SAMUEL FINLEY BREESE MORSE. 235 



When four years old Samuel was sent to a little school 

 kept by an old lady known as " Old Ma'am Rand." The mis- 

 tress was unable to get about much, and controlled her flock 

 from her chair with the aid of a rattan long enough to reach 

 across her little domain. She also punished her pupils by pin- 

 ning them to her dress. Young Samuel once incurred the lat- 

 ter penalty for scratching a picture of Ma'am Rand on a chest 

 of drawers with a pin. He was not a quiet prisoner and was 

 soon at the farther side of the room, dragging part of the old 

 lady's gown after him, but not far enough away to escape a 

 smart caning from the rattan. 



At seven years of age the boy was sent to the school of a 

 Mr. Foster at Andover, Mass., from which he passed to the 

 Phillips Academy in the same place, to prepare for college. 

 At fourteen he was admitted to Yale College, his father's alma 

 mater, whither his brothers soon followed him. The Rev. Tim- 

 othy Dwight, D. D., was then president, and being a warm 

 personal friend of their father, took especial interest in the 

 Morse boys. Here under Jeremiah Day, Professor of Natural 

 Philosophy, and the elder Silliman, whose lectures on chemistry 

 included the subject of galvanism, Finley Morse gained his 

 first knowledge of electricity, which he was destined to use to 

 such marvellous advantage. His letters home give abundant 

 evidence of his interest in his studies, with frequent especial 

 references to the electrical experiments exhibited by his in- 

 structors. 



The picture of " Old Ma'am Rand " scratched by young 

 Finley in her little schoolroom was a real indication of artistic 

 talent, which became plainly manifest during the young man's 

 college course. Although wholly untaught, he was able to 

 produce miniature portraits which his fellow-students (not 

 very critical, perhaps) were willing to pay moderate prices for. 

 Immediately after his graduation, in July, 1810, he wrote home 

 that he was confirmed in the opinion that he was made for a 

 painter, and asks that arrangements be made for him to study 

 with Washington Allston, who was to return to England the 

 following year. Although Dr. Morse had intended his son's 

 college course as a preparation for a learned profession, he, 

 acquiesced in this change of plan. 



In July, 1811, young Morse set sail with Mr. and Mrs. All- 

 ston for England. His first letter home contains an ardent 



