Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1872-04-19
SAMUEL FINLEY BREES
MORSE.

1t does not often fall to the lot of the
newspaper writer to pay his tribute of
respect at the bier of an "epOch-ma-
king" mar. Though he delights in
hOnOring such men, the incense in
most cases rises to theirmemory. To-
day, however, we chronicle the death
of Professor Samuel L. b. Morse,
Whose utilization of electrical discOv-
cries in the transmission of words and
messages has been perhaps the most
characistic inventions of the century.
The exclusive right of our cOuntryman
to this distinguished honor has been
contested. but all his opponents will
lingly cOncede that his invention was
the best and that it was the most
practicable is shown by its use i'm all
the countries of Europe as we'll as In
our own.
1t is not our intention here to give
any account of the life of Professor
Morse-that we have already done
but simply to call attention to the So
cial amelioratioDs due to his invention.
If time be money, and that it is so
in many cases will readily be ac-
knowledged, then the electric tele-
graph is one of the greatest money
making machines ever invented. By
its use remote parts of the world are
brOug Int into proximity. 1t really
takes less time to telegraph to Lon
don than to ride to Harlem. MeT-
chandise is bought and sold money is
transferred by its means in an hour
that would require days if rail or ship
could alone be called into play. This
is the purely economic view of the
subject. But there is higher. Wars
and litigations are in most cases the
result of misunderstanding. The
nearer people are brought together the
less likelihood of such Inisunderstand-
ings arising; while if they do arise the
electric telegraph plays a prominent
part in the struggle. The life of civil
lied man has been heightened by Pro-
fessOr Morse, not in the vague. i'm
practicable way sought by the mid
die age' dreamers, in search of the
fountain of immortal youth, but in the
only practicable manner-by shorten
ing OuI methods of labor. TO do more
in the same time is really to have an
extension of life. This prolongatiOn
of existence has none of the atrophy
and stagnation of old age. 1t is
young. One task Is accomplished
while another is being conceived.
The life of the oldest is made youthful
through the exhilarating effects of
tasks well and quickly done.
But this is not all. Many COM
plants are now made that we live too
fast. Perhaps so; and yet, ifso, much
Of this velocity is due to the electric
telegraph. AS no man lives to him
self, so no invention is without effect
on matters not coming strictly within
its limits. Telegraph lines have been
aptly compared to the nerves of the
human body. They are the rapid
lines of communication between the
different portions of the social system.
They shoot out in different directions,
they are fed from various parts, and as
the nerv es all centre i'll the brain so
the lines of telegraph all lead to the
various national capitals, commercial
and political. That Professor Morse's
invention has not reached the limit
of its extension or usefulness is appa-
rent. The day is not far distant when
o network of telegraph lines will ell
circle the globe. except perhaps Cen
trail Africa This system will not on
ly be used for the transmission of
messages personal and commercial,
but also for the exchange of weather
kilograms, by which shipwreck can
be prevented and crops raised and
moved without loss.
Professor Morse has died in a green
old age he has almost completed his
eighty-first year. To few men has it
been permitted to assist at their own
apotheoses, and, yet such has been his
privilege. He has lived long enough to
hear the favorable verdict of posterity
for no future revision will funda-
mentally alter or amend the view
now taken of this work. He h as been
fortunate in his ancestors, relatives,
and friends. He has had "honOr,
love, obedience, troops of friends"
He has not only taken, but given
And to-day the civilized world goes
into mourning for plain American
citizen-an artist and inventor-who,
true TO himslf, never dabbled in poll
tics or took part i'm war. We weave
an oaken garland to-day not for the
king, statesman, or conqueror, but for
the man who unostentatiously benefit
ted his fellow-men.
l.