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THE MAGNETIC TELEGRAPH FORESHADOWED
In "Bailey's Dictionary," edition of 1730---
127 years ago--under the word "Loadstone," is found
the following foreshadowing of the Electric Telegraph:
Some authors write that by the help of the magnet or
loadstone, persons may communicate their minds to a friend
at a great distance; as suppose one to be at London, and the
other at Paris, if each of them have a circular tablet, like
the dial-plate of a clock, and a needle touched with one
magnet, then at the same time that the needle at London was
moved, that at Paris would move in like manner, provided
each party had secret notes for dividing words, and the
observation was made at a set hour, either of the day or of
the night; and when one party would inform the other of any
matter, he is to move the needle to those letters that will
form the worlds, that will declare what he would have the
other know, and the other needle will move in the same
manner. This may be done reciprocally. |
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 Syracuse Sunday
Daily Courier, Syracuse, New York -
Friday, March 27 1857
Along the smooth
and slender wires, the sleepless heralds run,
Fast as the clear and living rays go streaming from the sun;
No pearls of flashes, heard or seen, their wondrous flight betray,
And yet their words are quickly caught in cities far away.
Unknown Pennsylvania Preacher (1848)
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