A wonderful piece in the New York Times about telegrams.
Here's my favorite one, but there are lots of funny ones in that article (and some not-so-funny ones - the SOS from the Titanic being the most chilling example):
The humorist Robert Benchley, arriving in Venice for the first time, cabled Harold Ross, editor of The New Yorker.
STREETS FULL OF WATER. PLEASE ADVISE.
From Ann Althouse
Cary Grant!
"OLD CARY GRANT FINE. HOW YOU?"
hahaha.
Meanwhile, and in complete contrast, the other side..
"Have strong suspicion that Crippen London Cellar murderer and accomplice are amongst saloon passengers. Moustache shaved off, growing a beard. Accomplice dressed as a boy, voice, manner and build undoubtedly a girl."
The first ship-to-shore telegraph that ended with Peter Hawley Harvey Crippen being tried and convicted of murder in 1910.
Posted by: peteb at February 12, 2006 8:05 PMNO CAN DO 2 PAGES TWO DAYS. CAN DO 30 PAGES 2 DAYS. NEED 30 DAYS TO DO 2 PAGES.
I have a great deal of problems convincing executives, especially in client companies, of this fact. I can easily write up 100 pages of information; to clarify it down to 5 - 10 pages is a lot of work!
DUM DE DUM DUM DUM. YOUR SISTER ROSE IS DEAD.
hahahaha..That's funny.
Posted by: PatrickP at February 12, 2006 10:49 PM