Genre:

Essay, Drollery

Relevant illustrations:

wdct.

Illustrators:

W N, pseud.  [William Newman] *

Subjects:

Telegraphy, Technology, Railways, Observation

    Describes a porter's problems operating the railway and telegraph on a 'trying' junction at Witham Station. Explains that individuals who squint are preferred on this line because they can look 'two ways at once'. Suggests that porters train as acrobats, so they can 'make rapid descents along the electric telegraph wires from station to station'. The illustration shows a solution to the problem of one railway porter managing several different tasks.