SAMUEL FINLEY BREESE MORSE. 



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When wealth came to him Prof. Morse was not backward 

 in conferring benefactions upon worthy persons and institutions. 

 He was a man of firm religious convictions, and gave many 

 donations to churches, theological seminaries, and missionary 

 societies. A love for his early art clung to him throughout his 

 life. The honours received for his artistic talents were espe- 

 cially prized by him, and in his later years he encouraged 

 struggling artists of ability by purchasing their pictures, and 

 gave aid to art societies and institutions. 



Throughout his long life he had suffered little from sick- 

 ness. In his latter years he became subject to neuralgia, 

 which in the winter of 18^1-^2 concentrated its attacks in his 

 head. After weeks of intense pain he fell into a stupor from 

 which he partly aroused at times, and finally passed away April 

 2, 1872. At his funeral and afterward high honours were paid 

 to his memory by the States of New York and Massachusetts, 

 the Congress of the United States, the great telegraphic com- 

 panies, by many cities, by the societies of which he was a mem- 

 ber, and by assemblages of individuals. 



" In person," says his biographer, " Prof. Morse was tall, 

 slender, graceful, and attractive. Six feet in stature, he stood 

 erect and firm, even in old age. His blue eyes were express- 

 ive of genius and affection. His nature was a rare combina- 

 tion of solid intellect and delicate sensibility. Thoughtful, 

 sober, and quiet, he readily entered into the enjoyments of 

 domestic and social life, indulging in sallies of humour, and 

 readily appreciating and greatly enjoying the wit of others. 

 Dignified in his intercourse with men, courteous and affable 

 with the gentler sex, he was a good husband, a judicious father, 

 a generous and faithful friend. . . . He was as gentle as he 

 was great. Many thought him weak because he was simple, 

 childlike, and unworldly. Often he suffered wrong rather than 

 resist, and this disposition to yield was frequently his loss." 



What Morse accomplished for the advance of civilization 

 was due chiefly to an unbounded perseverance which enabled 

 him to endure the grievous hardships and triumph over the 

 enormous obstacles that lay in his path. It has been well said 

 that " the genius and labour of such a man reflect glory upon 

 his country, so that his name becomes part of the national 

 heritage and treasure." 



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