The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1877-03-23
NAavEIs OF TIE TELEPHONE.
Music Sent Over the Wire from Chicago 70
Milwaukee.

Milwaukee.
Professor E. P. Gray delivered his piac-
tical and illustrated lecture on that new
and important power in the realm OF
electricity, GO the telephone" in Mccormick
Hall last evening. He was created by a
large and highly intelligent audience.
Among the distinguished citizens who ac-
companied the Professor to the platform
were noticed Judge Stanton, Judge Booth,
Henry Greenebaum, and Perry HI. Smith.
The apparatus, as visible to the audience,
consisted of fifteen boxes, growing small
from the fanks to the centre, on the prin-
ciple of a company of soldiers, traversed
by wires and furnished with keys, and
four tables, on which the usual telegraph1c
accommodations were placed. Another
wire was strung across the hall, some
twenty feet from the platform, extending
from gallery to gallery, and in the middle
of this was placed violin, uncorded,
which acted as sound box, and faithfully
echoed every tone transmitted by the chief
machine, which was controlled by the
Professor, who had the power Of switching
off the sounds whenever he felt inclined to
| do SO. A telegraph operator sat at one of
the tables and communicated with Milwau-
kee in a truly able and energetic manner.
Judge Cation introduced the lecturer and
made many complimentary remarks in
! reference to him and to the wonderful
discovery of which he was the author
The Judge gave some history of tue rise
and progress of telegraphy, and said that
the telephone WAS the erownipg triumph
of electrical science. lie was highly
| pleased to SEE an audience so numerous,
and in appearance SO intellectual, present
on the occasion. Ha was doubly proud
that Professor Gray was a Chicagoan.
cloud applause.) Professor Gray then
| came forward and was received with en-
| thusiasm. He is a man somewhat above
the medium height under forty-fve years
of age, with thoroughly American Cau-
cassian countenance, clear cut, thin visaged
and sharply intellectual in expression. He
conveyed the impression Of man of
thought and action rather than moulder
of fine sentences. His manner of speaking
is frank and unpretentious, aud thoroughly
devoid of that flavor which goes under the
general head of oratory." He COM
menced by saying that lis new 1edged
title of professor was fiction, as he had
never occupied the chair Of a professor in
any college and was simply student.
However, the title had been growing upon
him for fifteen years, and he had to accept
the honor because he could not help him.
self. Iaughter)
The Professor then entered into scien-
tiic analysis of acoustics and electricity,
showing how lightning can transmit around
wire Of smooth, soft iron succession
of sounds on the principle Of intense vibra-
ton, and thus make it possible to distinctly
hear melodies played at the great distancs
of eighty-fiye miles, in the city of Milwau-
kee. The audience must not expect too
much at the outset, as the apparatus was
not yet fully developed, but was sufficiently
advanced to convey simple melodies, which
would show to what perfection it can
attain. He desired the operator to COM
munlcate with Milwaukee and ask the
organist thelc if he WIS ready. An answer
in the affirmative soon cam7 ami imnedi-
ately the boxes sounded a warning note,
followed by something that sounded like
cavalry trumpet az reveille. Then came
loudly and distinctly on the ear the well
known air "When other lips and other
hearts," which was greeted with successive
sounds of applause. "The Last. Rose of
Summer" followed, the mysterious violin
repeating the numbers; but the acme OF
enthusiasm was reached when Milwaukee
sent "Yankee Doodle" dancing over the
wives The old fashioned numbers re-
called Franklin, the kite and American
inventive genius from first to last, from
the the telegraphic instrument to the tele-
phone, with the force of national pride.
One more wreath was added to the many
which have crowned American genius since
the birth of the Republic.
"Does any one in the audience desire
particular tune - asked Prof. Gray.
"Hold the Fort" shouted an ardent ad-
mirer of Sankey.
The telephone tried the melody, but with
| no degree of success.
F"The range is too short for the instru-
ment," said the Professor.
"Guess they don't know the air in Mil
| waukee," said some one in the hall, and
| there was roar of cachination at the ex-
pense of Lsgerville.
"Try something else,'' suggested the
Professor.
It was tried, and the sweet simple notes
of . Way Down upon the Suwanee River y
came floating in fairy accents through the
atmosphere. This was the signal for more
cheering. Professor Gray then went into
an explanation ot sound, illustrating with
pair of tuning forks perfectly in accord.
He sounded one aud then silenced 1t, and
the other, which he had not touched at all.
continued the sound, moved by harmonic
sympathy. Many interesting experiments
of similar nature were made, all resulting
successfully and each arousing the audi
ence to a still higher pitch of elation. This
was an American prodigy, Of which Chi
cago is the cradle. Milwaukee was again
appealed to, and sent ssThe Sweet By and
By" which was followed by g The Tele-
phone Waltz.'' As the hour was growing
late, Professor Gray addressed few words