Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1872-05-29
Recolleotions Of Professor Morse.

10 thdycar 1S40--I first met Professo
Morse He was then bringing out
not hk Telegraph, but the Dagucrrc
otype He had become intensely in
tercsted In the invention, and tho in
vsutJg from whom II takes its name
and be introduced it into this county
| was among tho first whose portraits
wero taken by that art on this side o
the sea. He said that it would no
hurt the business Of tho portrait pain
ter, for ii ,oould not fdtter. His pro
phecy was and is fulfilled, and the
reason he gave for it is quite likely Il
be true Nature tells the truth, and
the photograph makes the defects al
well as The beauties radiant and indel
ible. The painter can make good
likeness yet make il look better thar
the original in tho eyes of every one
but those Of the original.
He WAS patiently at work upon the
machinery to make the telegraph 3
practical success After it was an &C
complisned fact, and line was il
working order between Washington
and New York, he gave me the first
things he ever made toward the great
work. lie said that having cut Q
mould be melted lead in an iron spoon
and made castings OF model Of wha,
he would hope to perfect as an opera
ting apparatus. Those lead forms
presented to the New York Historical
Society, and they were deposited in
its archives, together with the STRIP
of pape. bearing the dots and dashes
of the first message that ever reached
New York over the wires. Ipresumt
these memorials are still preserved
and will be exhibited at the next meet.
ing of the Society, when suitable no
tice will be taken of the death Of the
great inventor.
He told me then that tho invention
had cost him q thousand sloeplcss
nights and more anxious days, and he
added, "It is not done yet" And
now, after the lapse of thirty years, II
is probably in its infancy. Like the
art of printing, it has indeed lcapcd
into being complete, but like that art
also, it is not perfect. Every genera
ton will add to the facilities and eco
Monies Of its use, while the invention
itself is the thing that will never be
improved upon.
very rarely met Prof Morse in my
own study or bis, or ON tho stroos
when there was an opportunity fol
conversation that he did not introduce
the subject of personal religion, max
ing il tho easiest and pleasantcsi
theme of quiet, genial discourse. He
was the most simple, unaffected, hum
bio man whom | ever knew. When
say the most 80, ! mean just that, be
cause ! never knew any man who bat
received so much honor among men
and be was not pulled up at all.
was with him In Paris during the grca'
Exhibition of 1867, and often saw hin
under circumstances that would easily
develope the vanity Of inferior men
Royal personages would send to know
at what time IL would be convsnicn'
for him to receive them, when they
would call at his modest lodgings u
nav him the tribute OF their respect
But be appeared no moro clated thar
by. tho expectation Of q call from
| friend. He did not affect to under
value such notice, nor to despise th'
honors that come from men. Esteem
ing item at their proper value, he ha'
Just sense Of the glory which his in
vcnton has necessarily purchased TO
him and his country, and he Away
gloricd, as was becoming, in the use
fulne+ and happiness which his in
ventien had added to the common
stock enjoyed by the human race.
Ond day, as he was going to Ger
tain oflcoin the city of Paris, to trans
act business in connection with inter
nation raI telcgraphic communication
he asked me If it would bc proper 70
him ID wear any of the badges Of dis
tinctim which had been conferred up
on MN Dy various governments :, !,
recognition Oh tuo va'uo VI ne :" ~ ~
uon, AS tnoso wnom no wou'u 'hoe a
would display Whatever toSens .nS
might nave OIL position ana powor,
might 90 ior tnc aoyan,hgc % 'no =. ~
Ject he sought 10 accomplish 70 hppoa
with the prestige wh,en w, Suo,' a aeuo,' e.. |
tlons mignt confer. ao. ..o,,",;on, Nv ."i""
from wnat m,snt appear os'e..a''ou' ~ y
ana prcierrcu 70 re'y on'y =" '"' "''
its OF MS case,
Inc interest," ~ inc Amcrlean o"uR, ~
10 iarls was great ano carnes'; ~, - ~ !,
cn'aren were teacnerS anu 'onv'a'' % .
us oapoath scnooi. anu mnen |"
enort was maze 70 pay On y uvos .nv ,
embarrassing u, no s.ar'su ss,,o sno - SUI I;
scr'Pion WIN 'nousahu 'o
goIq. , ..,,o..,.u
H,s most ,mpress.vo ,;e' aeoo'yes'o.' ..'.,on :,
OF tnis n'ustrious 'nan ~. ""'vs S@a :, :,
man win me- rc'a'e W .no oao'' :
tnht wcrc mauc ~ Vurious Pv''o'o