Political Quotes

“Antonio Meucci was born in Florence, Italy in 1808. He was fond of chemistry and at the age of 17 conceived an improved powerful propeller to be used in fireworks, so powerful that his little rockets lost control, caused damage to properties in the vicinity. This was the beginning of a life filled with experiments and discoveries. Meucci spent the first 27 years of his life in Florence, Italy, 15 years in Havana, Cuba, and 39 years in Clifton, New York. While in Havana, Meucci discovered the latest discoveries in electricity, electrochemistry and electrotherapy in his laboratory which was next to his apartment. In 1865 Meucci wrote, ``At Havana, by means of some little experiments, I came to discover that with an instrument placed at the ear and with the aid of electricity and a metallic wire, the exact word could be transmitted holding the conductor in the mouth . . . ''. Meucci had discovered electrical speech transmission. Meucci and his wife, Esther, moved to New York in 1850 where he established a very successful candle business. However, in 1854, his wife aggravated her rheumatoid arthritis to the point where she could seldom leave her bedroom in the third floor of the house. Esther's illness stimulated the resuming of Meucci's speaking telegraph, as it allowed her to communicate with him and others from her bedroom.”