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"I conjured up . . . a vision of telegraphs . . . the whole land . . . covered by a perfect web of them . . . I saw our science, and philosophy, and arts, and religion, passing into the barbarous countries with the speed of lightning. The thrones of all tyrants tumbled down."—Anonymous, The Ladies' Repository, 1848
Marvelous, Monstrous, Amusing
The invention of the telegraph set off waves of nearly unbridled enthusiasm. The promise of a networked world was the promise of modern times. For better and worse, the telegraph became a symbol of innovation and the quickening tempo of life. As the telegraph became part of daily experience, people began to fool around with the idea of it in all sorts of creative, sentimental, and nonsensical ways. |
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