In its written form telegraphese, or "Morse," as it is called in the vernacular, is rarely seen. Yet as a vehicle of expression it is, to the initiated, as harmonious, subtle, and fascinating as the language of music itself.

Byline: Old News Is Good News

Telegraph Talk and Talkers

As soon as the order to disband the volunteers had gone forth, the North had begun to ask itself what they were going to do with the million men about to inundate them.

Disbanding the Union Army, part 2

Great numbers of them had gone into the army boys and had been made men by danger and suffering.

Disbanding the Union Army, part 1

The disbanded army faced their hard situation like the brave men they were, and joined patiently in one of the gravest tasks in the history of the world—the Reconstruction of the South.

Disbanding the Confederate Army, part 2

The worst of the ordeal of these men, who had begun to disband in this haphazard way, was not getting home, it was what they found when they got there.

Disbanding the Confederate Army, part 1

Here was I, under sentence, after a farce of a trial wherein I was denied not only my right of trial by jury, but my right to plead guilty or not guilty.

My Life in the Underworld, part 3

I am now in a precarious position, riding the ends of the down-curving roofs of two cars at the same time. With a quick, tense movement I transfer both legs to the curve of one roof and both hands to the curve of the other roof

My Life in the Underworld, Part 2

I have often thought that to this training of my tramp days is due much of my success as a story-writer. In order to get the food whereby I lived, I was compelled to tell tales that rang true.

My Life in the Underworld, part 1

I said that whatever he would write for me, on what ever subject, at what ever time, I would accept without question or reservation, and put on the stage at my own theater: rather a remarkable pledge, seeing that our acquaintance dated from about ten minutes back; but I meant exactly what I said.

The Author of Cyrano

In times of war you constantly see men, and women, too, who, sooner than suffer discomfort or even inconvenience, risk death.

Under Fire

As the little speck drew straight overhead, these human specks suddenly realized that they were in the line of fire, and scattered just as people run from a sudden shower.

Paris at Bay

Into the fog of war that covered the Continent an army of Englishmen had vanished, none knew where.

The Germans Are Coming!

Even in his deep distress Booth had not forgotten to be theatrical. If he must die he wished to die at the climax of a highly dramatic situation. 

The Capture, Death and Burial of John Wilkes Booth

Nowhere but in America would such a career as Crockett's have been possible.

David Crockett

It it not so surprising that there is heroism in the world, as that there is so much of it.

Stories from the Royal Humane Society

A podcast of historic journalism for young writers, Byline uncovers fascinating stories from the printed past and examines the lives of forgotten reporters.

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Byline: Old News Is Good News

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