File:Inventors (1893) (14591213339).jpg

Identifier: inventors00hube2 (find matches)
Title: Inventors
Year: 1893 (1890s)
Authors: Hubert, Philip Gengembre, 1852-1925
Subjects: Inventors
Publisher: New York, C. Scribner's Sons
Contributing Library: New York Public Library
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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p. Onone side of the room stood a little cot on whichhe slept in the brief hours which he allowedhimself for repose. On the other side stood hislathe with which the inventor turned the brassapparatus necessary in the construction of hisinstruments. He had, with his own hands, firstwhittled the model; then he made the moulds forthe castings. Here were brought to him, dayby day, crackers and the simplest food, by which,with tea prepared by himself, he sustained lifewhile he toiled incessantly to give being to theidea that possessed him. Before leaving for Europe he had suffered agreat disappointment as an artist. The govern-ment had offered to American artists, to be se-lected by a committee of Congress, commissionsto paint pictures for the panels in the rotunda ofthe Capitol. Morse was anxious to be employedupon one or more of them. He was the presi-dent of the National Academy of Design, andthere was an eminent fitness in calling him to o this national work. Allston urged the appoint-
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Morse Making his own Instrument.(From Primes Life of Morse.) 130 INVESTORS ment. of Morse. John Ouincy Adams, then amember of the House and on the committee towhom this subject was referred, submitted aresolution in the House that foreign artists beallowed to compete for these commissions, andin support alleged that there were no Americanartists competent to execute the paintings. Thisgave great and just offence to the artists and thepublic. A severe reply to Adams appeared inthe New York Evening Post. It was written byJames Fenimore Cooper, but it was attributedto Morse, whose pen was well known to be skil-ful, and in consequence his name was rejectedby the committee. He never recovered fullyfrom the effects of that blow. Forty years after-ward he could not speak of it without emotion.He had consecrated years of his life to thepreparation for just such work. It was well for him and for his country andthe world that the artist in Morse was disap-pointed. From painter he became invento

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