Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1877-05-26
THE SPEAKING TELEPHONE.
kemarkable Results-A BROOKLYN Song
Heard in New Sork-A Cornet solo Heard
Three Miles Away.
From the New York Herald

put II INTO ieading-strings, had beer
present last evening in one Of the ouie
parlors of the st. Denis Hotel and hear
it talk and play and sing 8. Hold the
Fort" they would doubtless have beer
as much surprised as they themselves
surprised the people of their own day
and generation. The occasion was moi
apublic one, yet the interest which at
tached to it was sufficient to attract a
considerable number of gentlemen well
known in the scientific world. Among
these were President Barnard, of Col
nmbia College; Profs. Newberry and
Rood; Prof. Peet, of the Deaf and Dumb
Asylum; Hon. L. n. Gibbes, NJ. p. OF
Canada. President of the Dominion Tel
egraph Company; Gen Eckert, Presi-
dent of the Atlantic and Pacific Tele-
graph Company; Gen GAYLORD, East
man johnson, Rev. Dr. Armitaoe and
others. 1t was in obedience to am inyi-
tation from these gentlemen that Prof.
A. Graham Bell, of Boston, delivered a
lecture on sound and electricity and
gave a striking exhibition of his speak
ing telephone. To the eye the appara-
tus used was simplicity itself, and
might have been taken by cas-
ual observer for the cover of an
ordinary sewing machine, except
that at one end there was mouth-piece,
like that which is attached to speaking
tubes. A couple of wires ran from the
other through the room across the
Brooklyn bridge and into one of the Of
fees of the Atlantic and Pacific Tele-
graph Company in that city, In con-
yersational, but clear and succinct man
ner, Prof. Bell told the story of his dis
eoyery. and described, as well rs he |
could do so verbally. the operation of |
his machine. Modestly disclaiming
any thing like perfection and confessinS |
that the telephone was Vet in its infancy,
and that he was met at every step by
strange results, and problems, which
seemed to leave him deeper in the dark,
he nevertheless gave to his audience
various illustrations of the wonderful
power which he has achieved that must
have satisfied the most skeptical present
that we are upon the eve of strange de-
velopments in the philosophy of life.
For instance. it was startling to hear the
lecturer stop in the middle Of sentence
and eXclaim, "Ah. my friend is talking
to me in Brooklyn," There is dead
silence in the room. and the low mono
tone of Il mans voice is audible.
The Professor places his ear to the
box, and in moment says, MIR. Cow
er informs me that cornet player is
present, and will favor us with an air.
Z" What shall it be?' says BROOKLYN. ;,
''Any thing" replies New York
'only let it be a tune without any sud- Z
len or short notes"
In few seconds more the room is
lied with the sweet strains of the 81. asst y
Rose of Summer" faint, yet perceptible j..
o every ear, a singular and inexplicable
'eculiarity being that one or two of the 7
totes were stronger and more distinct =,
han the others. Applause follows. and .
he lecturer tells his co-operator to thank
he soloist. He listens, and says he II
ears the conversation between them, =
nd repeats it. Then he asks Mr. Cow !.
r to sing u song, to which the latter re- u
lies that he is not much of singist, but
I'LL do the best he can. Presently there A
ngs through the apartment the famil-
n melody of Pleyel's Hymn. 1t is fol-
WED by ''Hold the Fort" and then by
lore conversation. Various gentlemen g
re invited to ask questions and them c,
lives receive answers. They do so, and III
nearly every instance the responses ct
re distinct. The effect is weird and al "
lost supernatural. One imagins that OF
2 is a second Signor Blitz, talking ven W
iloquially to the imaginary body in the to
'x. The experiments are prolonged to "
Re satisfaction of all present, and the of
leerful good night and thanks of the 81
tie social circle in Brooklyn meets sn
it'll cordial response from this side Ms
rof. Bell. in concluding, took occasion 10
say that il was rs easy 20 talk leo nr