106 nature's flfctracles. 



only a part was left. It read, " Good morning, 



Uncle Ben. When are you ' The dog 



had swallowed the balance of the dispatch. 



Sometimes the Morse code is not only funny 

 but disastrous. A gentleman wanted to bor- 

 row money of some capitalists who, not know- 

 ing his financial standing, telegraphed to a 

 banker who they knew could post them. They 

 received an answer, " Note good for large 

 amount." The gentleman borrowed a " large 

 amount," but afterward when it came to be 

 investigated it was found that the dispatch 

 was originally written " not," instead of 

 "note," \vhi-h made "all the difference in the 

 world." 



It has been stated that any one of the five 

 senses may be called into service to interpret 

 the Morse code into words and ideas. A story 

 is told by Mr. Prescott that he says is true, as 

 he knew the party. A friend of his, by name 

 Langenzunge, who knew the Morse code, had 

 served under General Taylor (who at this time 

 was President) at Palo Alto, in Mexico. The 

 general had just promised him an office; soon 

 after he left Washington for the west over the 

 Baltimore and Ohio on a freight train; the 

 President was taken seriously ill, and his 

 friend hearing of it was troubled not only be- 

 cause he loved the old general, but on account 

 of the change in his own prospects. The train 

 stopped somewhere on the Potomac at mid- 



