The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1870-02-24
'EEs EoarS YEARS SINCE.
81 DE. wA. 4. wRAGe.

n 1891, and part of 1882, the writer,
then studying in the schools of the world
reuowrea Paris, had his lodgings in the
modest upper chamber CT the unPretend
ing "Hotel DC Calcutta,' in the ''Rue lie
Savoye," near the famous old ''Pont
Neuf," or the students side of the Seine,
IN the pays Latin" AT the same time
here lived in the same hotel another young
compatriot, also engaged in the prosecu-
iion Of his studies. His calling, led him
INTO very different places from those fire.
QIenIed BY the writer, but Oh Sundays and
holidays visit 10 the Louvre often found
tia latter standing, in wrapped admira>
f!Jn, before an immense canvas, reached
by stage eight or ten feet in height, upon
T,nich the former was daily engaged in
copying the great pictnre of the ''Ship-
wreck" which, at that day, graced, (aud
perhaps still graces) the wall of the first
room Of the grand gallery of the Louvre.
IiDe passsd on, and, as the pic ture adj
vanced 10 completion, and the artist grew
II, reputation, his friends augured most
f,vorably for the future fame of AN author
whose first finished piece produced him
trumor said) the handsome SUN Of one
thousand dollars.
In the summer of 1882, this artist was
on his way hume in ore OF the fde ships
Of the Havre and New York line. Steam
did not, in those days, puff The traveller on
his homeward path across the grand At
lantic IN seven or eight days, and adverse
winds not unirequendy pro;rattsd the
voyage fur beyond the endurance of impa-
tient men, longing for home, for fame,
ana tOE fortune. The voyage on this oc-
caa:uA, was unusually long The passen-
gers mad used every ordinary resource by
which they might hope 10 subtract AN hour
or two from the tedious tine All had
been employed, all lad been exhausted,
all Lad failed
NJ last fellow>passenger, whose stud
les had a!so been going on in that grand
ola Omnibus, Paris, and who like the
painter, was returning home with head
and heart beth filled, like his, with hopes
Of greatness, and the means Of achieving
At, and whose career has been hardly less
successful, brought on deck his scientific
apparatus, and proposed to Iop off an hour
OF two from the tedious time by exhibiting
experiments. Electricity and galvarsm
contributed their quota. In one of these
experiments the effect produced was seen
IT a considerable distance from the inslru-
Tuent that was working. An English
man, who was caTelessly looking on, re-
marked, ''What a pity we can't send
messages as quick as that"
This remark seemed TO pass away, like
the flash 'hat had occasiUned 1t, for no
further reference was made TO it, but it
was a seed that had fallen o. good ground,
and in due time it sprang up and bore
fruit million fold
Arrived in New York, the cnn,lye 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 where the distributing rescr-
voir of the Croton water now is, was
hired by some unknown person. who was
Engaged in some unknown experiments
which did not seem TO give much prom
sc Of useful result, since month after
month and year after year passed by and
still the mysterious workman was as dark
md mysterious as ever, and his barred
doors sli!l defed the curiosity Of the curl
Gus, till at last even the mystery itself
ceased to attract notice.
Ten years passed thus, and Mt the end
g that time Morse emerged from his rope
all; with his telegraph accomplished,
ID electrified the world