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281
Heroes of the Telegraph
·
John Munro
60
When
we
remember
that
even
by
this
time
Vail
had
entirely
altered
the
system
of
signals,
and
introduced
the
dot-dash
code,
we
cannot
but
regard
this
as
a
stinted
acknowledgment
of
his
colleague's
work.
But
the
man
who
conceives
the
central
idea,
and
cherishes
it,
is
apt
to
be
niggardly
in
allowing
merit
to
the
assistant
whose
mechanical
skill
is
able
to
shape
and
put
it
in
practice;
while,
on
the
other
hand,
the
assistant
is
sometimes
inclined
to
attach
more
importance
to
the
working
out
than
it
deserves.
Alfred
Vail
cannot
be
charged
with
that,
however,
and
it
would
have
been
the
more
graceful
on
the
part
of
Morse
had
he
avowed
his
indebtedness
to
Vail
with
a
greater
liberality.
Nor
would
this
have
detracted
from
his
own
merit
as
the
originator
and
preserver
of
the
idea,
without
which
the
improvements
of
Vail
would
have
had
no
existence.
In
the
words
of
the
Hon.
Amos
Kendall,
a
friend
of
both:
'If
justice
be
done,
the
name
of
Alfred
Vail
will
for
ever
stand
associated
with
that
of
Samuel
F.
B.
Morse
in
the
history
and
introduction
into
public
use
of
the
electro-magnetic
telegraph.'
Professor
Morse
spent
his
declining
years
at
Locust
Grove,
a
charming
retreat
on
the
banks
of
the
River
Hudson.
In
private
life
he
was
a
fine
example
of
the
Christian
gentleman.
In
the
summer
of
1871,
the
Telegraphic
Brotherhood
of
the
World
erected
a
statue
to
his
honour
in
the
Central
Park,
New
York.
Delegates
from
different
parts
of
America
were
present
at
the
unveiling;
and
in
the
evening
there
was
a
reception
at
the
Academy
of
Music,
where
the
first
recording
telegraph
used
on
the
Washington
to
Baltimore
line
was
exhibited.
The
inventor
himself
appeared,
and
sent
a
message
at
a
small
table,
which
was
flashed
by
the
connected
wires
to
the
remotest
parts
of
the
Union,
It
ran:
'Greeting
and
thanks
to
the
telegraph
fraternity
throughout
the
world.
Glory
to
God
in
the
highest,
on
earth
peace,
goodwill
towards
men.'
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