Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 December 1876 — Boys’ Sport—A Little Story With a Moral. [ARTICLE]

Boys’ Sport—A Little Story With a Moral.

A ease has recently Keen developed here, from which a strong moral could he drawn, and in case it happens to be known, to any instructor of youth, he will undoubtedly make use of it, much to the edification of the aforesaid youth. But thitflln th* language of the novelist, is a digression. Some three or fotfr years ago Charley Scribner, aon of Hon. C. H. Scribner, and Leo Miner, son of Mr. D. H. Miner, were playmates and firm friends, and were in each other's company constantly. Although at that time but twelve or thirteen years of age, they were both great readers, and took especial delight in telegraphy, and anything relating to electricity. The taste they had for such matters was gratified, and soon they began stui Tying the science. Both of the boys then lived on Huron street, near each other, and, after pursuing their studies on electricity for awhile, they strptched a wire from one house to the other, rigged, up some old batteries and instruments obtained of the Western Union Company, and telegraphed messages from house to house. Not long after that Mr. Scribner moved to his present residence, on the corner of Indiana avenue and Fifteenth street, nearly two miles from his former dwelling-place. This for a while put a stop to the boys’ sport. But they went to work and, alone and unaided, stretched a wife from Mr. Miner’s house, on Huron street, to Mr. Scribner’s. At this time they bought new instruments and had become proficient operators. It should be that all this w’ork —adjusting the ihstruments, making the batteries and stretching the wire—had been done by these two boys. The pleasure and experience gained by this pastime and study developed in Leo Miner a taste for mechanics, which, as he grew older, constantly increased, and he is now a member of the Engineers’ Corps at the Naval Academy at Annapolis, where he is pursuing his studies with that energy and ardor which characterized his efforts here. Charley Scribner, on the other hand, made a study of electricity, and has, although comparatively young in years, completely mastered it. Last spring his investigations and studies resulted in his inventing an improved “repeater,” for use on telegraph instruments. He took his plans to Chicago, where a model was made, and on which he has received letthebufeau Thelmprovement was tried in Chicago by the Manager of the Gold and Stock Telegraph Company, who was so pleased with Charley’s knowledge of all branches of telegraphy, and liis modest manner, that he offered him then and there a lucrative and responsible position, but Charley hardly felt like accepting the place, so he returned home, where he nas since been engaged in pursuing his studies. In the meantime the manager has been in constant correspondence wnth him and his father,, and finally succeeded in getting them th consent to Charley’s accepting the position. The young electrician will have the entire care of the instruments of the company in Chicago, and as only a thoroughly competent person is intrusted with tins duty, it will be seen that he has a position of no little importance and responsibility. Charley left last night for his post, taking with him the best wishes of a host of friends. Here it will be seen that what at first was only intended for a mere pastime, was the means of obtaining, for these boys at least, the positions where they can make a mark in the world, and they will do it.— Toledo Blade.