Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1871-06-23
THE MORSE STATUE.

1t is thirty-nine years since an American
artist, during voyage across the.Atlantic,
conceived the idea of the magnetic tele-
graph, which has now covered with its
marvellous network the whole of North
America and Europe, penetrated into the
isolated civilization of Asia, and, reaching
under the great oceans has united the new
and the old worlds, and brought continents
into close communion with distant islands.
Tt seems but a little while to effect such
work, and, indeed, il Is only within the
latter half Of this period that the work has
really been done. Three years were spent
by Prof Morse in developing his idea be-
fore the first message was sent through
half mile of wire in the City of New York.
II was two years more before he invented
a process of not only sending u signal but
receiving an answer. Then came six years
of trial and encouragement in the attempt
TO raise money. He haunted the Hobbies
Of Congress, laughed ut by some, repulsed
by others as crazy adventurer, begging
\ for an appropriation, which one of the Com
mittees was sensible enough to recon-
mend but the House was not wise enough
to grant lie went to Europe but got
nothing there. He went back to Washing
ton and renewed his opportunities. ON
the last night of the session in March. 1s43.
he left the Capitol, heartsick and weary,
convinced that his only hope was gone.
lie rose in the morning prepared to return
to New York, and the first news that
greeted him was that the dying Congress,
in its last hour, had voted him $50, 900 for
the construction of u magnetic telegraph
line between Washington and Baltimore.
The invention has been improved since
then, and difficulties that embarrassed it,
first use have been removed, but on the
lth Of March, 1913, we may say that the
great work was practically accomplished.
Prof. Morse after all has had a much
| brighter experience than most of the great
| inventors. Six or seven years of trial, and
a few more Of preliminary delay, count for
| little in comparison with the long life Of
| poverty and suffering which has 80 COM
monty been the reward of genius and in
gcnuitv. When his invention was put in
practical operation the recognition of its
/ value was instantaneous, and the honors
| paid to him personally are such aS few
] living inventors nave ever received. AZ
most every civilized government on the
earth has shown him some signal mark of
Difference. Ten of the European powers a
few years ago, Mt the invitation of the
French Emperor, met in Paris, and voted
Joint present of 400, 600 francs as "A recogni-
ton of his services to the world. Not the
least gratifying of all the testimonials to his
merit Is the erection Of the statue which is
to be dedicated tomorrow, as a monument
of the gratitude and respect of the craft of
which he is the founder. 1t is n rare honor
for any scientific man to be immortalixed
in bronze during his lifetime, and 1t was
fitting that the teegraphers should have
the credit of browning the long career Of
Professor Morse with this most remark
able glory. 1t is perhaps proof that man
/ krd after all grow wiser and better as the
/ ages wear away, when we find prophet
/ ut last honored in his own country, and the
world recognizing one of its benetactors
/ before ii is too ate.-N. Y. Tribune June 9.