Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-09-12

rocks. and that was the last Matthews saw Of
him. The accident soon becoming known,
search was made for the body Of the missing
boy but owing to the muddiness Of the
stream, il was not recovered until about half
past the same evening, when it was found
within a few rods Of the scene Of tn accident.
Marks upon the head and neck indicated that
death was caused by the fall upon thu rocks,
which here form n cataract of considerable
height The deceased was the only son of
Mr.. l.. p. Alden, a resident Of Centreyillc
district and man who is held in high esteem
by the community. The boy-wns fine, in
telligent, well-disposed lad, and member Of
the Baptist Sunday school IN this village.
The body was taken to Newfanc on Wednes-
day for nterment. A deep feeling Of sympa-
thy has been awakened in the community by
the sorrowful event.
A NEW MUSICAL INVENTION -"EyERY PERSON
HIS owS oRGAN1sr'
The linz Of recent improvement in must
cal instruments, particularly those operated
by key boards, like the organ and piano, is
that which looks to the substitution Of me-
chanical contryauces for the skill which only
comes Of long and arduous practice and which
comparatively few persons have the time
means or skill to acquire; in other words,
the effort is to popularize this class Of must
cal instruments. and increase the demand for
them, by making it possible for any body to
play them. A number Of different contrivan-
ces of this nature have lately been brought
out, both in this country and in Europe, some
Of which are Of undoubted merit. The latest
production in this line, and one which prom
ises to eclipse all others in point of practical
merit and completeness, is q self playing at
tachment for organs and other keyboard in.
struments invented by Mr.. Joseph f. White
Of this village, the operation Of which We
lately had the pleasure of witnessing. Mr.
White, who was for some years in the employ
Of Messrs. j. Estey a Co, manufacturers of
the Estey cottage organ, has been at work
upon his invention for the last six months,
and has brought it to a state of satisfactory
completeness and secured his claims by let
tiers patent Without entering into detail
cd description Of this ingenious piece of
mechanism, it is su ficient to say that the APP
paratus is attached to the keyboard of the
organ or other instrument to be played. and
requires for its operation the use Of patent
sheet music. This music, also Of Mr. Whites
invention, is perhaps the most ingenious part
Of the whole affair. Having satisfied him
self Of the imperfection and difficulties at
tending the use Of the perforated sheet mu-
sic employed in other contriyances of this
class Mr.. White went to work and manufac-
tured music sheets bearing the notes in re-
lief, like the letters Of a deaf and dumb al
phAbet. In operating, the sheet of music
which will be no more expensive than other
sheet music-is fed into an aperture in the
attachment, and Us the operator turns a small
crank the sheet passes through. Each pro-
jeeting note, as it reaches the required point,
operates q lever whichein turn strikes the
corresponding key Of the instrument, and
thus the sheet literally produces its own mu-
sic. The simplicity of the mechanism aud
the unerring fidelity with which it reproduces
each note, Of whatever character. is indeed
wonderful. BY the use OF this apparatus.
the price Of which will add little or nothing
to the cost of an instrument, it will be seen
that no skill or knowledge of music whatev-
Ct IN ie4 uAitN IL tHN optIHtor' save III the use
of the different stops, and in this fact lies
the superiority of Mr.. Whites invention.
In the trial which we witnessed the other
evening. the attachment was applied to an
Estey cottage organ and by the mere opera
ton of the pedals and the turning of crank,
''Old Hundred, Coronation" ''Auld Lang
Syne,' The Girl Left Behind Me" etc.
etc, were rendered with equal facility and
perfection. Mr.. White has not yet applied
the attachment TO piano, but there is ap-
parently no reason why it will not operate
equally well with that instrument. The in
vention has been examined by musical ex-
perts and pronounced a decided triumph
and New York firm of music dealers have
interested themselves in it and will soon com
mence its manufacture.