This was in October, 1844. But, although he now had his idea, he lacked money to prove its value. However, a man named Fisher in Cambridge liked his invention, and agreed to board Howe and his family and to advance $500 in return for a half interest in the patent. By the middle of next May, Howe had constructed a machine which did sewing that promised to outlast the cloth. But the invention was opposed everywhere in America. Finally, in 1846, Howe’s brother Amasa went to England, and managed to sell the English rights in the machine for $1,250 to a William Thomas. This man also gave Elias Howe a place in his factory at $15 a week. But he treated the inventor shamefully, and Howe threw up the situation. He sent his family back to America ahead of him, and then returned himself. He landed in New York with less than a dollar in his pocket, and was met with the news that his wife was dying of consumption at Cambridge. He managed to borrow some money, and reached her side just before she passed away. These were Howe’s darkest days. Imitations of his machine were infringing on his patent, and he had to begin several suits to establish his rights. He and another man now began to manufacture sewing machines in a small way. It was during this time that the “sewing machine riots” took place; but soon the real value of the invention was seen, and all opposition ceased. Brighter times began for the inventor. He won his patent suits, and by 1863 his royalties were estimated at $4,000 a day! At the Paris Exposition of 1867 he was awarded a gold medal and the ribbon of the Legion of Honor. His last years were happy ones. He died on October 3, 1867. PREPARED BY THE EDITORIAL STAFF OF THE MENTOR ASSOCIATION ILLUSTRATION FOR THE MENTOR, VOL. 1, No. 29, SERIAL No. 29 [Illustration: SAMUEL F. B. MORSE] _GREAT AMERICAN INVENTORS_ _Samuel F. B. Morse_ FOUR The story has been told that the first words that ever came over a telegraph instrument were “What hath God Wrought!” and that they were spelled out by Samuel F. B. Morse, the inventor of the telegraphic code. This was supposed to have taken place in 1844 in Baltimore, and to have proclaimed the fact that Morse’s dream of telegraphy had become a reality. We are now told on good authority that this was not the first message to be sent by telegraph, nor was Morse the sender of the words. Instead, it was sent by one of the committee who were debating upon the proposal of Morse, the inventor, to string a telegraph line from Baltimore to Washington. Morse, who wanted to end the discussion and at the same time demonstrate his invention, strung a wire from the committee room to the top of the Capitol. One of the committee, who was opposed to President Tyler, wrote, “Tyler deserves to be hanged.” This was received by the man at the other end exactly as it was composed.