The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1901-12-29
MARCONI And His AMBITION.
Work THAT FINALLY SENT A
SIGNAL ACROSS THE OCEAN.
Showed Inventive Genius as 4 Doy-Began
sending wireless Signals Seven Years
Ago When 2O-Charactertstics His
Engagement to an American Girl.

Marconi, the young Italian who believes
that he has sent a wireless signal across
the ocean is the same Marconi who seven
years ago was worrying his parents with
strange ideas about sending a message
through a hill on their Italian estate. At
syearso Of age he had shown inventive ability;
at ~ his tutor attempted to rob him Of n
device he had put together; at 10 he was deep
in mathematical, chemical and electrical
problems and his family had come to look
upon abe boy as an inventive genius.
But when, at the age of 20. he developed
his idea Of t~elegraphing through hills and
forests and stone walls without any con-
Meeting medium whatever his friends drew
the line. 1t was preposterous, they said.
The boy thought about the matter for a
whole year-tho idea of using a Bramley
cohorer to detect electric vibrations in the
ether at a distance from their source had
occurred to him in his study and reading Of
the work OF Hertz. but, as he afterward
explained, he did not make any experiments
because he felt that the same idea had prob
ably come to several others and that some
one would have the whole field Of wireless
telegraphy developed before he, hardly
more than a boy, could make a fair be-
ginning.
SO II came about that young Marconi
took up the subject Of wireless telegraphy
against the protests Of his family and friends
and carried on the work for months with
nothing but jeers and ridiculc from the
scientists and professors to encourage
him. His parents watched his youthful
enthusiasm grow-there was no problem
too great for him-until success after sue
cess induced him TO go to England,
From hat time until Dec. 10. when the
world was elect rified by the news that
he had signalled across the Atlantic Ocean.
he worked patiently, steadily and I'M
daunted. always dreaming of just such an
achievement as he has now made, and
unmoved by any outside influence that did
not help him in hi work.
Marconi made his greatest success when
he sent just such a faint signal as was
flashed across the ocean from one side of
a room in his fathers house to the other.
His success then did not disturb his even
calm and that is why the present accom-
| pnsnment has not changed him,
IL requires sone strength Of character to
withstand the adulation which II being
heaped upon this young man Of 81, but
he has alroCdy been put tda severe test
along this line. Among his friends two
Kings are proud 70 be numbered, Edward
Of England and Victor Emmanuel Of Italy.
| both Of whom are indebted to the inventor
When Edward was Prince Of Wales.
| Marconi Installed his system of wireless
! telegraphv On the royal yacht md sent
daily bulletins to the Queen during the
illness Of he Prince. Three years ago
the young Italian gave the use Of his sys-
TEN TO his fatherlaEd.
From Edward he received n royal patron
| age, and from Victor Emmanuel the title
of ChCyalier in the Order Of the Crown.
One day, before the Queens death, Mar
coni received a telegram requesting his
presence at Windsor. The post Office
people who received and delivered the
! message were in a state Of great excite
! Marconi wrote out his reply stating that
he could not cone tlat afternoon, but
would arrive he following morning.
Those who know him lest were not sur
prised al the news az what the world re-
CARDS a. is greatest success, but only
those VITO were closest To- him Understood
vi at tic accom- lishrcr' e 'rnrsoCoaric
tclocraphy meant To him. Over n wear
ago he became engaged TO an American
girl. Mis- jose hiuc Il Holman. and wien
al intimate friend a'k,d him when lie
expected to get married 10 roIlicd.
1S,ruutl have" don" ~" zig thing
Tie Jig u ing" W A. he electric ITidgiug
e NE Atlantis, and nov that lie as shown
thai il can iv d,r'. II D.. not all unlikely
tina he wedding viii occur rex -Ifi-g
Nii-- Holman IL an Indianapolis girl vlu
har lived fHr rcarg NO yCai' b. New York
city aud th" story ~ Maic"uis vooing
h iI''Tp-fiug
-, two Young l"DIl" met ou TIE -
Paul iu CCt.l 'r, 1859, 81 ID" way 20 Ing
lend ad tl" acquaintance IiI@L'd into
|iri.r.riiU l,f.r. o." Firl rru7 90 20 New
N.rk rI1f winter Ar,I HAT. Natcuul's
l,al o.. carry ,U' lps tIai ru'lUi'l" plans