AMERICAN AND EUROPEAN SWORDS 147 



ble reputation in that field. In 1829 he again visited Europe to 

 study art. 



While engaged in painting, Morse by no means lost his interest 

 in science, and in 1826-27 he attended a series of lectures on the sub- 

 ject of electricity given in New York by Prof. James F. Dana. 

 While returning to America on the ship Sully in October, 1832, 

 Morse devised a dot and dash alphabet and also planned the electric 

 magnetic telegraph essentially as it now exists. It was not until 

 1835, however, that a working model was produced. He then began 

 to devote practically his entire time to the perfection of this im- 

 portant invention. In 1837 he applied for a patent, and in Decem- 

 ber of that year he formally asked aid from Congress for the pur- 

 pose of building a telegraph line. It was not, however, until March 

 1843, that the desired aid was granted. In May, 1844, an experi- 

 mental line was established between Baltimore and Washington. 

 The success of the Morse invention was finally established, and grad- 

 ually lines were built and extended until the entire United States 

 received the benefit of his work. During the last years of his life 

 he was the recipient of many honors both in the United States and 

 Europe. The National Museum historical collections include a large 

 number of medals and decorations awarded to him by foreign govern- 

 ments. He was received in Europe with great enthusiasm and en- 

 tertained lavishly. He died in New York City in 1872. The sword 

 owned by him was bequeathed to the National Museum by his heirs 

 in 1903. 



The rise and decline in the use of the sword as a personal weapon, 

 as a military and naval weapon, and as a badge of authority, are 

 closely connected with the history of civilization as a whole. By a 

 gradual process of elimination, covering the entire period of the 

 nineteenth century, the use of the sword has been almost entirely dis- 

 continued in nearly every field in which it was once regarded as 

 essential. Its use as a civilian weapon practically terminated with 

 the close of the eighteenth century. It was widely used for military 

 and naval purposes during the nineteenth century, but thereafter 

 such use also declined, and it seems probable that the sword will 

 soon cease to exist as a militarj^ and naval weapon. It may still 

 be used as an emblem of military rank and authority, but even in 

 that field its importance will probably decrease to the vanishing 

 point. Thus the sword has become an object of art and historical 

 interest only to be seen in museums, and its greatest interest to the 

 general public is now based almost exclusively upon these phases of 

 its development. 



