The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1878-06-15

II
not long before this secret yielded itself
to the prying search of the wonderful
inventor, who discovered that by cooling
the neck or pipe of the trumpet in pc
culiar way, and by adding to its convo-
buttons, the faintest sound-wave could
be made to recall itself through the
medium of the diaphragm, upon the
receptive plate or matrix, as deeply as
the loudest tone uttered under ordinary
conditions. In short, he succeeded in
demonstrating the fact absolutely that
by means of proper mechanical arrange
ments the volume of sound capable of
being emitted by the photograph was
actually limitless and entirely indepen-
dent of the application of steam, air,
valves or any extraneous force.
Impressed with the value of both
these discoveries, it was natural in Mr..
Edison to set about combining the two,
result he accomplished with little
difficulty, the operation of which is to
be witnessed at his laboratory in Menlo
Park, and which he has named the
Auraphone."
The new invention of Edison is briefly
described as follows: In the ceiling of
his private office, concealed from view,
with the exception of a small, ear
shaped funnel, of dark color, he has
fitted between the rafters and the floor
above one of his double-recording and
speaking machines. In the room above a
portion of the machine rises through the
floor, and attached to it j. small wooden
box, said to contain the coils of the
pipe of the trumpet, the bell or mouth
of which opens through one side. and is
made of the new substance discovered
by Mr.. Edison, and alluded to elsewhere.
With the exception of the box, all
other portions of the machine are open
to inspection. Every word uttered in
the room below is repeated in the room
above, with about treble or quadruple
the volume of sound (although it can be
arranged in vast excess of this), while
at the same time it is being recorded on
the matrix-plate for future reference
and preservation through the electrotyp-
ing process. The effect produced by the
Auraphone is not only comically weird,
but in many ways alarming. Sending
an assistant to the room below, in order
to test its capacity for catching whispers,
ohC oia'oi, dllCCtcu ny Nul DcllJ
down his ear to the little box, only to
be deafened by the inquiry, What do
you think of the Auraphone" shouted
in tones that almost made the house
rock, followed by laugh so mockingly
hide0us and unearthly as to make the
blood curdle with horror. This was
soon discovered to be one of the peculiar
jokes incidental to an introduction to
the Auraphone, always hugely enjoyed
by the inventor and his attaches. Suisse
quent experiments proved the exquisite
sensitiveness of the machine. The
faintest whisper, the ticking of clock,
the rolling of lead pencil over the
desk, the tearing of a small piece of
newspaper, sigh, tune hummed in
lowest register-all were successfully
delivered in the room above in exagger-
ated volume. At night, when the quiet
is more profound, Mr.. Edison informed
us that he could plainly hear the purr-
ing of his cat in the Office below.
The effects to be produced by the in
PRODUCTION of the Auraphone will be
wonderful. When all walls have ears,
literally, what is to become of our
condolences? With the spy ever in wait
for us, not only to repeat them, but to
also manufacture their indisputable
proof for transmission and preservation,
what are we to do? Will society become
thoroughly honest, virtuous, and good
or will it be torn asunder by dissension
and relegated to savagery? When
mans sons are popping up in judgment
at all times and places; when man is
forced to go through the world with a
window, as it were, in his bosom will it,
longer be a pleasant or even an en-
durable place to live in? And yet to
face this actual contingency we are
brought by Mr.. Edison and his new
Auraphone.
The subject for contemplation is so
entirely new and so absolutely startling
In its nature, that we may we'll shrink
from considering its more serious aspects,
in view of its almost boundless posi-
bilities and results. But there is,
happily, no shade without sunshine, and
1T is not without its comical though not
less vexatious sides. Fifty or sixty
dollars at most, Mr.. Edison informed us,
would cover the expense of placing one
OF these machines. or mechanical ears,
in the ceiling of any room, so nicely
concealed as to escape observation, and
capable of being SO nicely adjusted that
" the dropping of a pin upon the
carpeted floor could be heard in the
room above" Just think of Pater-
familias upstairs with such a trap set,
while Anastatia and Alphonso are COO
ing in the parlor below! Keeping tally
of the signs and weighing the intensity
of each caress, and all this with two
turtle doves in blissful ignorance of any
supervision. Think of the gay deceiver
in breach of promise case suddenly
confronted in Court with half dozen
witnesses, who, though absent personally,
heard the desired proposal, each armed
with a stereotyped plate upon which
every VOW, every murmur, every
Swish" of the embezzled kisses is
indelibly stamped! Think of Old
Billions clerks and Mrs. Clearside's
servants under the espionage of the
mechanical earl Indeed, it looks now
as though people will soon have to regret
Mr. Edison's birth having taken place at
so late period in history, and that they
will be apt to grow much more charitable
toward those sensible old ancestors who
always had steak or chop ready for
people who knew too much.