Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-12-11
TIE FIRST TELEGRAPH.
tiis' ElIsworths Message and How She
Came to Send 1t.

Came to Send IL.
"Of course" remarked the old
telegraph operator, II won't swear
to the details of my story, but got
it pretty close from Professor Morse
himself, and it ought to be true
Here's how I have always under
stood it: Professor Morse, having
returned from Europe, went at once
20 Washington, where he renewed
his efforts to get his bill passed ap-
prop1iatins $50, 900 for the purposes
of his new telegraph. Toward the
close of tho session of 1874 the house
took it up and passed it by II large
majority, and it only remained for
the action of the senate. Its prog
ress, as might be imagined, was
awaited by Professor Morse with
the most intense interest and ankle
ty. There were only two days be-
fore the close of the session, and it
was found, OH examination of the
calendar, that no less than l43 bills
had precedence CT it. The inventor
had nearly reached the bottom of
his purse. His hard earned savings
We're almost spent, and, although
he had struggled Oh with undying
hope for many years, it is hardly to
be wondered at that he felt discour-
aged and disguised with the states
manship of the country as he had
known it.
"On the last night of the session
he remained till 9o'clock and then
left without the .sli"h tn"' "~r''''e
the biff Would be passed. He TO
turned to his hotel, counted his
money and found that after paying
ibis expenses to New York he would
have IS cents left. That night he
went to bed sad, but not entirely
hopeless, for, notwithstanding all
his trials and disappointmcnts, con
fidence in his ultimate success never
deserted him. In other words, he
knew good thing when he saw it.
The next morning as he was going
to breakfast one of the walters in.
formed him that young lady was
in the parlor waiting to see him.
He went in Immediately and found
that the young lady was Miss Ellis
worth, daughter OF the commission
er of patents, who had been his most
steadfast friend while in Washing
ton.
"'I como to congratulate you,
professor she said, with spark ling
eyes.
For what, my deart' replied
the professor.
"'On the passage of your bill.
Didn't you know.'
oh, you must be mistaken,
said he i staid in the senate till
late last night and came away be-
cause there wasn't any prospect OF
it's passage
"'Am J. the first. til en-, she ex-
claimed joyfully, to tell yous'
You are, if it is really SO. And
Professor Morse seemed almost
afraid to believe the good news.
WELL she continued, father
remained until after adjournment
and heard it passed. He told me
, only few minutes ago, and ] asked
him if l could not run over and tell
you.
Annie, said the professor, his
feelings nearly choking his utter
ance, the first message that is sent
f"~'" WASHINGTON to Baltimore shall
be sent by you.
"'Well, she replied, I shall hocp
you to your word,
while the line was in process of
completion Professor Morse was in
New York, and upon receiving in
telligence that it was in working or
der he wrote to those in charge tell
ing them not to transmit any mes
sage over it until his arrival. Flo
then came on to Washington and
sent note to Miss Ellsworth, in
forming her that he was now ready
to fulfill his promise and asking her
what message he should send. To
this she replied, What hath God
wrought?' words that I'm sure any
young lady ought to be proud Of.
The message was twice repeated,
and each time with the greatest sue
cess. AS soon as the result of the
experiment was made known Gov
ernor Seymour of Connecticut called
upon Professor Morse and claimed
the first message for his state Oh
the ground that Miss Ellsworth was
a native of Hartford OF course his
claim was admitted, and l under
stand that the Historical Society of
Connecticut has the legend display
ed among it's archives in letters of
gold, New York Sun.