THE UBIQUITOUS RADIO

Hokitika Guardian, 2 September 1929, Page 3

THE ÜBIQUITOUS RADIO

During the toyr of the United Stakes of America the outstanding fact, tj&at faced one the time was the iniquitous" radio,** says a writer in a; Home joqrpal. It could not be anywhere—not even in one’s bedroom at some hotels, for there were earphones, in crossing the Atlantic one was constantly reminded of the liflkingrVP power of wireless. Each passenger jy»s given a card jvhich contained sije terpjjp for sending wireless messages. anywhere. The third day out a ivirejess message came to me from Englppd direct. On the notice-board on deqk was the daily reminder that our ship was in constant touch with eight otfier ships, the names of which jwere giv<ep. It was no stretch of the iipagination jto think of each of these eight ships- ip constant touch with eight other shipp, until the whole oceans and continents, were lined up in a cobweb of radio sign. Every piorning there was awaiting us at our breakfast table (the “Radio Bulletin,” which .opntaiped news gathered by the ship’s radio ftjojn the four corners of the earth. 1. On -the fast American express trajns was (ttye unavoidable 'radio. Telegrams cam© and went all day kjflg. Thb mf&ep operator on one train informed me that during oUe day the previous week fifty-six telegrams had. passed thrpugfy his hands, most of which were received for passengers. This wireless on trains is a great boon to busy people, as it helps to facilitate appointments in particular. It has another purpose. There are many hoboes—knights off the open road—who still travel via “ side-dopr Pullmans,” and ,who are frequently put off trains on which they are stealing rides. In the past these riders have been able to conceal themselves frbnj the eyes of the train crew. Now the passing train can send a radio message to the train on which the poacher is ■ riding freely and thus make his eapr ture easy.