| Show When King George Received the Big News from America Samuel Morse inventor of the electric telegraph had hod only one ambition as a young man and that was to become an artist He stud stud- studied studied under Washington Allston then the greatest painter in the United States and with Allton ton went to London in 1811 There he hemet hemet hemet met Benjamin West who although an American was president of the Royal academy and a great fa fa- favorite favorite favorite with the king who later lal r made him Sir Benjamin West West was actually at work on a portrait of the king when the lat lat- latter latter lat lat- latter ter was handed the Declaration of Independence Morse heard the piquant story from West himself says Ernest Greenwood in From Amber to Amperes Here it is isas isas isas as as related by Morse Turning to the picture of the king Sir Benjamin West said Do you see that picture Mr Morse Well sir the king was sitting for me when the box containing the American Declara Declara- Declaration Declaration Declaration tion of Independence was handed to him Indeed II I answered and what appeared to be the emotion of the king What did he say Well sir said West he made a reply characteristic of the goodness of his heart or words to that effect Well he said if they can be happier under the government they have chosen then under mine I shall be hap hap- happy happy happy py Morse stayed four years in Eng Eng- England England England land where he achieved consider consider- considerable considerable considerable able success as a a portrait painter Then returning to his native coun coun- country country try tr he afterwards became president president president dent of the national academy and amI amIan an eminently successful painter his sitters becoming so numerous that he ha was unable to meet and fill all of his orders It was dur duro during during ing his return voyage to America in 1832 following a second visit to Europe that Morse lorse got his con con- conception conception of the telegraph Twelve years later May later May 21 1844 he 1844 he gave a public demonstration of his invention sending a message from Washington to Baltimore The rest is well known history Kansas City Star |
