The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1878-05-23
The Phonograph.
PECULIARITIEs OF THE INVENTOR OF
THE NINETEENTH CENTURY WONDER.

Hearing that Thomas A. Edison, the
world-famous discoverer of the phono-
graph, had arrived at the Smithsonian
Institution yesterday, with specimen
of his instrument, the Post reporter,
then on duty there. hurried from the
monologues Of the savants to have an
interview with the most wonderful in
ventor OF the world. Catching q
glimpse of him, the reporter followed
him to the outside, where the great dis
coverer was found looking intently
around him, apparently interested in q
study of the trees, the shrubbery and
the blue sky. Suddenly. he darted of,
as if determined to mere closely exam
inc . specimen Of the white pine that
springs from the curved points of one
of the walks. As he reappeared. coming
slowly back, the reporter noticed that
he was rather under the medium size;
about five feet seven or eight inches
high, aud moved with Q kind of listless
gait. as IL tired or meditating. his fore
head is round. not very high, moderate
ly full in the temporal region indicat-
ing Q prepondsrsnce of ideality yet not
especially noticeable for expansion.
His hair Is thick, soft. yet wiry. of q
chestnut hue, and the face 10 bare OF
beard. His eyes are of a grsyish blue.
clear and bright; and in conversation
brighten wonderfully. The nose is
large, standing out boldly from the
face, just as if it were looking into the
future for its secrets--an inquisitivs
nose, but not IN uncourteous one. A
large mouth. whose smile is . pleasant
one, square. rather prominent chin
aud white skin complete the facial
description. His manner is quiet,
modest and retiring. exhibiting q lack
OF egotism or assurance at once rsfresh.
ing and marvellous in q man who has
reason to be SO Justly proud of his fame
and his achievements. Yet while he is
talking you are conscious that there are
tremendous potencies in the pleasant
faced gentleman. Good morning, Mr.
Edison, said the Post reporter; hand.
some grounds these
A PRACTICAL TURN OF MIND.
Yes. What an immense stretch OF
telegraph wire without support he
said pointing to the network of wires
that run high in the air from the
Smithsonian. i have been wondering
where they reach but when l went over
to that tree just now, kcould see no
more than / do here Naturally
enough the inventor has no. eyes for
trees or flowers where telegraph or tel.
ephones are concerned.
Let me. like all the rest of the world
congratulate you on your discovery of
the phonogrsph. Mr.. Edison The in
ventor, who is slightly deaf. blushed
like girl and silently bowed his ac.
Acknowledgements.
Were you long in perfecting the dis
covery?'
oh, no; bad thought of the idea
vaguely many times, lsng before un-
dertook TO work it out. The idea is a
fascinating one. and in d vague. indef-
into way had probably occurred to
many perhaps for centuries. But when
| commenced to realize it aud make ID
practical it came out alright very easy.
1t is q very ssmple idea when you come
to look at it. aud the wonder is tha. it
wasn't discovered before
1t waited for Edison, and when he
came it stepped into being, the slave
OF his genius Tbs compliment was
doubtless pleasing, but the innate mod
esty Of the man caused him to shrink
from bis own praises.
What pity you hadn't invented it
before. There Is many mother
mourning her dead boy or girl who
would give the world could she hear
their living voice again. miracle your
photograph makes possible
THE WORLD NOT READY For THE IN.
vENTIoN.
No. / don't think the world was
ripe for it before. Why. ! wanted to
get it patented IN South America, and
my agent applied to Consuls in Mexi-
CO. Peru. and other places. but were ad-
vised not to go there. The people were
too bigoted. too ignorant generally to
receive it, but would destroy the ma
chine as an invention Of the devil and
mob the agents as his regular imps.
Had you any thought of coming to
Washington
Not until yesterday. when l got q
telegram requesting me. Theysare q
pleasant sort of fellows. these scientific
men; just chock full of fun as they can
be. They don't care for good clothes.
though
They don't really seem to care for the
tailors. that's sure
o, they've got On their good clothes
now. But see them at work, as they
come into my laboratory, they don't
look as Rice as they do to-day. but
they have lots more fun in them.
Sir William Thompson. when
he came to see me, had on suit of
] tell you. His trousers were
too short for him; his coat was old and
greasy; the collar came up over his ears
and his hat looked - though he had
boiled soup in it. And that was his
bang up suit, too.
When do you give IN exhibition on
your phenogrsphs'
AT 1 o'clock. Have you ever seen
it, Well, come in and I'll show il to
you And leading the way he entered
the room adjoining the Secretarys of
flee. uncovered the wonderful Sound
Writer and began to explain it.
EXHIBITING THE MARVEL
Here's the phonogrsph. you see. il IS .
thin disc or diaphragm ofiron. beneath
which 10 this fine steel point. which
moves up and down by the vibrations
of the disc. Beneath this is the revolv-
ing cylinder, on which is this spiral
or ,ove. On the axis of the cylinder 10