The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1870-02-10
From the, Rural Carolinian for February.
'Tis Forty Years Since.
BY DIR. WM. T. WRAGG.

In 1881, and part OF 1857, tne writer,
then studying in the schools of the world
renowned Paris, had his lodging in the
modest upper chamber of the unPreten-
dino aHotel de Calcutta" in the "Rue de
Sayoye." near the famous old "Pont Neut,"
on the Students side of the Seine, in the
"Pavs Latin" At the same time there
lived in the same hotel another young
compatriot, also engaged in the proseeu,,
ton of his studies. His calling leu
him into very different places from those
freouented by the writer, but on Sundays
and holidays visit to the Louvre often
found the latter standing, in wrapped ad-
niration, before an immense canvass,
reached bv a stage eight or ten feet in
height, upon which the former was daily
engaged in copying the great picture OF
the SShipwreck," which, at that day,
graced land perhaps still graces) the wall
of the first room of the grand gallery OF
the Louvre. Time passed on, and, as the
picture advanced to completion, and the
artist grew in reputation, his friends au-
cured most favorably for the future fame
of an author whose first finished piece
produced him (rumor said) the handsome
sum of one thousand dollars.
Tn the summer of 1882, this artist was
on his way home in one of the fine ships
Of the Havre and New York line. Steam
did not, in those days. puff the traveller
on his homeward path across the grand
Atlantic in seven or eight days, and ad,
verse winds not unfrequently protracted
the voyage far. beyond The endurance OF
impatient absentees, longing. for homo, for
fame. and for fortune. The voyage, on
shis occasion, was unusually long. The
passengers had used every ordinary re-
soarco by which they might hope to sub
subtract an hour or two from the tedious
time. All had been employed, all had
been exhausted, all had failed.
At last fellow passenger, whose stud.
les had also been going on IN that grand
cid omnibus, Paris, and who,, like the
nainter. was returning home with head
and heart both filled, like his, with hopes
of greatness, aod the means of achieving
It. and whose career has been hardly less
successful, brought on deck his scientific
apparatus, and proposed to lop OFT an
hour or two from the tedious time by ex-
hbiting experiments. ELECTRICITY and
galvanism contributed their quota. In
one of these experiments the effect pro-
duced was seen at considerable distance
from the instrument that was working.
An Englishman, who was carelessly look
ing on, remarked, "What pity we can't
send messages as quick as that"
This remark seemed to pass away like
the flash that had occasioned it, for no
farther reference was made to it, but it
was seed that had fallen on good ground,
and in due time it sprang up and bore
fruit MlLLIoNFoLD.
Arrived at New York, the ennuye pas
sengers separated. But nothing was heard
of the ambitious painter, whose copy OF
the "Shipwreck" had spread bis fame
ahead of him.
The od ropc-walk that stood on or near
the spot on which the distributing reser-
yoir of the Croton water now is, was
hired by some unknown person, who was
engaged in some unknown experiments
which did not not seem to give much
promise of useful result, since month after
month and year after yeay passed by and
still the mysterious workman was as dark
and mysterious as ever, and his barred
doors still de6ed the curiosity of the Curl
Gus, till at last even the mystery itself
ceased to attract notice.
Ten years passed thus, and at the end
of that time Morse emerged from his rope
walk with his telegraph accomplished,
and electrified the world.