The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1878-06-27
From Chicago.
1885 WABASH AVENUE, June I.

a 1loo w ABASH AVENUE, June Z.
4 To the Editor of the Standard:
II For the past three or four months you are
aware, the papers have been full! OF accounts
of the phonograph, Edison's wonderful talking
city at the present time. Yesterday morning
| met lady friend down town, and we deter
been setting the scientific world in a whirl, and
which, had it been made in the dark days of
Ignorance and superstition, would have been
called the work of Satan.
We saw a machine that was not so compli-
H Gated in its construction as sausage-mlll, and
| inder, followed out at each end, and turning
on an axle by crank. There is thin plate OF
| side of the cylinder, which can be moved at
will; under this plate of iron, is piece of rub
Der with needle attached. The mouth IS
placed close to the opening, and the words
spoken in a distinct tone, while the crank is
being turned. THE voice causes the needle to
vibrate and to make indentations on sheet
OF tin foil which has previously been placed
one side, and the motion of the cylinder is re-
versed until the needle is brought opposite to
the beginning of the series OF Impressions, the
crank is turned forward again, and the phono-
graph repeats what has been said to it.
The operator recited well-known rhyme
into the machine, initiating several animals at
the end off The phonograph repeated 1t after
M him as Deliberately and !, s9lemniy as though
"'Ma-ry had little lamb
It's fleece was white as snow,
And ev-ry where that Mary went
The lamb was sure to CO.
Bow, WOW, WOW, meow, meow"
He whistled "Yankee Doodle'' sang song,
had several fits of coughing all of which the
phonograph repeated faithfully. He asked us
if we would like to speak to it, and he said to
the machine: "Iere are two ladies, would you
like TO talk to them? 1 would" The phono-
graph said the same words emphasizing the
last ones ''IDoulL'' as though it rather liked -
talk to ladies. said to it:
s'Trifles light as air,
Are, to the Jealous, combinations strong
AS proofs of Holy Writ.'''
1t gave back the words in a voice that resem-
tiOn that was laughable. The operator said
Chow are you Mr.. Phonograph? How is the
old lady Phonograph and all the little Phono-
graphs?" The machine repeated it with great
gusto. as though it liked to talk of its family.
Mrs. Fulton, the lady who accompanied me,
rected two lines to it in German. don't know
Of her voice, but the phonograph repeated it |
IN the voice of a person about to burst into |
ears. 1t was the more amusing, because the |
ines not at all affecting Enclosed you |
will find piece of tin-foil that was on the CYL
nder while l spoke to it. If it had not been
orn it could be replaced and my words, as well
is all that the operator said while it was on the
cylinder, could be reproduced rms is
he first phonograph that Mr.. Edison made,
md is merely intended to slow that 1T can talk.
He has men working night and day on the
work. When it is completed, a fine elocution-
st can read a book into the machine, and the
m mpressiOnS of his voice on the foil can be cleo
rotyped. For twenty five cents you could buy
ut it into your phonD.raph, start the CLOCK
york, lean back comfortably in your easy
hair, and hear your favorite author read by
he finest reader of the day. In this way, you
an also hear the fiute-like notes Nilsson or
iucca. What blessing it will be to the blind,
nd to bed-ridden invalids. In short, there is
o end to the possibilities of the phOnOgraph,
D simple, yet so wonderful the marvel of the
entury. CoRNIE Meg. BAKER.