CHAPTER XV
The month of Finis had passed, and it was Old-Year-Day; to-morrow wouldbe New-Year's-Day, A. D. 2001.
In the conservatory, among the roses, geraniums and violets, withscissors and twine in their hands, were Marie and Mollie. As fresh andbright as the flowers about them, they chatted and laughed as theyclipped the buds and fashioned the floral pieces which were to gracethe private room of the executive mansion on the morrow.
New-Year's-Day was a great day, in this new era of time. It was aday upon which all toil ceased, and all hearts were made glad by theexchange of good wishes and good cheer.
The President held a great reception from 9 until 11 dial, and afterthat hour devoted the afternoon to his family and intimate friends. Inthe evening the day was crowned by a magnificent ball; such had beenthe custom for years in Washington on New-Year's-Day.
With deft fingers, the two girls made the pretty floral pieces: one forpapa and mamma; one each for Hugh and Junius; and Lester was to haveone--Mollie said two--sent to his hotel.
"Well, if you send him two, I shall send another to Hugh," criedMarie, with a pretty, threatening gesture.
"Marie Colchester, you are in love!" and Mollie stopped in her work tonote the effect of her words.
"Oh!" prolonged and low from her companion.
"Yes, you are," teasingly.
"O Mollie Craft! How can you ever say such a thing?" and the blushesoverspread her whole face.
"You are a little traitor," with a show of anger.
Marie looked up as if uncertain of her friend's meaning, but thetwinkle in the latter's eye satisfied her that no belligerentintentions were premeditated.
"How so, Mollie?" demurely, as she clipped a japonica rose from itsstalk.
"How so? Didn't I ask you to come here and win the love of Junius Cobbso as to free me from the pain of seeing his love for me unreturned?Didn't you agree to throw yourself away for Lester's sake and mine?Didn't you tell me that you knew he couldn't help loving you, and thathis heart would soon be lying at your feet like a--a--a sponge-cakestepped upon by an elephant? There!"
"O Mollie! I didn't say all that!" cried Marie, in confusion.
"Yes, you did; you know you did," shaking her scissors at the other.
"Well, haven't I tried to make him love me? Oh, I am so ashamed! Tryingto make a man love me, and he won't show the least little bit oflove," and she hid her face in her hands, in apparent distress.
"That's all put on, miss; as if I couldn't see. You were not here aweek before you had that great big brother of mine dancing after youas if tied to your apron-strings," and Mollie looked severely at theculprit.
"But, Mollie, I couldn't help it. He would come--and come, andstay--and stay--and--and--I didn't know you objected--and I'll go awayto-morrow," and the poor girl burst into a flood of tears, and sankbeside the floral tribute to her lover.
In an instant Mollie was by her side, her white arms clasped around thesobbing girl, and the kisses checking the rain of tears.
"There, there, Marie, my own true girl!" she coaxingly said, "I wasonly teasing you. I would not, indeed I would not, have said it if Ihad thought you would have believed me in earnest. I am proud of mybrother's choice; I want you for a sister."
"And you are not angry with me for not loving Mr. Cobb?" looking upbeseechingly.
"No, dear girl. I love Junius, for he is a noble though a silentman. It would have given me great pleasure to have seen him love andmarry you, Marie, for you will be a prize to your husband; but, tobe my brother's wife, that is better still," and she kissed the red,quivering lips of the girl, and gently raised her form from the ground.
Thus another scheme devised by human minds had failed.
Hugh Craft had been won by the innocence and loveliness of this girl;had given her his whole heart, and had received hers, with its wealthof love, in return. Their love plighted, and sitting by his sideone afternoon in the conservatory, whither he had led her to enjoy,unmolested, her sweet society, she had told him the story of hercoming, her identity and her relationship to Lester Hathaway. And then,under his promise of secrecy, she had told him of Lester's infatuationand semi-engagement to Mollie. Loving this woman as he did, he couldfind no fault with his sister for loving the brother; but in deferenceto Marie's wishes, he had refrained from informing his sister and herlover that their secret was known.
It was New-Year's night, and the grand ball-room of the executivemansion was a scene of beauty and splendor. Incandescent lights hung inhuge festoons from the ceiling; beautiful women and brilliant uniformsmingled in one grand, gorgeous panorama.
Out from the moving multitude came Hugh Craft, with Marie leaning onhis arm. Pausing at the grand stairway to the supper-room, Hugh sentword to Lester and Mollie to meet him in the conservatory.
A few minutes later they were joined by Mollie and her lover, whofound them standing under the rose arbor at the lower end of theconservatory. As they approached, Hugh left the side of Marie, and,confronting Lester, addressed him in a tone of severity:
"You have made love to my sister, sir!"
Mollie uttered a little scream, and clung to the arm of Lester, whileMarie stood mute in astonishment at the scene.
"I repeat it, sir," continued Hugh, in harsh and severe tones; "youhave been guilty of engaging yourself to my sister."
For a moment Lester Hathaway stood looking at the other, not knowingwhat answer to make. His sister must have told Hugh of his secret, hethought; then, boldly:
"And you, sir, have made love to _my sister_!"
Hugh was surprised at the retort, for he did not know of the interviewbetween the two girls, of the day before, nor that Mollie had toldLester all about it.
"I admit it," he smilingly said.
"And so do I," returned Lester, as the twinkle in Hugh's eye gave himthe assurance that there was no anger in his words.
"You want her, Lester?"
"And you want her, Hugh?"
So rapidly had the words been spoken that the girls had had no time tospeak.
"Yes; and you?"
"Want her forever."
"Then, Lester, let us trade sisters," and he laughed heartily as he sawthe comical expression which came over Mollie's face as she realizedthe situation.
"You are real mean, Hugh, to scare us that way. Look at poor Marie;she doesn't know yet if you are in earnest or not," and Mollie lookedtoward the girl.
"She knows now," as he clasped her in his arms and kissed her lips.
"Oh!" exclaimed Mollie.
Then these lovers sat and discussed their hopes and plans. Sympathy,deep and true, was expressed for Junius Cobb; for it had been noticedby all that an appearance of sadness was ever in his face. He seemeddevoid of energy and all desire for amusement. He cared not for thesociety of women; even Mollie received far less attention from him thanformerly; not that she believed he thought any less of her, but that henever did actually love her. In her kind heart, she suggested to theothers that they combine their forces, and endeavor to arouse him fromthe apathy into which he certainly was sinking. Each gladly agreed todo all in her power to make the man forget his former life and enterinto the enjoyment of the present. With their hearts bearing nothingbut respect and friendship for Junius Cobb, they left the conservatory,and returned to the ball-room.
The night passed, and it was January 1, 2001.
At breakfast, Hugh told Cobb that he intended to take him to America,as the President had promised that he should be made acquainted withthe system of the sympathetic telegraph, and also with the methodspursued in publishing the "Daily American."
Cobb's face brightened up, and he expressed his pleasure at theprospect of gaining a knowledge of these wonderful inventions.
Accordingly, at 14 dial the two young men took the Chicago Pneumatic,and reached Pittsburgh at 16:50 dial. Here the Tracer, in which Cobbhad crossed the Central Sea in the preceding September, and which hadbeen ordered to report to Captain Craft, was boarded, and Cobb agai
nmet Lieutenant Sibley and his assistants.
Putting to sea as soon as the baggage had arrived from the train, theTracer was headed southwest by west, and quickly made the offing.
At 3:10 dial the next morning the vessel came to anchor in the harborof America. It was 7 dial before Lieutenant Sibley would awaken hisguests, and nearly 9 dial when Mr. Doane, the superintendent of thetelegraph system, presented himself, under an order from the Secretaryof State to render every service to his visitors.
The city of America lay just a mile from the shores of the CentralSea, upon a nearly level plain about six miles long by three in width.The Kentucky hills in the background, with their magnificent scenery,the great sea in front and the beautiful streets and houses, made thescene appear to Cobb like an enchanted city of the Arabian Nights.
Landing at the dock, an electric drag quickly took the party to thebeautiful residence of Mr. Doane.
A few minutes later, after meeting the charming wife of their host,Cobb and Hugh were ushered into the library by Mr. Doane, who againexpressed the pleasure which he felt at meeting the man of whom theworld had been talking for the past four months.
"I can assure you," he exclaimed, "we see it here. Thousands oftelegrams have passed through the United States--I should say theCentral Office--in which your name was the prominent subject."
"I ought to feel flattered at such world-wide reputation," returnedCobb, modestly; "but I am tired of it, and wish to be a man born in theperiod."
The conversation continued, and the object of Cobb's visit to the citywas fully explained.
Stepping to a book-case, Mr. Doane took a large book from a shelf, and,opening it upon a table, displayed a map of the city of America and itsimmediate vicinity.
"There is a map of the city, Mr. Cobb," he said, "and you can followme as I explain to you the reasons why the city has been so laid out,and in such an extraordinary fashion. America is a city of about125,000 souls. The plan of the city is very peculiar indeed, butmade with the one view of bringing the employes of the system intolittle communities near the place of their occupation. It resembles aportion of a great checkerboard, eight squares long by six in breadth.Each square is a half-mile in length and breadth, and has an areaof one-quarter of a square mile. Four of these squares is called asection, making twelve sections, or twelve square miles in the city.Each section is divided into eight triangles of equal shape and areaby diagonals from its corners. Thus there are in the city five greatstreets, each four miles in length, extending from one extreme to theother, or east and west; seven streets two miles in length runningnorth and south, and the diagonal streets. Electric cars run on allthe streets except the diagonals. All of these streets are 200 feetwide, and paved with gray glass. Each triangle is cut into streets of100 feet in width, running north and south for the north and southtriangles, and east and west for the others, and contain about 400houses. Thus there are in each section 3,200 houses for employes. Eachhouse occupies an area of fifty feet front by 100 feet in depth. In thecenter of each section is a beautiful but small park. Four large, grandbuildings of six stories each face this park, occupying the apices ofthe eight triangles.
"These buildings are the workshops, or site of occupation, of theinhabitants of that particular section. Thus a community of 3,200families live and work in each section. For further benefit to thepeople, each two triangles of a quadrant is combined under the titleof 'square.' Each square, therefore, has its own diagonal street,meeting the other diagonals of the section in the center, or placeof occupation. Again, as each square is a smaller community of thesection, it has its own shops, stores, etc. All of these places ofbusiness are located midway on the diagonals, and are styled the'bazar.' There is allowed in each bazar, only one store for eachparticular trade; for instance, there is but one grocer, baker, market,etc., through the whole list of trades. There are, also, restaurantsand club-rooms for men and women, libraries, churches and school-houseslocated on these streets. So complete is the system that the residentshave little need of ever going outside their square to have theirwants properly attended to. All of the stores in the city, except thegrocers, bakers, and markets, are under control of the authorities;and the articles offered for trade have to be of the best, while theschedule of prices is so regulated that only a certain minimum profitcan be made. The excepted trades are directly under the charge ofcompetent officials, and the articles sold at cost. The houses forthe operators, on the main streets, are all six-room cottages, whilethose on the cross-streets contain only five rooms. They are builtin various and different designs, and all are provided with heatand light by electricity. They are covered with ornamental slabs ofvarious colored glass, which give them durability against the weather,and exquisite beauty. Each section is under the direct supervisionof a governor and two assistants, and all disputes and controversiesarising among the people are settled and judged by them. No personis allowed to settle or remain in the city without special authorityfrom the superintendent and council of the system. The cars are freeto all people; so, also, is the rent of the houses to the operators,the only requirement being that each occupant shall keep his house ingood repair. Every expenditure for the welfare of the city is paid outof the receipts of the system, thus leaving nothing to be demandedof the employes save the cost price of their subsistence. You willsee from the map, Mr. Cobb, that there are ten sections having theircentral offices, while the two interior sections of the city, andwherein we now are," and he placed his finger upon the spot, "have onebetween them. This central spot, with its parks and great buildings, iscalled 'The United States,' to distinguish it from the other centersof operations; which are named, in order, from left to right, aroundto point of beginning: 'Islands,' 'Indias,' 'Asia,' 'Africa,' 'East,''Australia,' 'Continent,' 'Britain,' 'South America,' and 'West.' Ineach section 2,000 operators move down to the central offices eachmorning at 8 dial, making 20,000 telegraph operators, besides 2,000 inthe central section of the whole system, who daily work the keys thatflash the millions of messages over the world. This vast throng ofemployes moves, easily and without impediment, down the cross-streetsof their triangles into the diagonals of their squares, and thence totheir work. By the system of squares, no employe has a greater distanceto walk to his work than the length of the hypotenuse of the trianglewhose base and altitude is a half-mile in length; or a little lessthan three quarters of a mile. One-half of the number of operators goto their dinner at 12 dial, and the other half at 13 dial. At 20 dial,they are relieved, and 10,000 others take their place until 8 dial thenext morning. Their work is clean and light; but the hours are long,as it is not practicable to have three sets of operators. Now, forthe amusement of the city, there are theatres, dancing-halls, clubs,boating and sea-bathing, libraries, gymnasiums, and many other means ofrecreation. The greater portion of the operators are married, and livehappy and contented in their positions. The finer houses, on the mainstreets, are given to those longest in service, as a reward for theirservices. The salary of an operator is sixty dollars per month, andpromotion is by competition. I may have wearied you, Mr. Cobb, by goinginto details as I have," Mr. Doane said, apologetically; "but in orderto understand this vast system of communication, with its ramificationsextending to every known part of the globe, it is necessary that youshould learn how the working force is set in motion and how continued."
"On the contrary, Mr. Doane, you have not wearied me at all," repliedCobb. "I can assure you I take special delight in everything tendingto better the condition of the working classes. How much better couldcapital have been employed in my day in building up communitieslike this, instead of accumulating vast wealth to be fought over bycontending heirs."
"This, Mr. Cobb," continued Mr. Doane, "is the condition of life andthe surroundings of these thousands of men who daily tick the thoughtsand wishes of mankind from every part of the known earth. Now, ifyou are ready, we will take the drag and visit one of the sectionaloffices, and you can see the actual working of the system."
It
was but a few minutes' ride from Mr. Doane's residence to thenearest sectional headquarters, and they were soon entering thebeautiful park surrounding the four large buildings which faced towardthe center. Cobb noticed the air of order and cleanliness whichpervaded everything, and the lack of hubbub which might be expected inthe vicinity of four buildings holding 2,000 employes.
Ascending by the elevator to the first floor, they were ushered into"The State of New York," as the floor was designated in the system.
The scene that met the eye of Cobb was unique in the extreme. Row uponrow of little tables, at each of which sat an operator, extended fromone end of the room to the other. In front of each line of tables anendless belt was carrying little folded papers, and dropping themthrough a chute in the floor. At one extremity of the room was anumber of pipes vomiting forth an unceasing stream of small metalcases, which were quickly seized and deposited in boxes near at hand. Astream of assistants were busy handing these cases to the operators atthe tables. A humming sound, low and musical, pervaded the room as thehundred and more instruments clicked forth their messages.
"This is the 'State of New York,'" explained Mr. Doane. "There are 140operators in this room, working direct with the central office of theState of New York. Upon the next floor is 'New England,' and abovethat, 'Pennsylvania,' and so on, each floor being devoted to the workwith the central office of a particular State or States." Mr. Doanethen enlightened Cobb on the work of the system. In each State of theUnited States, and each nation of the various divisions of the world,was located a central office; these central offices worked direct withsome floor of the buildings in the sectional offices. For instance: thesection designated "East," contained the operators who worked with thecentral offices of the Eastern States. "South America" worked with thecentral offices of all the countries of South America. From the centraloffice of a State or nation, the message was sent direct to the town orcity of destination, if in that State or nation.
"To understand the system," said Mr. Doane, "let us follow the courseof a message from St. Petersburg to San Francisco. The operator atSt. Petersburg sends it to the central office of his county by hissympathetic instruments. From that central office it is sent to thesection in this city designated 'Continent;' there it is received, andsent to 'The World,' or central office, by pneumatic tubes. At 'TheWorld' it is assorted from the hundreds dropping from the tubes, andsent in a tube to the 'West' section. Here it is received, and sent tothe floor named 'California,' handed to an operator, and transmittedto the central office of California, and by them to the city of SanFrancisco. The time of transit of such a message of twenty words, fromSt. Petersburg to San Francisco, is thirty minutes."
"Quick work, that!" exclaimed Cobb, admiringly.
"But a more peculiar illustration of the system," continued Mr. Doane,"is exemplified in the sending of a message from Portland, Oregon, toVancouver, Washington. These cities are but fifteen miles apart; yetthe message from the former city is sent to its central office, thenceto the 'West' section in this city, thence by tube to the next floor,thence to the central office of Washington, and thence to Vancouver.Now I will show you the instruments," and he motioned them to followhim to the lower end of the room.
Here Cobb for the first time examined the great invention of his oldfriend and master, Jean Colchis.
On a table were set an ordinary relay, sounder and key, instrumentswhich were familiar to Cobb, who had thoroughly studied the electrictelegraph system of his day. The relay only differed from those usedin former years in that it had no large and heavy armature in front ofits poles, but in its place was a small, bright needle swinging on avertical pivot. The short end of the needle was held by two delicatesprings, pulling in opposite directions. The needle was metallicallyconnected through a local battery to an ordinary sounder, and thencethe current was carried to a little stud near the extreme end of theshort arm of the needle.
The relay was connected through its keys to another local battery.
If the key was closed--that is, pressed down so as to form a metallicconnection--the relay magnets were magnetized by its local battery, andthe little needle was drawn toward them by their attraction, until theshort arm of the needle rested against the little stud. This touchingof the needle to the stud closed the circuit of the second localbattery, and the sounder armature answered to the influence. If the keywas opened, the circuit was broken, the needle was drawn back by itslittle spring and the local current of the sounder disrupted. With theexception of the needle, the whole apparatus was precisely similar tothat employed in telegraphing in 1887.
Cobb examined it carefully and noted its delicacy and the careexercised in its protection from external forces by being covered witha glass globe and surrounded by helices in opposite directions.
Mr. Doane watched his expression, and smiled at his perplexity.
"Simple, isn't it?" he asked.
"Yes, in construction," returned Cobb; "but its theory of action uponthe distant instrument is to me a total mystery, I must confess."
"But easily explained, in so far as how it acts, but not why itperforms its work," Mr. Doane answered. "The needle which you see hasa mate, and that mate is in the California office. These needles aremade in pairs, and, by a wonderful process, made sympathetic. No twopairs are charged with the same sympathy; consequently, no other needleof the whole system of instruments will affect this save that singleone in California. The instruments of each pair are most carefully setup at their different stations, so that the needles shall point to thetrue north; thus the needles are exactly parallel to each other. Whenthe instrument is not in use, the key is left open, and the needle isheld back by its spring. Now, if the California operator should closehis key, he would cause his needle to be attracted toward the relaymagnets; this movement of his needle exerts a sympathetic influenceupon the needle in this instrument. _It endeavors to parallel itselfto its mate._ It moves to the right, overcoming the power of itsspring, and, touching the stud, closes the circuit, and the sounderrecords the fact. Opening his key in California, both needles move backby the tension of their springs, and the sounders are demagnetized.The sympathy of these two needles to place themselves in a parallelposition, or, more properly, the repulsion of the poles of each fromthose of the other, is the secret of the sympathetic telegraph system."
"A wonderful, grand invention!" burst from the lips of Cobb, as hecomprehended the almost human action of the two needles. "How couldmortal man have discovered such a secret of nature!"
"Yes, Junius; it is wonderful!" echoed Hugh.
"How many pairs of these sagacious little instruments have you in thesystem?" asked Cobb, after a silence.
"In the United States, 280,000; in the world, 450,000. But more areneeded very much, and have been for years," returned Mr. Doane.
"Well, why don't you make them?" inquiringly.
"Ah! there's where the trouble is! Since 1963 no instruments have beenmade. The secret is lost!"
"Lost! The secret is lost! How could it be possible to lose the secretof such a discovery as this?" and a look of incredulity expressed thedoubts he entertained.
"It is a fact, nevertheless, Mr. Cobb; a fact coupled with sorrow to mein many ways. But let us take the drag and return to the house, as itis near luncheon; I will tell you of the accident as we ride along." Ashade of sorrow came over his face as he spoke.
As the drag sped along the grand avenue toward the beautiful home ofthe superintendent, Cobb listened to the old man's story concerning theloss of the secret of Jean Colchis' great invention.
"My grandfather," commenced Mr. Doane, "was the first superintendent ofthe sympathetic telegraph system. In 1892, when the wonderful discoveryof Jean Colchis, of whom you no doubt have heard--"
"And with whom he was on terms of the closest friendship," broke inHugh, in a matter-of-fact sort of way.
"Knew Jean Colchis! personally knew the inventor of the system I havebeen explaining to you!" cried Mr. Doane, in astonishment.
r /> "Yes," from Cobb.
"Ah, yes! I had forgotten your status in this life. You have lived ahundred years; why may you not have known him?" murmured the old man,as if reasoning with some doubt in his mind as to Cobb's sincerityof expression. "You must tell me of him," with an eager look; "forI reverence the name of him who conceived this wonderful agent ofcommunication, and placed its power subject to the will of man.To-night, to-night, Mr. Cobb, you must tell me of yourself and of him."
"With pleasure, Mr. Doane," returned Cobb.
"Be it so. And now I will go on with my story," continued thesuperintendent. "As I was saying, in 1892, when Jean Colchis made hisdiscovery, the government bought the invention from him, and selectedmy grandfather, who was a Major in the army, to be the superintendentof the system. I do not know what were the terms of sale, or what werethe conditions imposed, excepting that only one man was to know thesecret of sympathizing the needles; that that man was never to committhe secret to writing or to tell it to any living soul until at death'sdoor; then it was to be transmitted to only one other, verbally. It isbelieved that this great stipulation on the part of Jean Colchis was toprevent France from reaping any benefit from his discovery, as he wassaid to have been an exile from that country."
Cobb smiled as he uttered the latter words, for the political secretsof Colchis were fresh in his memory.
"For thirty-seven years my grandfather sympathized, in his laboratory,all the needles used in the system. Upon his death-bed, in 1929, atthe ripe age of eighty-five, he communicated the secret to his son,who was his assistant in the system. The government made my fathersuperintendent to succeed my grandfather. I was born in 1937, and attwenty years of age became my father's assistant. It was his intentionto leave the secret with me; but, from a stroke of paralysis preventingspeech and motion, he died on the 6th of September, 1963, and thesecret died with him. On account of my knowledge of the system I was,upon the death of my father, immediately appointed superintendent, andhave occupied the position ever since."
"And has no effort been made to rediscover this secret?" asked Cobb.
"Oh, yes. Scientists throughout the world have worked assiduously, butwithout success. The government has standing rewards of five millionsof dollars for the lost secret."
They had reached the house, and the drag stopped at the door.