The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1878-06-05
THE PHFONOGIsAPH.
EerOd Out-H1erOd ed---Tlle Marvel
of all Time---SOundS Repro
duced acknowledgement VIA
chine sings, Talks, Laughs and
VRhisIIes.

\ prolonged description of the scientific
principles of the invention Is needless. The
machine. like the telephone, is of very sim
pie construction. The sound waves are re-
corded on a strip OF tin foil encircling a
metallic cElinder, and are recorded by means
of needle in parallel lines. The operator
speaks, sings or laughs into a small apera-
ture imm ediately above the needle, turning
the cylinder by means of a crank at the
same time. When he wishes to reproduce
sounds he simply places funnel on the
mouthpiece, turns the crank again, aud the
photograph distinctly, and in the same
tone, repeats the words. This is the whole
process, save that in the perfected machine
the cylinder will reVolve by aid OF delicate
machinery, insuring uniformity aud exact
ness.
Ii is evident that ''OGhelIo's occupation is
gone,' in more than one profession. Indeed
the uses of this extraordinary discovery
seem endless Short hand reporters in a
very few years will be nothing but dim
relics of 0 past age; amanueuses and cor
responding clerks obsolete remnants Of
semi baTbarism the pulpit, drama and lee
ture-tield will be revolutioniZ d and the book
making in its present form be knocked into
a very diIapidated cooke hat. For instance.
a reporter attends a lecture, repeats the
speakers words into his monograph, ana
has the whole speech ready for reproduction
whenever he chooses TO see how the whole
thing works" merchant wishes TO write
long business letter to a friend. He
speaks his sentiments to the machine, en-
closes the tinlOil TO his friend, who places it
in his instrument and listens 10 the bona
fide voice and intOnations of his CORES
pondent. Letters may be lost, or a man
deny his staten euts. All you have to do is
to subpoena the photograph. No man can
deny his own words and tones. 1t may
also be used in connection with the tele-
phone, ensuring secrecy ard perfect accu-
racy. Prof. Tyndall or Huxley writes his
lecture, addresses it to the photograph. has
the result electrotyped on thin copper plate
and distributed throughout the world. An
other man gees before an audience, and
Professor Tynd9ll or Huxley's lecture is
given to the attentive crowd in the Verita-
BILE voice and manner of the scientist. De
Witt Talmage breaches one of his sermons,
and next Sunday the reverand gentle
man speaks in his own tones to thousand
different congregations from the phono-
graph. Thos. Carlyle writes a book, au
elocutiorist dictates it to the photograph
ard the electricity ped plates are sold to book
sellers. The whole book is recorded on
surface of few inches, and half an ounce in
weight The student drops in on his way
home, BUYS the "book'' tor a few cents,
places the plates in his talking press, sis
down l.. his easy chrir, enjoys his cigar, and
calmly listens while the little marvel reads
the whole volume aloud to him in the fin
ished manner of the elocutIonist. A dying
man wishes to impress his last commands
TO his weeping family. He breathes them.
feebly it may be, to the photograph; the
tinfoil is religiouslY preserved, and the dy-
lug iniunotions of fond parent are repeated
a1 will in the same tone with which he spoke
the solemn words.