A Story Outline of Evolution 



night, thus serving as a means of communicating the mes- 

 sage it Is intended to convey. The sign language formerly 

 In such common use among the western tribes of Indians and 

 the sign languages of the deaf mutes are examples of the 

 effectiveness of these methods of communication. 



From the beginning of civilization to the present time 

 the use of signals as a means of communication has been 

 employed by the most highly cultured as well as by the low- 

 est savage tribes. In the early days when life and death 

 were at stake, the necessity for speedy communication was 

 just as great as it is with our complex system of civilization 

 and called forth the greatest effort in its attainment. As 

 early as 260 B. C. there is a record of a completely devel- 

 oped signal corps which Is found in the writings of Polybius. 

 This was a method of signalling by night with torches and 

 was an evoluted form of the hilltop fires. This system 

 with certain modifications and additions was still in use In 

 parts of continental Europe as late as 1684. The first prac- 

 tical system of successful long distance signalling was estab- 

 lished between Paris and Lille by the French Government, 

 a distance of 150 miles. This consisted of a series of sta- 

 tions arranged at convenient points so that each station 

 erected was in view of the next succeding station. Each sta- 

 tion consisted of a pole, a beam, movable arm and ropes 

 and 192 different signals which were arranged on the mova- 

 ble arm as the contents of the message required. Skilled 

 operators who had been trained in the method of placing 

 the signals were stationed at each pole and with the aid of 

 the telescope, messages could be sent with considerable 

 dispatch. The first message sent over this line was one 



[96] 



