The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-02-25
Morse asd His First Electrical Exp<rfms.S
In the University BsiIaiag.

Morse ssd His First Electrical Experfns.s
IN the University BuiiaiaG.
tits remarkable that both Morse and Robert
Fulton. two OF the worlds greatest geniuses In
practical invention. were artists OF ability and
portrait painters by profession. It 10 also
noteworthy that the only surviving witness. so
far as known. OF Prot Morses first electrical
experiment In the old university building In
Washington square. whose testimony practi-
cally saved the honor Of the Invention TO Morse.
10 also . portrait painter.
Perhaps no stronger protest against the
destruction OF the really handsome old uni
versity In Washington square could be ad-
vanced than that 1t was the actual. original
birthplace OF electric telsgraphy.
Morse made his first practical drawings Il 10
said. in 1882. while on his way homo from
Havre In . vessel which. rather curiously.
bore the name Of another portrait painter
Sully. In 1885 he was Installed In Q snug suite
OF rooms In the northwest corner OF the upper
floor Of the old university building. as pro-
lessor Of the literature Of the fine arts to the
university. These lectures he illustrated TO
his audience. Amorg whom were several prom
inent artists. his private pupils In the studio
and limited number Of the general
public. The Illustrations which he gave
were made on large pieces OF cardboard. and
every now and then would betray the secret
iniatuation Of the master for ingenious mech
anism- The Professor was. in fact. greatly
absorbed In his electrical apparatus. which he
had Just brought to some stage OF utility.
This. says one Of his pupils. who has . vivid
recollection OF many interesting epls odss in
that corner studio. was gu ite sxasperating to
Morse's special students.
Bother his batteries" they said why
should such master Of art neglect his pro-
fesslon for crazy thing OF vitriol and wires 20
This very inApDreeiatiye audience was to be
the nrst to witness the actual accom- plishment
OF electric tsleGraphy. The Professor one
morning got his crude instrume nts into shape,
set up an i'm provissd battery in the wash basin
OF his palette table, strung q few yards OF
brass wire on insulators about the walls Of his
his class Ia paintinE invited the halt dozen N
students ana friends present 70 witness tho
TRsr act a. :Ss si,S q S1e
that morning that hushed them into Interested
expectancy and stilled the WOnted Joke on
yoqns Albanian who intsudsd to study law.
Gar. psintsas hS SSs S abS SSrafs one and
Pantsr Il. s HSS. q h9 sS' school, SSss% Who
long and effectively labored in his Brook
Sssa sent an ds buSM afss ro Ss0 s Had
iltln College because he painted por-
Srss.r ' Ssp. Hnd; s. ar I9 Fl. t sse
eulus and eventually became one OF the
most eminent and industrious OF portrait
pAlnteTs. q successor OF Morse Ia the Prssi-
Dental chair OF the National Academy aud is
nov believed to be the only surviving witness
OF that hTst experiment.; Frederick Flneks.
special aversion to the PTofessor'E pet subject;
CoTnslius Yer Bryck. ehum OF Huntington's
whose early death cut short a mOst pTomlsin1
career in aTt. and Wilgus. who ha q eoncSAle cd
ansetloa Tor the masters Gyocation.
Mr.: Morse Was then ~ years old and I'm
the iull Nigor Of manhood. lie quietly but
snthusiasticAllT. explained the AfTanEsment
how b. an agreed code OF signals he sxpeefsd
70 be able 70 usmit Int gsnes TO great dis
tanees By the simple use OF insulated wires
rage and Huntington. who both Lad studios
IN the building. arrived on tho scene Just
II time 70 hear the explanation. Then
Morse morse Iopfhsi ths KEY q the instru-
cult and the Ilrst te.sgraphie WofI sparklsd
from the rude aoundsr at the other end o! the
long wire circuit. To the young Art studsnts
u was matter Of curiosity. bat not one Of
them realized the Tremendous Import Of the
eiteslng o. that rude hon e made Instrument
81 the ttoiessoTs ogn and unaidsd eOnstrue-
.on: sg hleh sounded the nEst recorded mes
the aid 81 MT. Gale. and later Of the Messr-
all, better Instruments were made and a rial
line established across the park from the an.
do window 10 the old tavern oppnsite
What pity that ncne Of the tall prOfsssor'a
pupils had tue prophetic foresight to linn 10
spot, : scene which should maze tbs Cd MI,
ysralty building MseeG d Electricians and Al
least appeal % ss1hment to spare IT. hattls-
nsAted SAlls nen dsn0littOa-