The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-10-08
THE TELEPHONE AT HOME.
What Jacks street said to Commercial
Alley Over the Wires.

What jackson street said to Commercial
Alley Over the Wires.
The many publications made of tn
success Of the telephone at the North
have been doubtless read by many 0
our readers with somewhat incredulou
ears. The wondrous powers of that lit
tie instrument, and the remarkable dis
covery of Prof. Bell in transmitting
sound through the aid Of electricity
seemed 80 entirely beyond the ken o
even those well versed in the telegraph
that. very naturally, there was some hes
itancy to take in at one draught all The
tales told of the telephone. But nov
we have this instrument at home, ant
the auricular demonstration of its
powers has been made and doubling IL
now ended. The detailed description Of
the instrument has been too often pub
lished to be repeated.
On the wires OF the American District
Telegraph between the stations, the
one at the corner of jackson and Maya
zine streets. and the other at No. IL
Commercial Alley, the telephone has
been attached, and for a number OF
nights past most successful expert
ments, II they can be now called expert
ments. have taken place. Instruments,
accompanied by the human voice,
baDjos, violins. harmonious, etc., were
distinctly heard at one end of the line,
when they were played fully one mile
and half distant. Conversations were
kept up between the two points, and
scarcely had question been propound-
ed before the response Of the other end
was distinctly heard.
The human voice passing through
the telephone and over the wire retains
all Of it's individuality, but itssvolume is
much decreased. It sounds like the re-
spouse of some one inclosed in room,
yet the distinctness is not impaired. On
Saturday evening there was gathered at
the Jackson street office of the Ameri-
can District Telegraph Company, and
at the other end OF the line on CONNER
cial Alley, a little gathering Of invited
guests to witness the operation of the
new invention.
Commercial Alley said to Jackson
street.. "Are you all ready up there,
boys ?"
Jackson street-All ready! what do
you want
The alley-We're going to give you
some music, Listen! listen! Do you
hear?
Jackson street-very plainly! Go
ahead!
Commercial Alley, through the banjo
and cultivated voice Of Mr.. Delaney,
ton melody, the telephones being held
close to the banjo and the mouth of the
speaker.
Jackson street-Splendid! Can't you
give us some more?
The Alley-Hold on, we want to talk,
Mr.. -, Of the DEMOCRAT, is here,
and he wants to ask you some questions.
The reporter of the DEMOCRAT then
timidly came forward.
Reporter say, have you got any
first class murders up there for the
baper2
jackson street-Nary murder.
Rep.-Not even a little wee bit Of a
suicide or coal oil accident?
jackson street-Not one.
Rep.-Have you any ladies there?
Jackson street : We've got some.
What do you want?
Rep.-We want a song from one of
Them.
OdChSOu SJIe0G-luSy uOu ltho w
sing, but we will give you song.
Then followed an old Irish melody,
sung by some gentleman who happened
20 be in the Jackson street Office. The
;one, timbre and Infections Of voice were
Ill truthfully sent over the wire, and
The characteristic expressions of the
singer were easily recognized by those
vt the other end of the line. After the
singing had ended, Mr.. G. J. Shepherd.
whose wife was in the Jackson street
office, asked:
us that husband Of mine up there ?"
Mrs. s. responded, where are you?
The operator, after laughing through
he instrument, said that Mr.. Shepherd
lad been delayed by the train and had
stopped over at Chicago. It need not
Dc said Mr.. s. was told to come home
'oon.
After sounding the gong at the Com
ner oial Alley office and asking what
lumber had been struck, to which cor
ect answer was given, the party with
lrew, as the hour was getting late.