New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-06-15
A DREAM OF PROPHECY.

s. +. B. Morse, the inventor OF the tele-
graph, was unveiled in New York.
The occasion was of great interest
throughout the continent, especially to men
connected with Geographic operations, for
these had all contributed to erect the statue
which is to show to future generations the
features of the man who has done SO much
to conquer time and space between differ
ent places-to show posterity what manner
of man he was in the flesh; for the tele
oraph itself is his best and world enduring
monument Although but few of those in
terested could be present in person at the
inauguration of the statue, yet the inven-
ton of Morse brought them within speaking
distance, however far off in land measure
ment, for at a specified hour the professor
himself sent his signature simultaneously
to every part of our continent; and thus, at
the same point of time, those who were
thousands of miles away heard equally with
those ON the spot the voice Of the wonder
full inventor.
Many are vet among us who remember
the time when intelligence between New
York and New Orleans was thought to be
speedy indeed if it occupied but two weeks
in transmission. Many, too, must remem-
Der, little more than generation ago,
when, after presidential election, occur
ring early in November, it was at least
until the end of the following January be-
fore sufficient intelligence could be re-
ceived to make the result certain. The
long interval which the law makes be-
tween the day when President is elected
and that on which he is installed, was then
an absolute necessity. But now, within
ten hours after the polls have closed, at
every point in the country, however dis
tant, the result is known.
Wonderful as all this is, will progress
stop here9 In 1900 or even later, the tele-
graph as it now exists, would, if foretold
to the men of that day, have seemed a
phantasm such as might disturb the
dreams of one in a fever Yet it is
reality before us. Who, then would be justi-
fed in deriding the idea that in couple of
generations more our persons and goods
may be transported from place to place
with speed far exceeding the fight of the
swallow. or the air-cleaving carrier pigeon ;
The idea of the existing telegraph by
which men thousands of miles apart can
communicate as if but three feet distant,
would have been laughed to scorn less than
two generations ago.
Will it excite the visibility of ridiculc to
propourd this prophetic dream of the futurel
or is the dream more wonderful after all
than the accomplished fact of the tele-
graph!
A man of business in New Orleans will
receive early, some fine morning, an order
| from the, country for an article of merchan-
disc which he does not happen to have on
hand. 1t is ten o'clock, and the order must
J be filled before four o'clock; he will go and
procure from neighbor the article desired.
But he does not find it anywhere in the
| city. What is to be done : He 0aatst have
| it. 1t is not more than eleven o'clock; so he
will step over to New York, where the
desired merchandise abounds, and procur-
| ing the article, be able to return in ample
time to fill the order from the country.
Forthwith he proceeds to the etfiee of the
Grand Time Annihilating, Semnifc and
Pneumatilogical Transportation Company.
He places his quarter of dollar fee on the
counter and reclines on peculiarly con-
structed lounge. At once a medieated
sponge is applied to his nostrils and, quick
as thought, he sleeps soundly. With equal
speed the peculiar lounge on which he re-
clines closes over him and becomes an
oblong cylinder, with him inside, and with
out delay the cylinder is inserted in the
mouth of the pneumatic tube, the other
end of which is at the distant city to which
our passenger wishes to 60. A valve is
opened, something or another is shut. a
screw or two are turned, a string is pulled,
and presto he is in New York, having ar
rived la cannon ball, through the time
annihilatine pneumatic tube
| 1t is but the work of moment to reform
/ the oblong cylinder into an easy and pecu-
liar lounge again, and awaken the traveller
by an application of the revivifying elixir.
Speedily he makes his way to find the article
he is in pursuit of. Speedily he returns,
undergoes the desired process, and as speed
| ily is retransported to New Orleans. Time,
one hour and forty seconds: cost, twenty
five cents each way, which, with the price
of glass of electric-revivifyingf fluid, makes
total of seventy-fve cents.
Should our friend on his return find dinner
waiting, and the soup rather cold, he will
grumblingly remark that nowadays there
is an outrageous waste of time in going to
and returning from New York.