The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-04-22


explanatory statements presented in other
columns respecting the photograph, which
deserves to rank among the most brilliant
and wonderful of human inventions. The
description has been prepared by COM
petent scientific gentleman, who visited
Menlo Park as representative of the HERALD
to verify the character and test the capacity
of the new instrument. and to observe IN
Mr.. Edison's laboratory or workshop the
apparatus and methods by which this sur
prisingly inventive genius works out Its
results. Thsre is no room at all for doubt
that the phonograph performs the astonish-
ing feats ascribed to it, incredible as they
would seem if they were asserted with
out the verifcation which may any day
be witnessed by every one who VIII
take the trouble. 1t is already ex-
citing great attention in Europe as
well as America, but those who have not
seen the instrument tested are incredulous
respecting it's asserted powers. In q late
number of the Pail Mall Gazette, for example,
it is discussed in half doubling spirit
That journal, after reciting some OF tho
feats claimed for the phonograph,
says:-"The only drawback to these as
sertions is that they are Incredible
whence it does not, of course, follow
that they are scientifically untrue"
In abiding to the telephone the Pail
Mall Gazette thinks that 'sas compared with
the photograph it is scarcely even wonder
full. SO fur do the marvels OF the latter inven-
ton transcend those accomplished by the
former" We make these quotations to show
how well nigh incredible and almost mirac-
ulous the new instrument seems to those
who are only just beginning to become
acquainted with it.
1t is quite common to try to assist our
comprehension Of the marvellous nature
of the most splendid feats OF scientific
invention to compare them with some
thing equivalent in the widest excur-
sions of poetical fancy, as, for in
stance, after submarine telegraphy had
been accomplished everybody was told
how much it surpassed the boast OF
Shakespeare's Ariel that he could put
girdle round the earth in forty minutes. 1t
is curious illustration of the estimate put
on the photograph that q resort is had, not
a parallel. The truth in this case is so as
tonishing, it flies so far beyond the bounds
of credibility, as to. seem stranger than the
bold fictions of that noted rGconteur. The
Pail Mall Gazette says the phonograph
"must have already reminded many per-
sons of those frozen notes in Baron Mum
chausen's horn that became audible music
when the thaw set in
This comparison is apt, but it is by no
means the happiest that might have been
chosen. One of Addison's humorous papers
in the 1dttler is altogether more illus
trative, and the fact that it did not occur to
a writer in so scholarly journal us the
Pail Mall Gazette shows into what neglect
the classics of Queen Annc's reign have
fallen in our age. In the amusing fiction
alluded to Addison protested to have come
in possession of an unpublished journal OF
Sir John Vaudeville, from which he pub
lished an extract Mandeville's English
ship, together with Dutch and French
ship, being caught in the Polar re-
gions and compelled to winter in
Nova Zembla, the crews built huts Of turf
and amused themselves as best they could.
A period of intense cold coming on they
found themselves unable to be heard,
although each sailor seemed to himself to
talk as we'll as ever. This term Of utter
silence had continued for several weeks,
when with turn Of the wind there came
thaw and the frozen words began to melt.
First q cracking of consonants over their
heads, then breeze OF whispers, afterward
syllables and short words, and at length as
the thaw progressed entire sentences and
whole conversations were let loose, until all
the concealed words were heard precisely
as they would have been at the proper time
if they had not been frozen by the air the
moment they passed the lips Of the speakers
Addison, or rather the fictitious journal Of
Sir John Vaudeville, repeats many ludi-
crous and diverting specimens, among them
the oaths and curses of the boatswain,
who took the opportunity Of silence to free
his mind respecting the captain and got
strappadoed when his curses thawed out,
with equally amusing scenes among the
crews Of the Dutch and French ships.
Now the phonograph surpasses this wild
freak of humorous invention. It catches
and imprisons words and whole conversa-
tons and songs, rs the air of the
frigid zone was supposed to do, holds
them for any length of time, and
gives them back as faithfully as
the frozen mir did the CALCULATIONS
of Sir John Mandeyilles sailors in memory
OF their distant sweethearts in Mapping, as
faithfully as the groans Of the Polar bear
were made audible three weeks after its
flesh had been packed in the meat barrel.
Instead of congcaling sounds in the air the
photograph solidifios them in a thin plate
Of metal, where they are securely i'm
prisoned for months or years or centuries,
or until IL t,leases the holder of Thu m efallic