Oct 21, 2025 – Andy is in OurLittleCorner today
The Dots and Dashes from My Past
Sometimes my mind has a mind of its own. For example, the other day while reading Amor Towles’s novella “Eve in Hollywood” (which both Ann and I recommend highly), I came across this line: “… outside the window a telegraph wire supported by lean gray poles ran through the desert bearing news of weddings and wars.” The word “telegraph” hit a mental switch and turned my thoughts to the “dots and dashes” of my Boy Scout days.
Why did “Telegraph”bring back those memories? Back when I was a Boy Scout, in order to advance to “first class” status, one had to learn Morse code and transmit a 20-word message. And I always associated the Morse code with the telegraph — probably because of all of the old cowboy movies where the town sheriff would tap out a Morse code warning to the sheriff in the next town that outlaws were about to hold up a bank or do some other dastardly deed. Not surprisingly, these messages always arrived in the nick of time.
Although I had memorized the Morse code I never paid attention to the origins of either the Morse code or the telegraph, that is until I decided to write today’s blog. It turns out that those dots and dashes I struggled to learn were the brainchild of Samual Morse, who interestingly, started out as an accomplished portrait painter and only in his later years developed an interest in electronic communication, coming up with a “single-wire telegraph system” and co-developing what would become known as the Morse code.
On May 24, 1844, Morse officially opened the first telegraph line in the U.S. which stretched from the basement of the U.S. Capitol building to a railroad station in Baltimore. The first message tapped across that line was “What hath God wrought” — appropriate words for launching a technology that would radically alter long-distance communication.
You would think that with the advent of more advanced modes of communication the telegraph key and Morse code would end up on the trash heap of antiquated technologies. But that doesn’t seem to be the case. A 2024 piece I found on the internet entitled “Why You Need to Learn Morse Code” claims that the Morse code’s “practical applications and benefits are timeless.” Here are some of the reasons for this “timelessness” (along with some of my personal observations):
Emergency Situations : “Whether you’re stranded in the wilderness or facing a natural disaster, Morse code can be transmitted using simple tools like flashlights, mirrors, or even improvised radio transmitters.”
(So, how does one use a mirror to transmit patterns of dots and dashes?)
Enhancing Cognitive Skills: Learning Morse code …”can improve your memory, enhance your listening skills, and boost your overall cognitive abilities.”
(If that’s true, why didn’t I get into Harvard straight out of Boy Scouts?)
Versatility in Various Media: “Morse code can be transmitted across various media including sound, light, and touch… “
(I get the part about transmitting with “sound” and “light, but with “touch?” Does that mean we can communicate by poking each other in Morse code? And could that be the source for the saying “he’s poking fun at me?”)
Secret Messaging and Privacy: “…Morse code offers a simple way to send private messages that are less likely to be intercepted or understood by unintended recipients. This can be particularly useful in situations requiring discretion or when communicating sensitive information.”
(An actual case in point: in 1965 U.S. Navy Comdr. Jeremiah A. Denton, Jr. as a POW in Vietnam was forced by his captors to participate in a televised propaganda interview which was broadcast in the United States. While answering questions Denton blinked his eyes in Morse code, spelling the word “T-O-R-T-U-R-E.” Clearly, none of his captors were former Boy Scouts.)
If after having read all of this you decide that learning the Morse code may be your cup of tea, consider investing in one of the trendy telegraph keys available today. Not only would it provide the peace of mind that you are prepared for emergencies, it would look cool on your desk (even if you don’t know your dots and dashes).
Now it’s time for me to move beyond Towles’s “lean gray poles” and continue reading “Eve in Hollywood” — that is, until some other phrase hijacks my train of thought.
I’m impressed that you learned the Morse code! Charlie’s dad was a telegraph operator during WWII and can still decode messages at 103.
I had the pleasure of meeting Charlie’s dad at one of the Southwestern Social Science meetings many years ago. However, I don’t recall him mentioning anything about the sociological implications of the Morse code.
With a dad who was an expert, I believe I had the sane toy kit. Dits and dahs to all….
I wonder if it was available in the Sears Christmas toy catalog (may favorite publication when I was a kid). Dits and dahs to you too.
I was a Navy radioman in Vietnam. Usually we used teletypewriters to communicate, but when we operated with the Taiwanese Navy or the US Coast Guard, we used Morse code. The most astonishing thing to me about this was that in spite of the fact that one can only make the sound go on and off, the Chinese operators had a distinct Chinese accent. What is more, an experienced operator could tell which specific radioman he was communicating with based on his specific cadence in sending Morse code.
Also, I can recite a few poems in Morse code. One famous one is “Bens best bent wires.” Another is simply “Tennessee:” dah, dit, dah dit, dah dit, dit, dididit, dididit, dit, dit. I’ll let you work out Bens best bent wires for yourself.
Cheers, back at ya.
I assume they didn’t offer merit badges in the navy (Morse code was a requirement for the Radio merit badge up until 1984). It’s fascinating that you could detect a Chinese accent listing to dits and dahs – I never would have thought about that making a difference. It took me a while, but I did the Bens best bent wires. Who am I supposed to send it to? Always good to get your comments.