Kendall, Bret Harte, Bill Nye, Ben King, Geo. Thatcher, Lew Dockstader, Wm. S. Gilbert, James Whitconib Riley and others. This is an unequalled collection of the most amusing, eccentric, droll and humorous pieces, suitable for reci- tation in schools, drawing-room entertainments, and Amateur Theatricals. It would be impossible to find so many irresistibly funny pieces in any other tongue. They range from the most refined wit to the broadest farcical humor; but always free from even an approach to vulgarity. Paper Covers ..25 CENTS. Cloth, Gold Titles 50 CENTS. LITTLE FOLKS’ SPEAKER. Containing cute and catchy pieces for recitations by small children of ten years and much younger, includ- ing Speeches of Welcome and short Epilogues for opening and closing Children’s Eentertaihments. The subjects are such as delight the infantile mind and the language, while childlike, is not childish. All of the selections are new and fresh, many being specially written for this volume. It would be difficult to find another collection so replete with short, bright, cheery printed pieces as contained in this book. Paper Covers 25 CENTS. Cloth, Gold Titles 50 CENTS. DELIGHTFUL ENTERTAINMENTS. With programmes for amusements, containing parlor games; charming tableaux; tricks of magic; charades, and conundrums; curious puzzles; phrenology and mind reading; hypnotism; palmistry; humorous and pathetic recitations, dialogues, etc., etc. Including etiquette and the art of entertaining, the whole forming a charming treasury of pastimes for the home, public schools, and academies, lodges, social gatherings, amateur theatri- cals, Sunday-schools, etc. Beutifully illustrated with hundreds of fine engravings. Size T^^xlO. Elegantly bound in cloth, with emblematic designs in gold and inks. 350 double column pages; clear type. Price $1.75 Any Book Advertised in This Catalogue Sent^ Postpaid, on Receipt of Price. FREDERICK J. DRAKE & CO., 352-356 Dearborn St., Chicago. SEND FOR COMPLETE CATALOGUE, e CATALOGUE OF P. J. DRAKE & CO. HAVERLY>S NEGRO MINSTRELS. A complete hand book written to encourage, help and guide amateurs in their efforts to form troupes and give a successful evening’s performance. An entire program is arranged with full details, consisting of a first part with the brightest dialogue ■ between “Tam- too,” “Bones” and the “Middleman;” the introduction of ballads and songs, etc., new and side-splitting stump speeches follow, filling the interim between the first and • second parts. The latter suggests the usual olio per- formance of dances, banjo solo and novelty acts. The entire program is concluded by a. fine afterpiece given bv most of the troupe. There is no more popular and successful form of public entertainment for amateurs than negro minstrel shows. They consist of music and fun and when free from vulgarity are bound to please any audience. Mr. Jack Haverly was one of the most widely experienced men on the minstrel stage, and in this book has drawn on his stock of tried features, selecting and offering his best therefrom. Besides arranging the program and giving the com- plete dialogue for the same from the rising to th^ falling of the curtain, Mr. Haverly has prefaced it by short chapters on “Make-up,” “Dress,” “Settings” and some very helpful general remarks. The additional matter in the way of gags and jokes makes this book one of the best joke books published. Descriptions of how to walk the cake-walk, and other useful matter, all of which makes this book the most complete one of the subject ever issued. Paper Covers 25 CENTS. Cloth, Gold Titles 50 CENTS. PACIOLOGY. By La Vergne Belden Stevens, L.L.B. New edition revised and enlarged. Presenting this volume to the public the publishers have refrained as much as pos- sible from being too scientific, and to present it in a clear and practical form. Each chapter is profusely illustrated, by heads and faces taken from photo- graphs from life of the most famous men and women who are noted for abnormal developments, good or bad. ■ If you want to know Human Nature you should procure a copy of this valuable work. Any Book Advertised in This Catalogue Sent, Postpaid, on Receipt of Price. FREDERICK J. DRAKE & CO., 352-356 Dearborn St., ChicagTO. SEND FOR COMPLETE CATALOGUE. Paper Covers Cloth, Gold Titles 25 CENTS. ,50 CENTS.