New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1844-01-09

! PHoNoGRAPHY.-The main purpose OF all ef1ort
at improvement in those arts which are the means
of promoting the welfare of mankind Is to &C
complish the most perfect result in the shortest
space of time thus, in our manufactures we
seek to obtain those articles which will best suit
our convenience and taste by the most rapid mo-
ton of machinery. Steam is made choice OF for
the motive power, because it is the best known
agent for accomplishing the desired result. In
our modes of travelling the same power is applied
with the same view our land and our water car
riages, while they are so contrived as most to pro-
mote the comfort and crafty the taste Of travel
ers, are made to move with all possible speed.
All discoveries in science and art are made
available to these ends, and in nearly every de-
partmcnt of human industry the principle has
been applied, but there is one branch, and that
nlost-perhaps the most important one, which has
remained hitherto in statu quo-no improvement
in it has been generally adopted, and few have
ever been attempted-the art alluded to constl-
| tutes what may be called the mechanical part OF
Literature; that is the making Of characters to re-
present the words which are designed to convey
| our ideas That a reform Is needed in this every
one must feel, who has bestowed any thought
upon the matter; it has been admitted by all
those who have treated upon the Orthography of
the language. Our alphabet is altogether made
ouate in scientific view, to the proper represent
tation of the complex sounds of our language.
| The evils which result from this defect, are more
in number and greater than those who have not
looked into it might suppose. Words cannot be
spelled accurately by our alphabet, and the MINDS
of children are perplexed, their natural perception
of scientific harmones is violated by being told
that certain combinations of letters make GER
tain word, which in reality it does mott Is true
that after great deal Of time spent they get &C
customed to it, and learn to spell according to
certain conventional method, but it may we'll be
questioned whether habits of error are not thus
entailcd upon their minds. There are other and
still greater evils than this consequent upon this
defect, which we have not room to mention.
But there is another imperfection in this branch
of human industry and that is that the forms
made use of to represent the letters of our alphabet
are much more complicated and lengthy than
need be.
Thus we are obliged to work much longer
time TO accomplish the recording of our ideas than
is necessary.
The present photography, then, needs to have
the same Improvements as those which have been
applied to other arts, namely, perfection IN mate
rials and speed in execution. Both these results
have been attained in the new art, the name OF
which appears at the head Of this article. 1t Is
most perfect representation of the elementary
sounds Of the language, and the system of Chlro
graphy connected with it is sir times as erpedi-
tiouS as that now in use. Thus we transfer our
thoughts to paper in one-sxth part of the time
usually occupied indeed in the same time In
which they could be uttered in words. 1t Is
more perfect and much shorter system OF short
hand than any before invented. 1t is indeed
laborsaving art to the qulll-driver but the re-
formation which it effects in our photography
must be considered its crownlng merit. 1t has
other recommendations which it is impossible to
enumcrate in the article, from the combined IN
fuencc Of which it has succeeded thus far IN
obtaining the popular favor where 1t has become
known. In England, where it was first intro
duced to the public, a great enthusiasm has been
manifested. A Photographic Association has
been formed, the members of which correspond
with each Other in the Photographic character;
monthly journal is also printed in the same
character, and more than one hundred thousand
copies have been put in circulation.
In Boston also, we learn that Photographic
Institute is about TO be formed, with view to
its more extensive promulgation and it's anticl-
pated that the art will before long become estab-
lished as system of correspondence. 1t certainly
would be very valuable for this purpose.
Notes of Travel.
The Railroad from Philadelphia to Baltimore
is the best in the world-for those who are trou-
bled with dyspepsia. We never got half so much
exercise on hundred miles of Railroad before,
except where the rails were Of wood and laid
cross-wise Of the Road-the old fashion.
Tho Baltimore and Washington Railroad IS
| a nrntt,- rood one hut itS charUes are atrOclOuS