The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-02-02

IT'S FORTY YEARS SINcE.-The following in
cident, contributed to the February number OF
the Rural Carollnan by DR.. William T. Wragg, OF
this city, is Of unusual interest and historical
value as showing the origin Of the discovery Of
the magnetic telegraph:
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 cham
ber of the unpretendlng "Hotel de Calcutta" In
the "Rue de Sayoyc," near the famous old "Pont
Neuf,n on the students side OF the Seine, in the
"Pays Latin.m AT the same time there lived In
the same hotel another young compatrlot, also
engaged in tho prosecution OF his studies. His
calling led him into very different places from
those rrequented by the writer: but on Sundays
and holidays q visit to the Louvre often found the
latter standing, In wrapped admiration, before an
immense canvas, reached by stage eight or
ten feet in height, upon which the former was
daily engaged in copying the great picture OF the
"Shipwreck," which at that day graced, and per-
haps 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 picture produced MIN
(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 York line. Steam did not, in those days,
pufr the traveller on his hOmeward Patl across
the grand Atlantic in seven or eight days, and adj
verse winds not infreqaently protracIed the
VOYAGE far beyond the endurance OF impatient
absentees, longing FOR home, for fame, and for
fortune. The voyage, on this occasion, was un'
usually long. The passengers had used every Or
binary resource by which they might hope 10
substract an hour or two from the tedious time.
All had been employed, all had been exhausted,
all had failed.
At last felow-passcnger, whose studies had
also been going on in that grand oil omnibus,
Paris, and who, like the painter, was returning
home wita head and heart both filed, like his,
with hopes OF greatness, and the means OF achIev-
ing it, and whose career has been hardly less sue
cessrul, brought on deck his scientific apparatus,
and proposed to lop or an hour or two lrom the
tedious time by exhibiting experiments Electrl-
city and galvanism contributed their quota. In
one OF these experiments the effect produced was
seen at O. considerable distance from the instru-
ment that was working. An Englshman, who
was carelessly locking on, remarked, "What u
pity we can't send messages as quick as that"
This remark seemed TO pass away like the nash
that had occasoned for no farther reference was
made to it, but 1t was o seed that had fallen on
good ground, and in due time it sprung up aud
bore fruit milion-fOld.
Arrived at New York, the ennuye passengers
separated. But nothing was heard Of the amoi-
tious painter, whose copy OF the .ShipwrecI" had
spread his fame ahead Of him.
The old ropewalk that stood on or near the
spot on which the distributing reservoir OF the
Croton water now Is, was hired by some un-
known person, who was engaged in some un.
known experiments which did not seem to give
much promise OF useful result, since month af.
ter month and year after year passed by and still
the mysterious workman was as dark and mystc
rious as ever. and his barred doors still deaed the
curiosity OF the curious, till at last even the mys
terry itself ceased to attract notice.
Ten years passed thus and at the end OF that
time Morse emerged from his ropewalk with his
TELEGRAPH accomplished, and electrified the
world.