The Monmouth inquirer., 1926-10-21


RSvVu fastest CABLE" in the sense that 1t
k@NAxM%A can transmit legible signals at least
&AM$MY five times rapidly as any hereto
fore laid recalls the whole romantic
history of mans attempt to bridge great dis
tances and speed up communication between the
distant parts of the EARTH 1t recalls particularly
the Of Cyrus Field the American paper
merchant who, undaunted by several failures,
persisted until success crowned his efforts and
made his name immortal.
When the cable was landed in New York
last MONTH it event of great Importance.
but so accustomed have we become to events of
world Importance that there of the
scenes of wild enthusiasm which swept the coun-
try upon Cyrus Fields successful completion of
his task. In those days they were more given
to public celebrations of great events by torch
light professions and appropriate oratory
Up until that time rapid communication had
been impossible. When the treaty which ended
the Revolution was signed in 1888, the citizens
of the Republic did not know it until SO
days later Conditions were much the same by
the time of the War of 1912 and as every school
boy knows, the battle of New Orleans was fought
after the treaty of peace had been signed
Although faster steamships had speeded up
communication between the Old world and the
New In the next four decades there was still no
instantaneous communication and had
laughed at Field as dreamer and something of
crank when he first proposed to link England
ana America with an underSea cable over which
teegraphic messages could be sent
But when the Agamemnon and the Niagara
completed their job of laying the first cable in
August, 1858 and Fields faith in his project was
Justified, those who had derided him were among
the first to hail him.
With the coming Of the first transatlantic cable
came the prospect of business quickening it's
pace. This prospect at first viewed with con-
siderable iEeredulity, but the messages of
Queen Victoria and President Buchanan flashed
the wires doubts gave way to tumultuous
rejoicing The line in actual operation,
but it had come only after a series Of disap-
pointments 1t had cost its protector twelve years
of constant toll and had necessitated more than
thirty trips across the Atlantic
But with the first doubts gone the new cable
was welcomed with open arms The simple an
nouncement that 1t was to be landed produced
the greatest excitement everywhere. In some
places business was suspended and men rushed
into the streets and focked to the offices where
the news was received. At Andover, Mass the
news was received while the alumni Of the Theo-
logical seminary were celebrating their semi
centennial dinner One thousand persons were
present, all of whom rose to their feet and gave
to their feelings by continued ard enthusiastic
cheers In Boston hundred guns were fred
the common and the bells Of the city were
rung for hour.
In New York the news was at first received
with some misgivings. AS it confirmed, how
ever by subsequent dispatches the city broke
forth into wild rejoicing. The arrival Of the
queens message was the signal for fresh out
break of popular enthusiasm The city was
awakened by the thunder OF artillery. A hundred
guns werea fired in the park at daybreak and the
salute was repeated at noon. At this hour flags
were flying from all the public buildings and the
bells Of the principal churches began to ring
That night the city was Illuminated Never had
1t seen such brilliant celebration. The very sky
seemed to be alight with the spectacle. Such was
the blaze of light around city hall that the cunoa
caught fire and the hall Itself narrowly escaped