The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1878-09-18

aai Edison IL DoinE ~ NTonIo Pnrk-An
W. Iar blind Persons-The Mennnhnnc.

Hni Edison IL DoIns ~ nTenIo P0rL-An
~ Tor Blind PersOns-The RIeHaphono.
We make the following extracts con.
cermng some of Edison's recent inyen-
uons from a New York Sun correspond
ents interview with the great electri-
cian at his home in Menlo Park, N. j.:
1t was o'clock, Col. Murphy and
Mr.. Stewart left for the train. Mr.. Fox
and the writer accepted an invitation to
supper. The professor lives in o neat
house fronting the railroad, but a few
steps from his laboratory. His mansion
is substantially furnished. Everything
is IN perfect order, for thrifty house
wife holds the reins. After bountiful
meal, we returned to the laboratory.
Tue professor exhibited the drawings
for little machine that he had invented
Tor the measurement of voltaic currents
of electricity. One of his surprising
discoveries is an ink that must prove a
blessing to the blind. He threw white
powder into q bottle and poured little
water on it. After the bottle was well
shaken he dipped pen into the mix
ture, and wrote the word "Boston on
different sheets of letter paper. The
writing dried in few minutes and raised
itself on the paper the same as letters in
books prepared expressly for the blind.
The color of the writing was a clear
white, and it looked as though it had
been cut and pasted upon the letter
paper. 1t varied in height according to
the sizing of the paper. If the surface
was smooth and polished the letters
were bold and clean cut. They were
Eised SO much that blind person ac-
customed to reading books with the
fingers could easily decipher the manu-
script. With the aid of the rack used
by William Prescott in writing his
History of the Conquest of Mexico"
and the use of Edisons preparation,
blind men and women could correspond
nearly as readily as other persons. The
professor says that he shall continue his
experiments until he finds the paper
best adapted to the use of the ink.
Even while waiting for the ink to dry on
one of the sheets, he made singular
discovery. He held the sheet to the
blaze of q lamp. The word "Boston" "
turned deep red, and finally became as
black and shining as ebony. On remov-
ing it from the blaze and looking at it
on the surface, the ink changed to a
color resembling the under side of a
mushroom. The paper differed from
that previously used, and tue letters but
slightly ridged the surface. The mix
ture acted upon the paper like an acid.
1t ate the impurities in the sheet, and
left the word Boston as transparent
as glass.
But more surprising discovery was
made. The ink seemed to act different
ly on different words, and it is possible
that Mr.. Edison may find wood on
which the ink would stand out so much
that artists could use it in drawing de-
signs on blocks, and stereotyped plates
could be taken without sending the
blocks to wood engraver. Such dis
covery would almost put an end to wood
engraving.
In answer to an inquiry concerning
his ear trumpet, the professor said he
had received hundreds of letters from
deaf persons. He had not yet perfected
the machine, and could not say when he
would do so. He needed such an n
strument himself as much as anybody,
for he is terribly deaf, and he should
drive away at it as fast as possible.
The megaphone was not in the labora-
tory. Thus wonderful instrument has
three tunnels, modelled after W. The
two wings are tunnels with tubing lead
ing to each ear. The centre is a mouth.
piece through which the operators talk.
The instrument is simply an atmos-
pherical telephone. With megaphones
conversation can be carried on through |
distance of from one to two miles and |
more.
Do you see that house 2" said Griffin |
during the afternoon. He pointed to a |
cottage more than a mile away. swell. |
they were talking with megaphones be. |
tween the laboratory and that house the |
other day, and every whisper was heard"
We were standing on the veranda, which |
commands a view so quietly beautiful |
that Mr.. Edison says he saw none that |
surpassed it during his Western tr D.
Take that clump of woods away off Won.
der beyond the grain stack, and you can
hear every whisper that is uttered, ;" said
Griffin. "The instruments are pointed
directly at each other like two cannons.
H bee flies between them you can hear
his humming. A whisper is audible a
thonsand feet without using the speak.
ing trumpet, and the noise made by
walking through grass may be heard AT
much greater distance"
The outside tunnels are six feet eight
inches long and twenty-seven and half
inches in diameter at the larger end
hese tunnels are each provided with a
Helble ear tube, the end of which is
placed in the ear. The speaking trum-
pit ia the middle does not differ materi. |
4ls from the ordinary ones. It is a lit |
81 lQnger and has larger bell mouth" "
A Curious Hobby.
The bibliomania of oournandiza 10 n