The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1872-12-12

any more facts be developed after thorough
investigation Of the matter We shall hasten
to lay them before our readers.
A Talking Machine. y
There is now in the city worry curious
piece Of mechanism which iutimates no'
only the various sounds Of tho human voice,
but combines them into words and sem
tcnccs 1t has been exhibited to members
Of tho press by the inventor. Professor
Fabers Erben, at his rooms in Baruum's
Hotel, who explained tho workings Of tho
couirivauco. Talking machines have been
invented at various times, but this is tho
only one that has combined such great
range Of u!terauco with such perfect artic..
ulation. Tho machinci' a complete system
oftubcs, levers. and modifying appliances,
being adjusted so as to produce tho effect
Of the different muscles used in artiCula-
ton.
The largest portion Of the apparatus is .
bellows, which performs tue Same func.
tions as tho lungs in the human body.
This feeds a variety Of tubes through which
the sound escapes which are managed BY
fourteen levers each representing n vowel
or cousonant, aud extending out toa sort
Of q key board, by the manipulation OF
which the various combinations Of sound
are produced. Here sits tho performer,
tho Professors wife who manages the
machine with great doxtcrity. The sepsi.
tivcness Other eur is remarkable, inaamuch
as she makes tho machine speak in Ian
guage foreign to her, when sho necessarily
must initiate each word from recollection Of
Tho souud. The many combinations some
times necessary to express single word
demands skill and rapidity on her part. 2.i
Lending from tho bellows is . windpipe
for the conduction Of tho air. and an India
rubber laryu1, With vocal cords, modelled
after those Of q human being, opening aud
closing in tho same manner. The sonnd
escapes from an imitation Of tho human
mouth; ihssqPss3 3aw- bsisgSf wscdTvtss
q lip oflosthcr, and the lower jaw olIodis..
rubber aud tongue Of flexible rubber
There is also passage for the escape Of
the air whom the mouth is closed, IN imita-
tion Of tho vent which 10 the human Or
ganism isatfordod BY the nostrils.z l.n5
Fourteen sounds are all that arc used by
tho machine for the production Of speech
All tho others sounds are produced out OF
those fourteen BY combination or by modi-
flying their action either by separating tho
vocal chords or bringing them together.
The Professor yesterday made tue ma.
chine utter sibilant, cultural. laughing
and other innrticulate sounds. It then Ut
tered many difernent names and shorts
sentences. Its articulation is somewhat
allow. but is very distinct aud audiblea, Il
speaks German excelleutly, the harsh. gut.
terul sound being initiated exactly; its Ea.
plish has German accent now and then.
showing the nativity Of the inventor
When it speaks French mask is attached.
having apparatus by which means tho uasal
sound Of the French tongue is initiated
This mask is rather gtsstly simulacrum
ufa human face. The eyes move aud tho
mouth works, and the words pour out, but
tho immovability Of the features aud the
absence ofexprossion creates weird and
uncanny feeling in the spectator.
The Professor says that the machine can
sing as we'll as talk, its voice having CON-
pass oftwo octavos, but as tho arrangement
was not in order be was unable to give an
example Of its performance. Tho Profes.
sor has many testimonials from scientific
men in every civilized country, aud from
many European courts.-Ballin'ore Ca
zettc.
A young woman latoly committed suicide
in Vienna who is entirely justified in that
proceeding. The message she leftwas this:
y "