The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1859-06-28
THE LATE CYRUS w. FIELD.

the transitory character of human glory than the
grand ovation which was given year ago in the
North to the patrons of the Atlantic telegraph,
but which has sunk almost as deeply in the waves
of oblivion the Telegraph aforesaid in the briny
waters of the lAtlantic-Some recent talk in
England of reyiving the project has in a very faint
degree galvanized the defunct interest of the
public, and our own attention has been slightly
stimulated by newspaper article apologetic of
Cyrus w. Fields participation in the New York
celebration which it is now alleged was compulsory,
and did extreme violence to the shrinking sensi-
tiyeness that constutionally retiring and morbidy
modest benefactor of mankind. 1t is hardly worth
while resurrecfing either the Atlantic Telegraph
or the excellent Cyrus w. Field at this late hour
of the day.-The gigantic harp of a single string
lies voceless in the deep caves of ocean. There
is no use in sympathzing with the Telegraph, but
those who have tears to she'd, should give them
freely to Field. Up to the moment of the incuba-
tion Of the Atlantic Telegraph, Cyrus w. Field
had been an-innocuous and esteemed member OF
society. He was known a respectable trades
man, a kind husband, an afectionate father, and,
in the eloquent language of panegrist of the late
lamented Louis Phppi, ga very nice man." But
the Atlantic Telegraph changed all this. Some
inscrutabe decree of Fate extracted Field from
his obscure position in the social framework, and
involved him inextricaby with the Atlantic
Telegraph. Other claimed the paternity of
that monster.-Morse, the begettor of magnetic
communications, had of course often demonstrated
the practicability of ocean line, and predicted
its accomplishments the most precise and prophetic
manner, but during the actual laying the telegraph;
it was Field who performed the process of incuba-
tion whilst Morse was afar off, and in fact has not
been heard of since the telegraph breathed its
last. 1t was Field who saw it slowed away in tho
vast bowels ofthe Niagara; Field whosaw it uncoied
and consigned to the waves that took it in; Field
Al &C.
in the mid night storm, and with the first peep OF
day leaned over the stern to look after the we'll
being of his beloved wires Morse only invented
it, as he did lightning, thunder and all the other
phenomena of Nature. Field put the thing in
operation, and there was no happier being in
existence than Cyrus, when the last link was
fastened to the American shore, and the ears Of
the New World heard through that mysterious
medium the roar of life and intelligence in the
streets Of London. If Field had died in that
blissful moment, he would have been saved degree
of humiliation as intense his triumph. If his
friends had behaved with becoming delicacy, and
left him to that dignifed retirement congenial
to his stay and sensitive soul, he would even then
have been spared all sensation of chagrin and
every painful emotion, except that which all
connected with the enterprise have suffered from
the abortion of magnificent scheme.
But this the bcsotted populace of the great
cities would not permit. They determined to
make a demgod of the exemplary Field. They
put him in an open carriage in Broadway, anc
caused him to ride down the whole length Of that
magnificent thoroughfare amid the shouts and
plaudits of an immense multitude They even
compelled him to stand up in the carriage, that
the throngng populace might pcruse accurately
every lineament of his respectable countenance.
They paraded his likeness in the newspapers, and
gave long biographical sketches Of Cyrus W. Field,
and of all his relatives. They feasted and toasted
him in splendid banquets, and made him the subject
of excellent sermons. No one imagined at the
time that Field was an involuntary victim at the
shrine of popular enthusiasm; that be garlauded
against his will for the sacrifice, and led, like an
unwilling OK to the slaughter Such, hawever, it
now appears, was undoubtedly the case. A recent
publication insists that all these horrors were
forced upon Field, but he uttered word OF
complaint at the time; he bore his excruciating
notoriety with the fortitude of an Indian, he even
smiled serenely amid his torture, and hugged
the blazing faggots of glory which consumed
his SOUL sa
project has been renewed in England to
revive the Atlantic Telegraph, but, with the
experience of the past yet fresh in its recollection,
the public cannot be sanguine of success. At all
events, the people of the United States have
interest in n project which, in time of war; would
give Great Britain an incalculabe advantage over
this country Tn the event of war with that
Kingdom, the first thing our fleets would have to
do, would be to cut up any telegraph line which
would connect Great Britain and her North
American possession. A direct line between the
United States and England, would be different
affair, but such project does not appear to be at
present in contemplation.
THE METHoDIsrs AHEAD.-The spire has
been completed on the beautiful new Methodist
Church, corner of Fourth Avenue and Twenty
Second Street, New York. On last Saturday