The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1844-03-02
From the N. Y Eqpress.
EXHIBITION OF TIE SPEAKING
FIGURE.

time, last night, at the Stuyyesani institute
and from its novelty attracted numer Gus
audience. This is said to be, and proba.
bly, is, the first successful attempt of the
kind on record.-Others have been in
vented to initiate the voice as was the case
with Malze!Ps, which could utter the
word Check or rather an imitation of it,
there was not The articulation however.
which this one gives. There is some
obscure account, we believe, of an nsiru-
ment having similar powers to this having
been invented in the l4th or l5.h century
but witch was destroyed, either from SUI
PerslItlon or religious feeings,-lndeed,
so little OF 1t is known that no conjecture
can now be formed of its capabilities or
powers. The present one is certainly a
wonderful invention, and the accuracy
with which II speaks the words is perfect
ly startling. 1t is misfortune TO the
inventor, however, Mr. Faber, that he does
not speak the English language, since
comparatively few OF general audience
are acquainted with his native tongue
the German. 1t is not lttis strange, too
that the figure should speak that language
! with comparative anency, Wide it's pro.
nouncation Of the English is the exact
tcountcrpart or echo of Mr. Faber's excer!
as regards the tone, which is similar 10
tina, of a young child, and it ther efore
struck US tina. chld's face would have
been more suited 10 the figure than tina,
| of a bearded Turk.
MIR. Faber was attended, last night, by
Drs. Mot, Pattison, Detmore, and others
and previous to the performance, DR.. Mott
Informed the audience OF the difficulty
under which NJ. Faber laboreG, in being
unable to speak our language he also
spoke OF the machine in lhc highest terms
and stated that the inventor had been II
years engaged in it, and that he was seven
years IN forming the pronunciation Of the
letter f. The Faculty Of the College, he
said, had been so pleased with it, that they
offered him the use Of the lecture room for
the exhibition, and they hoped that he
would receive the patronage he deserved.
Mr. Detmore also made some remarks
aud among the rest that the inventor had
here initiated, as CLOSELY as possible, the
human rganizaion-he had formed the
wlnd-pipe, the pallet, tn. tongue and the
gums, and by playing on the keys, the
figure would pronounce in any language.
Mr.. Faber then commenced with the
alphabet, which was uttered with great
dlstlnctness, particularly some Of the let
ters' The pronunciation of W elected a
great deal ofmerr lment. 1t then repeated
from i 10 40, and spoke the following
sentences, which though in broken Eng
llsh, were distinctly understood by the
audience. "Profe.sor Mott" (Which it
pronounced Mole,) "how do you do pr
"Pretty well, thank you" ''PIease ex-
cuse my slow enunciatlon, Sut will re-
main with you and improve" 1t then
mentioned the days OF the week, and the
different m onths Of the year. Also some
German and Latin sentences. Merit will
always meet with It's due reward" "Mr.
Speaker, call the gentleman TO order"-
This was unanimously allowed to be
worthy ola Congressman.
A German verse was then handed up
and spoken with great accuracy, so the
German said. DR.. Demore declined
translating i. as i. wa. something against
the Pope, he said. The figure then pro,
nounced New York, Boston, Phiadel-
pha, Mississippi,' &C., and concluded that
part of its performance, by singing "lIali
Columbia" which was irresisiibly drolI
though 10 tell the truth we have heard
much worse singing by auiomalons having
far more pretensions.
Dr. Patlson then made few remarks.
He said it was impossible forany whose at
tention had not been turned TO articulation,
to comprehend the difficulties the inventor
had overcome. Here was pair of bellows
performing the function that the lungs per-
form TO man, by forcing with /, current
OF air which was carried through the wind
plPe-but unless the vocal chords were
placed in certain position no voice could
be produced, and here were they so placed
as to produce either grave or acute sounds
But there vas yet another difficulty to
overcome, for though the wind might be
brought lhto the mouth, it must be acted
upon by lhc tongue, the lips, and also be
connected with the nasal openings, and The
inventor had So connected the wires as to
change the condition Of the chords and
give varied tones TO the voice-but there
were also other wires to act on the tongue 1,
and lips, end other appara rus in the mouth. |
SO that the voice was broke up aud speech /
produced.
When DR.. Patli,on had concluded his
remarks, Mr.. Faber again set the machine
agoing, and at the request of one of the
audience 1t executed The gamut in the as
cending aud descending scale, and conclu.
ded with a csdenza aud shake. to the as.
'onishment OF the listeners.
DR.. Detmore then stated that the figure
could be easily played upon--that he
could already make it pronounce Louisa;
but whether the . re spoke the thoughts