Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1875-08-31
MIScElLhMEo Gus.
A STORY OF TEE FIRST TELE-
GRAM.


N BILL met with neither speers nor oppo-
sision ia the Senate. but the business Of
the House went on with disc0uraging Slow
ness. Ar twilight on the last evening Of the
session March 8. lS4S) there were ] 10 bills
before ii. AS it seemed impossible for il 70
be reached in regular course before the hour
of adjournment should arrive, Prof. Morse
who had anxiously watchod the tardy move
ments of business all day from The gallery Of
the Senate chamber, went with sad heart 70
his hotel and prepared TO leave Cor New York
at an early hour next morning While al
breakfast, a servant informed him that young
lady desired TO see him in the parlOr.
There he met Miss Annie Ellsworth, then
a young school girl-the daughter of his in
innate friend, Mr.. j.. Ellsworth, the FIRST
Commissioned of Patents who said, A. eho
extended her hand to him: az have come to
congratulate you.
';Upon what Z" inquired the Professor.
"UPou the passage Of your bill" she re-
piled.
impossible! It's fate was sealed at dusk
last evening. You must be mistaken"
"N0t Mt all, she responded. "Fathef
sent me to tell you that your bill was passed.
lie remained until the session was closed, and
yours Was the last bill but one acted upon, aud
ii was passed jus, five minutes before the adj
jourrment; and ! am so glad to be the tirse
one to tel yon. Mother says, too. that you
must come homo with me to breakfast"
The invitation was rendily accepted, and the
Joy in the household was unbounded. Both
Mr. and Mrs. Ellsworth had fully believed 10
the project, and the former in his cOnfdencs
in it and in his warm friendship for Prof.
Morsc, bad spent all the closing hours of the
session in the Senate chambers doing what
he could TO help the bill along, and giving Il
all the Influence of his high personal aud Of,
fetal position.
Grasping the hand Of bis young friend, tho
Prof. thanked her again and again for bearing
him such pleasant tidings, aud assured beF
that she should send over tho wires the 6rsb
message, as her reward. The matter was
talked over in tho family, nnd Mrs. Ellsworth
suggested a message which Prof. Morse re-
ierred to the daughter, for her approval; and
this was tho one which was subsequently sent.
A little more than a year after that time
the line between Washington and Baltimore
whs completed. Professor Morse was In the
former city, and Mr. Alfred Vail, his assistant,
IN the latter the first in the chamber Of the
Supreme Court, tho last in the Mount Clare
depot, when tho circuit being perfect, Prof.
Morse sent to Miss Ellsworth for her message,
and it came.
"wHAT HATH 0oD wRoUoHTw
It was sent in triplicate in the dot and line
langugge of tho instrument to Baltimore, and
was the first pessage ever transmitted by .
recording telegraph.
The story of tho frst message has boen
often told with many exsggerations. Il has
roamed about Europe with various romantic
materials attached to it, originatiBg mainly IN.
the French Imagination, and has started up
anew from time TO time in onr own country
under fresh forms. but the above story is
simply and literally truo. ninventor 10 de-
spair receives the news Of his unexpected suc4
cess from his friends daughter, and he makes
hel promise which he keeps, and thus links
her name with his own and with an fnveption
which becomes one Of the controlling instfu.
ments Of civilization for sil time.
[tSeriLner, for March.