San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1878-05-18

scribed by the phonograph. After So
curing copper matrixes, Kiralfy propos-
es to bring the cylinders to this city,
and put them on the stage of the Acad-
envy Of Music. They can be run by q
Baxter engine a whole evening with if
teen cents worth of coal, and the opera
given as produced in Paris without a
musician or cantatrice. What do you
think of thatp Only imagine the orders
that would be given between the acts,
'Touch up Patti with little OIL
Grease Capoul,' 'Oil up the first vio-
lin, and Tighten the screw in the oboe
what a treat that would be for New
York audience. I tell you, Kiralfy has
it on the brain, and says he shall 60 to
work Immediately"
While Mr.. Edison was entertaining
his visitors with the photograph, his as
sistants put in order telephone. The
instrument was placed upon table in
the center Of the room. A telegraphic
wire connected it with mouth-piece
far away on the lower floor. The ma
chine upon the table was not much
larger than common stock-indicator.
The chemically-soaked strips Of paper
dried at the hot stove were wound
around little wheel, and carried over
the surface of drum, pressed up to the
mouth of the instrument. This wheel
was turned outward by a small crank.
An assistant on the lower floor MUIR
INJURED the Marseillaise into the
mouth-piece below, and Mr.. Edison be-
gan to turn the crank. The music filed
the vast laboratory. 1t arose and died
away like the notes Of powerful Eo-
lean harp, apparently controlled in vol
ume by the 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 ma
chine is brought out by the action of a
current of electricity upon a solution of
sulphate of sodium in which the strips
of white paper are soaked. The prepa-
ration of this paper and solution is the
Professors own secret. The paper
goes into the instrument as white as
snow, and comes out with tinge of
blue. Mr.. Edison claims that a low
murmur at 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 inven-
ton.
Mr.. Edison next exhibited his electro
photograph. 1t is claimed that this in
strument would have given a perfect
system of telegraphy were magnetism
never discovered. In experiments Mr..
Edison learned that certain chemical
salts lost their friction when subjected
to electric currents. A strip of paper
moistened in common chemical solu-
ton is laid upon a metal plate connect
ed with one pole of battery. A flat
platinum strip fastened to the other pole
is pressed down upon the moistened
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 nor
NAL friction of the paper is restored,
and the hand will be involuntarily
stopped. The elements Of this discov-
cry are applied to Mr.. Edison's musical
mentioned above. In that
instrument the paper is carried over the
surface of drum touched by steel
spring with platinum face. A sound
ing-board is stood upon edge, with
brass arm reaching to the center of the
drum. When the drum is turned the
chemical paper is drawn under the plat
mum spring, and the sounding-board
drawn outward by friction. The electric
current passes through the paper, de-
stroying 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 mechanical, chemical,
and electric action is so instantaneous
that the finest and highest notes of the
female voice are reproduced 200 miles
away.
Mr.. Edison is 81 years old and boyish
in appearance. A distinguished strang-
er called on him not long ago. "There
he is, sir" said an employee, pointing
out the great inventor. The stranger