Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-06-22
NO. 149.
Mistellaneons.
THE ORIGIN OF THE ELECTRIC TELE.
GRAPH.

In 1881, and part of 1882, the writer,
then studying in the schools of the world
renowned Paris. had his lodging in the
modest upper chamber of the unpretend-
ing ''Hotel de Calcutta" in the .sRue de
Savoy" near the famous old Point Neuf,''
on the students side of the Seine, in. the
"Pays Latin At the same time there
lived in the same hotel another young
compatriot, also engaged in the prosecu-
ton of his studies His calling led him
into very different places from those
frequented by the writer, but ON Sundays
and holidays visit to the Louvre often
found the latter standing, in wrapt admira-
ton, before an immense canvas, reached
by a stage eight or ten feet in height upon
which the former was daily engaged in
copying the great picture of the ''Ship-
wreck" which at that day, graced (and
perhaps still graces) the wall of the first
room of the grand gallery of the Louvre.
Time passed on, and as the picture ad-
vanced to completion, and the artist grew
in reputation, his friends augured most
favoraby for the future fame of one whose
first finished piece produced him (rumor
said) the handsome sum of one thousand
dollars.
In the summer of 1882, this artist was
on his way home in one of the fine ships
of the Havre and New y ork line. Steam
did not in those days, puff the traveller
on his homeward path across the grand
Atlantic in seven on eight days, and adj
verse winds not unfrequently protracted
the voyage far beyond the endurance of
| impatient absentees, longing for home,
for fame, and for fortune. The voyage,
on this OCCASION was unusually long. The
passengers had used every ordinary re-
source by which they might hope to SUBJ
tract an hour or two from the tedious
time. All had been employed and all had
been exhausted, and all had failed.
AT last passenger, whose stud
les had also been going on in that grand
old omnibus, Paris, and who like the
painter was returning home with head
and heart both filed, like his. with hopes
of greatness, and the means of achieving
it, and whose career has been hardly less
successful, brought on deck his scientific
apparatus, and proposed to lop off an hour
or two from the tedious time by exhibit
ing experiments. Electricity and galvan-
ism contributed to their quota. In one of
these experiments the effect produced was
seen at a considerable distance from the
instrument that was working. An Eng
lishman, who was carelessly looking on,
remarked, What a pity we can't send
messages as quick as that"
The remark seemed to pass away like
the spark that had occasioned it, for no
further 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 millionf-old
Arrived in New York the cnnuye pas
sengers separated. But nothing was
heard of the ambitious painter, whose
copy Of the shipwreck had spread his
fame ahead of him.
The old rope walk that stood on or near
the spot on which the distributing reser-
voir of the Croton water now is, was hir-
ed by some unknown person, who was en-
gagged in some unknown experiments
which did not seem to give much promise
of useful result, since month after month
and year after year passed by, and still
the mysterious workman was as dark and
mysterious as ever and his barred doors
still detied the curiosity of the curious, till
at last even the mystery itself ceased TO
attract notice.
Ten years passed thus, and at the end
of tlrat time Morse emerged from his rope
walk with his Telegram accomplished
and electrified the world.-Rurdl Carroll
| man.