Page 15 - MyFaithMag MAR 2018

INSPIRATION 15

When Bell began experimenting with electrical Although Alexander Graham Bell is most
signals, the telegraph had been an established often associated with the invention of the
means of communication for nearly thirty telephone, his interests were extremely varied.
years. Although a successful system, the According to his biographer, Charlotte Gray,
telegraph (sending Morse code), was limited Bell's work ranged "unfettered across the
to receiving and sending one message at a scientific landscape" and he often went to
time. Bell's experimentation was to find a way bed voraciously reading the Encyclopaedia
of transmitting multiple messages over the Britannica, scouring it for new areas of
same wire at the same time, hence the name interest. His other patents included inventions
"harmonic telegraph" to describe his early for phonographs, the hydrofoil (and other
experimentation. aeronautical inventions), a metal detector and
selenium cells.
By October 1874, Bell's research had
progressed to the extent that he could inform The life of Alexander Bell is a testimony to the
his future father-in-law (Gardiner Greene power of the human mind and the potential
Hubbard) about the possibility of a multiple that is locked up on the inside of each human
telegraph. Seeing the potential Hubbard being. The only requirement is a thirst for
gave Bell the financial backing he needed. knowledge and the quest to find the answers
Bell continued with his work together with and solutions to our dreams and vision. King
Thomas Watson, a young electrician whose Solomon made this remark, “Sell everything
services he had enlisted. While working on and buy Wisdom! Forage for Understanding!
the ‘multiple telegraph’, Bell and Watson were Don't forget one word! Don't deviate an inch!
simultaneously exploring the idea of developing Never walk away from Wisdom - she guards
a device that would transmit speech electrically. your life; love her - she keeps her eye on
In March 1875 Bell visited the famous scientist you. Above all and before all, do this: Get
Joseph Henry (director of the Smithsonian Wisdom! Write this at the top of your list: Get
Institution) to ask his advice on the electrical Understanding! Throw your arms around her -
invention that Bell hoped would transmit the believe me, you won't regret it; never let her go
human voice by telegraph. Henry replied that - she'll make your life glorious. She'll garland
Bell had "the germ of a great invention". When your life with grace, she'll festoon your days
Bell said that he did not have the necessary with beauty.” (Proverbs 4:5-9 The Message).
knowledge, Henry replied, "Get it!" Spurred on Well, what are you waiting for? Don’t you have
by Henry's positive opinion, Bell and Watson some experiments waiting?
continued their work.

Alexander Graham Bell's notebook entry
of 10 March 1876 describes his successful
experiment with the telephone. Speaking
through the instrument to his assistant, Thomas
A. Watson, in the next room, Bell utters these
famous first words, "Mr Watson, come here, I
want to see you."