The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1878-05-10

'oll up the nrSC VlOn0, anu, 'Il&nten
the screw in the oboe'-what treat
dience. tell you, kiralfy has 1t on
the brain, and says he shall go to
work immediately
While Mr.. Edison was entertaining
his visitors with the phonograph, his
assistants put in order u musical tele-
phone. The instrument was placed
upon n table in the centre of the room.
A telegraphic wire connected 1t with
a mouthpiece far away ON the lower
floor. The machine upon the table
was not much larger than conf
Emon stock indicator. The chemically
soaked strips of paper dried at the hot
stove we're wonld around a little wheel,
and carried over the surface of a drum,
pressed up to the mouth of the instru-
ment. This wheel was turned out
ward by small crank. An assistant
on the lower floor murmurcd the
ssMarseillaise'' into the mouthplece
below, and Mr.. Edison began to turn
the crank. The music filled the vast
laboratory. 1t arose and died away
like the notes OF Il powerful 4Eolean
harp, apparently controlled in volume
by tho Professor at the crank. This
instrument differs greatly from Bells
musical telephone. The latter sings
through an ingenious arrangement of
reeds. The music of the Edison
machine is brought out by the action
of n current of electricity upon solu-
tion of sulphate of sodium in which
the strips of white paper nre soaked.
The preparation Of this paper and
| solution is the Professors own secret.
The paper goes into the instrument
as white as snow, and comes out with
a tinsc of blue. Mr.. Edison claims
that Il low murlnur Mt the other end
of the wire may be Increased in volume
by proper instruments until the effect
would be deafening. He speaks of
tearing roofs from music halls, and
evidently has great faith in the scope
of the invention.
! Mr.. Edison next exhibited his clestro-
photograph. 1t is claimed that this
instrument would have given Il perfect
system of tefegraphy were mng gnetism
never discovered. In experiments Mr..
| Edison learned thnt certain chemical
salts lost their friction when subjected
to electric currents. a strip Of paper
mOistcncd in II common chemical sOlu-
ton is laid upon Il metal plate con-
nected with one pole ofa battery. a
flat platinum strip fastened to the other
pole is pressed down upon the mois-
tened paper by the thumb. The thumb
can draw the platinum over the paper
as though it was creased until the
electric current is interrupted. Then
the normal friction of the paper is
restored, and the hand will be invol-
UNFAIRLY stopped. The elements OF this
discovery are applied to Mr.. E,dison's
musical telephone, mentioned above.
over the surface of Il drum touched by
II steel spring with II platinum face.
a sounding board is stood upon edge,
with Il brass arm reaching to the centre
of the drum. When the drum is turn
ed the chemical paper is drawn under
the platinum spring, and the sounding
board drawn outward by the friction.
The electric current passes through
the paper, destroying the friction, and
the sounding board drops back to its
first position. The cessation of the
current again causes friction, and the
board is again drawn out. This me-
chanical, chemical and electric action
is so instantaneous that the finest and
highest notes OF the female voice
are reproduced 300 hundred miles
away.
Mr.. Edison is 81 years old, and boy.
ish in appearance. A distinguished
stranger called on him not long ago
s'There he is, SIR" said an employe,
pointing out the great inventor. The
stranger took IL good look ut him, and
said: "No, no. l want to see the old
man." The Professor rOared, and the
stranger was SO dumb founded that he
was hardly able TO explain his busi-
ness.
Mr.. Elison's handwriting is wonder
full. He forms his letters as they are
printed, and his communications bear
such IL close resemblance to reprint
that many persons deny that they are
written. BY this formation OF letters
Mr.. Edison claims that he does not
make any unnecessary marks, and
that he is able to write much faster
and more l"gibly than other per-
sons.
The inventor is Il great reader.
lie has Il rare knowledge of English
: literature, and is thoroughly posted
on the news Of the day. He is IA keen
Iogician, enjoys pithyjoke oranectlote
and can talk Sam Cox or Ben Butler
blind on the merits of the silver bill
He admircs the true goodness OF Dea
con Richard Smith, loves te read tho
sweet funcreai poetry of George w
} Childs, a. NJ, believes in the his
p trionic ability of the Count JOanncs
z rpvpl- in the alleged yeracity of FL