The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-03-05

The Dill met with neither SnCerS nOrUppo
sition in the Senate, but the business OF tina
House went OH with discouraging Slowncss
At twilight on the lust evening Of the session
(Aiarch ), 1879 there was 10 bills before it
As it seemed impossible for it to be reached
In regular course before the hour of adjourn
lnent should arrive, the Professor, who hat
anXiously watched the tardy movements Of
business all day from the gallery Of the Senate
chamber, went with sad heart TO his hoe
and prepared TO leave for New York at ii,
early hour next morning. While at break
fast q servant informed him that Il young lady
desired to see him in the parlor.
There he met Miss Annie Ellsworth, then
young schoolgirl, the daughter Of his init.
mate friend Mr.. l.. Ellsworth, the first Com
missioner Of Patents, who said. Us she eX,
tended her hand to him, Il have come to
congratulate YOU"
"Upon what" incurred the Professor.
"Upon the passing of your BILL" she re-
piled.
"Impossib!c! It's fate was sealed at dusk
last evening. You must be mistaken"
"Not at ALL" she responded. "Father
sent me to tell you that your bill was passed.
He remained until the session was closed,
and yours was the last bill bit che acted
upon, and it was passed just five minutes be-
fore the adjournment; and l am so glad TO
be the first one to tell you. Mother says,
too, that you must come home with me to
breakfast"
The invitation was readily accepted, and
the joy in the household was unbounded.
Both Mr.. and Mrs. Ellsworth had fully be-
lieyed in the project, and the former, in his
confidence in it and in his warm friendship
for Professor Morse, had spent all the closing
hours OF the session in the Senate chamber,
doing what he could to help the bill along,
and giving it all the Influence of his high
personal and official position.
Grasping the hand Of his young friend, the
Professor thanked her again and again for
bearing him such pleasant tidings, and as
sured her that she should send over the wires
the first message, us her reward. The mat
ter was talked over in the family, and Mrs.
Ellsworth suggested message, which Pro-
lessor Morse referred TO the daughter for
her approval and this was the one which
was subsequently sent.
A little more than year after that time
the iine between Washington and Baltimore
vas completed. Professor Morse was in the
former city, and Mr.. Alfred Vail, his assist
AMI, IN the latter; the first in the chamber of
The supreme Court, the last in the Mount
Clare depot, when, the circuit being perfect,
Professor Morse sent to Miss Ellsworth for
her message, and it came. "What hath God
wrought" 1t was sent in triplicate in the
dot-and.line language Of the instrument to
Baltimore, aud was the first message ever
transmitted by recording telegraph.
The story Of this first message has been
often told with many exsggggelations. 1t has
Toaned about Europe with various romantic
material attached to it, originating mainly in
the French imagination, and has started up
arieg from time TO time in our OWE country
Under fresh forms, but the above story IS
simply and literally true. An inventor In
despair receives the news Of bis unexpected
success from his friends daughter, and he