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378
The Story of the Atlantic Telegraph
·
Henry M. Field
178
"My
Dear
Sir:
I
congratulate
you
with
all
my
heart
on
the
success
of
the
great
enterprise
with
which
your
name
is
so
honorably
connected.
Under
the
blessing
of
Divine
Providence
I
trust
it
may
prove
instrumental
in
promoting
perpetual
peace
and
friendship
between
the
kindred
nations."
The
popular
estimate
of
the
achievement
and
its
author
went
still
farther.
With
the
natural
exaggeration
common
to
masses
of
men,
when
carried
away
by
a
sudden
enthusiasm,
the
Atlantic
Telegraph
was
hailed
as
an
immense
stride
in
the
onward
progress
of
the
race,
an
event
in
the
history
of
the
world
hardly
inferior
to
the
discovery
of
America,
or
to
the
invention
of
the
art
of
printing;
and
the
name
of
its
projector
was
coupled
with
those
of
Franklin
and
Columbus.
He
who
but
yesterday
was
regarded
as
a
visionary,
to-day
was
exalted
as
a
benefactor
of
his
country
and
of
mankind.
This
avalanche
of
praise
was
quite
overwhelming.
It
is
always
embarrassing
to
be
forced
into
sudden
conspicuity,
and
to
find
one's
self
the
object
of
general
attention
and
applause.
While
feeling
this
embarrassment,
Mr.
Field
could
not
but
be
gratified
to
witness
the
public
joy
at
the
success
of
the
enterprise,
and
he
was
deeply
touched
and
grateful
for
the
appreciation
of
his
own
services.
But
probably
all
these
public
demonstrations
did
not
go
to
his
heart
so
much
as
private
letters
received
from
the
other
side
of
the
Atlantic,
from
those
who
had
shared
the
labors
of
the
enterprise--old
companions
in
arms
who
had
borne
with
him
the
heavy
burden,
and
now
were
fully
entitled
to
a
share
in
the
honor
which
was
the
reward
of
their
common
toil.
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