Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1871-07-07
Morse and the Telegraph.

SAMUEL F. B. MORSE was born in
Charlestown, Mass April 27, 1901, and
was the eldest son of Rev. Jedediah
Morse, d. d., prominent in our early his
tory as a pillar Of Congregationallsm in
New England, and defender of the ortho.
dox faith against the encroachments of
Unitarianism. At the age of seven young
Morse was sent to school to Andover, and
entered Yale College years later, where he
graduated in 1910 Having decided to be-
come an artist, he sailed for England in
1911, with Washington Allston, to study
painting under him. In 1915 he returned
10 this county, and practised his art for
fourteen years, when, in 1929, he revisited
Europe to prosecute his studies still fur
ther, and returned again in 1882. Respect
ing Morse's artist-life but word or two
can be said In this connection. He painted
portraits and historical pieces with sue
cess, and in 1926, soon after coming to
New York city, he founded, with others,
the National Academy of Design, and be-
came its first President. Subsequently, he
was vlSOtUd HtvfOssUI or nIt la Une ISow
York University. His prospects, upon
his second return from Europe, were prom.
ising, and had he pursued his profession
during the remainder of his life, he would
doubtless have now been holding an envi-
able place among American artists, in the
number and excellence of his works.
But he was destined for greater things
and more permanent fame. When in
college, Morse showed some interest in
scientific matters, and afterwards, while
Professor of Art, he gave considerable at
tention to the subject of electromagnetic
ism; but his investigations in this direc-
tion did not interfere with his profession.
He had already devoted seventeen
years to it, and when, in 1882, he
embarked on his second voyage home after
three years. study abroad, he felt that his
future success as an artist in his native
country was assured. But it was on this
very voyage that the whole current of his
life and thoughts became changed. 1t
happened that one day in October, at the
midday meal on board the ship (the Sully)
the conversation turned on the then re-
cent discoveries in electromagnetic
One of the passengers, in explaining GER
tain experiments that had been made,
stated that electricity would pass instanta.
neously over any known length of wire.
Morse, deeply interested, then remarked,
" This being so, see no reason why in
telligence might not be transmitted instan-
taneously by electricity" The conversa-
ton was not diverted by this remark, but
the idea took deep root in the artists
mind. He pondered over it on the deck
and in his berth, drew diagrams in his
sketch book of signs and devices for Iegu-
lating the passage of electricity, and be-
came so entirely absorbed in the whole
subject, that before the voyage was over
he had completed the general plan of his
invention, and had become firmly con-
vinced of its ultimate success. After
reaching the United States, Morse opened
a studio, but devoted his spare time-to de-
velopipg and experimenting upon his dis
covery. After much encouragement and
great difficulties, his means being limited
he satisfied himself in 1885 of the merits of
the invention, and in 1897 demonstrated its
practicability to hundreds of persons at the
University Building, the whole apparatus,
except clock, having been made by him
self With the wires stretched around his
room, he sent messages for the wondering
spectators, and exhibited for the first time
in miniature what subsequently was to be
realized on vast scale all over the world.
The next step was to have the invention
introduced and adopted for public use.
Morse and his friends brought the subject
before Congress, but it would require vol
umes to describe the doubts, discourage
ments, delays, and even ridicule he eX-
perienced in his endeavors to induce the
national legislature to appropriate sum
of money for an experimental telegraph
line. The Congress Of 1878 failed to
help him, and he accordingly went to
England and France with his invention,
but to no purpose. Disheartened, but still
inspired with the great idea of his inven-
ton, he again besieged Congress in 1S43,
and triumphed. Nothing is more interest
ing than the account of his experience in
the final attempt He had despaired OF
success as the last day of the session ar
rived, and was preparing to leave the city,
when at midnight word was brought to
him that his telegraph bill had passed
This was the, dawn he had long been
waiting for. In the following year the
first telegraph line was established be-
tween Washington and Baltimore, and
the first message, "What hath God
wrought? 2" was flashed from one city tC
the other.
Thus was the telegraph invented anG
established by the genius, faith and pa
tience of our fellow countryman. How
truly, in his case, are the words of Sidney
Smith verified, that he is not the true in
ventor who first says the thing merely
but he who calls so long, so loud, so clear
ly that he compels the attention of man
kind r'-N Y. Christian Weekly.