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Helnl Radio-Television News Service
9/6/50
"MY FATHER, MARCONI" NEW BOOK ABOUT WIRELESS INVENTOR
A new book “My Father, Marconi" by Degna Paresce-Marconi, soon to be published, is condensed in the September issue of “Reader’s Digest1', a portion reading as follows:
“Father heard the call of science early. At 12 he became absorbed in physics and chemistry. Asked by his parents one day why he befriended an old blind man, he replied: ’He ie a retired telegrapher and teaches me the Morse code. '
“He was 20 years old when he read an obituary of the Ger¬ man scientist Heinrich Hertz which described Hertz's experiments with electro-magnetic waves. Why couldn't signals be transmitted through the air without wires as Hertz had transmitted a spark?
“His first successful experiment in 1894 was followed by others with increasing distances. He offered his invention to the Italian Government, but the Ministry of Post and Telegraph was not interested.
“'You may have a better chance in my country', his mother encouraged him. In February 1896 he arrived in London with two trunks full of instruments. The British customs officers, suspic¬ ious of the strange devices, 'examined' them so thoroughly that they were ruined. He had to remake all the instruments.
"Fortunately, the British Government and certain private citizens realized that the 22-year-old amateur had a revolutionary invention which might one day make it possible to establish commun¬ ication with ships at sea. In 1897 a British corporation was formed to exploit 'wireless telegraphy*. Father received half the capital stock and fel5,000 In cash, and, at the age of 23, found himself wealthy.
“The first wireless station, built in 1897 on the Isle of Wight, made contact with a steamer 18 miles distant. A year later, the Dally Express of Dublin asked Father to send messages from a tug which would follow the racing yachts participating in the Dublin Regatta, The first day of the experiment was a complete fiasco.
But Father tried again and sent more than 100 messages, thus winning the backing of the press, to which the wireless opened up new pos¬ sibilities.
“The same year Queen Victoria expressed the desire to have radio communication betx^een her summer residence on the Isle of Wight and the royal yacht 'Osborn', on which her son later King Edward VII was recovering from a leg injury. One morning, while Father was working in the royal gardens, the Queen went by without answering his greeting. A sensitive man, Father announced that he would give up the experiment and leave the palace. 'Get another electrician', Victoria ordered. 'Alas, Your Majesty', came the answer, 'we have no English Marconi! ' The Queen frowned. 'Then tell Signor Marconi to come to lunch tomorrow. ' Mollified, Father stayed and carried out the royal assignment.
“In 1899 Father experienced one of his greatest satisfac¬ tions. His invention got its first opportunity to save human lives. A British lightship, equipped with Marconi's wireless, heard the distress whistle of a steamer wrecked in the English Channel. It sent a wireless message to shore and boats were sent out to rescue the crew,"
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