The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1873-03-22
"WNAT nATn eoD WROUGHT"
The True Sessy sf the First Telegram

The bill met with neither sneers nor Op.
position in the Senate, but the business of
that House went on with discouraging slow
ness. At twilight on the last evening OF the
session March 3, 1S43.; there were 1l9 bills
before 1t. As it seemed impossible for it to
be reached in regular course before the hour
of adjournment should arrive, the Professor,
who had anxiously watched the tardy move.
ments Of business all day from the gallery
of the Senate chamber. went with sad
heart to bis hotel, and prepared 70 leave for
New York It An early hour the next morn
ing. While At breakfast, servant inform.
ed him that a young lady desired to see him
in tho parlor.
There he NIT Mlss Annie Ellsworth, then
young school girl-ihe daughter of his in.
innate fried, Hon. Henry l.. Ellsworth, the
first Commissioner Of Patents-who said, as
she extended her hand tn him-''I have come
to congratulate you."
Upon what ?" inquired the Professor.
Upon the passage OF your bill," she re-
piled.
''1mpossiblc! Its fate was sealed at dusk
last evening. You must be mistaken"
Not At ALL" she responded. Father sent
me to tel you that your bill vas psssed. He
remained until the session closed, and yours
was the last bill but one acted upon, and it
passed just five minutes before the adjourn.
ment; and 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 unbounde'
Both Mr.. and Mrs. Ellsworth had fully be-
lieved in the project, and the former, in his
confidence in it and iu his warm friendship
for Prof. Morse had spent all the closing
hours Of the session in the Senate chamber,
doing what he coulc 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 tiGings, and
assured her that she should send over the
wires the first message rs her reward.
The matter was talked over in the family,
and Mrs. Ellsworth suggested q message
which Professor 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 line between Washington and Baltimore
wss completed. Professor Morse was in the
former city, and Mr.. ALFRED Vial bis assists
ant, in the latter; the first in the chamber
of the Supreme Court, the last in the Mount
Glare depot, when the circuit being perfect,
Professor Morse sent to Miss Ellsworth for
her message. and It came:
"WIfAT HATH Con WROuGur!"
1t was sent in tripiicaie in the dot.and-
line language Of the instrument to Bsltim0rs
and was the first manage eser transmitsed b.
rec0rd1ss telegraph. A fac. simiie of that
first message is here given.
The story Of this first message has been
often told, with many exaggcrations. 1t
has roan'cd about Europe with various ro>
msn,ic material attached to it, originating
mainly in the French Imagination, and has
started up anew from time TO time in our
own country, under fresh forms, but the
above story is simply and literally true. An
inventor in despair, receives the news Of his
unexpected success from his friends daugh.
ter, and he makes her promise which be
keeps, and thus links her name with his
own, and with an invention which becomes
one Of the controlling instruments of. civ
ilization for all time. .-Scribners for Marth