MORSE CENTENARY

Evening Star, Issue 22893, 26 February 1938, Page 1

MORSE CENTENARY

It was during a voyage from Havre to New York in the vessel Sally that S. P. B. Morse, then an artist, conceived the idea of the electro-magnetic marking telegraph,;; and drew a design for it in his sketch book. . However, it was not until five years afterwards—the beginning of the year 1838' —one hundred years ago—that ho and his colleague, Mr Alfred Vail, succeeded in getting the apparatus to work. Judge Vail, father of Alfred, found the money for the experiments, hut as time went on and no results were achieved ho ; became disheartened so that the inventorswere afraid to meet him. It was a proud, moment therefore when Alfred was abls: to invite his father to come and see the' telegraph machine working. He came at once, and after listening to a short explanation he asked for a piece of paper. He. wrote upon it the words, “A patient waiter is no loser,” and handed it to Alfred, saying : “ If you can send this and; Mr Morse can read it at the other end, I: shall be convinced.” The message was re- : ceived by Morse and handed to the judge,.' who a t that unexpected result was overcome by his emotions. The practical value of the invention was soon realised, as by 1840; telegraph lines were being operated in many civilised countries, and ere long ex-; tended until a network of lines now en. circle the globe and bring the remotest: ends of the earth into direct and, immedi. ate communication.—* Weekly Scotsman.’