The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1888-12-08
DOLLS THAT REALLY TALK.
SOME VERY WONDERFUL TOYS FOR
NIUE LITTLE GIRLS.

One Sings "Rock-a-Bye Baby ''-One OF
Them Talked Over the Long Distance
Telephone From Boston to New York-A
sheep That Recites "Ba-a, Back Sheep
Children all over the world will be-
fore long have reason to bless the name
of Thomas A. Edison, for that wizard
has just perfected toy the like of
which was never dreamed of by them,
even on Christmas eve. In Mr. Edi-
sons laboratory at Orange, N. :, there
are numbers of dolls which speak as
naturally as any human being. They
are not like the old mechanical toys,
which by ones pressing their diaphragm,
squeak forth "Mamma and ''Fapa,'
but they talk naturally and well, and
repeat long sentences.
They are called the Edison talking
dolls, although Mr.. Edison coined a
new name for them yesterday in speak
ing of them. He called them "Doll
phones" The talking dolls have en-
gagged the inventors attention off and
on for the last two years, but it is only
within a few weeks that they have been
perfected. Now nothing remains but
to manufacture them in large quantities,
and ship them to all civilized countries,
so that at the proper time children, not
only in America, but also in Europe,
and even in far off Russia, will be able
to possess dollies that in their owners
native language can talk to them Out
side of MIR. Edison's assistants, WORK
men and officers OF his company, no
one except the writer has yet had the
privilege of looking at and listening to
thsi latest application of the phono-
graph. Mr.. Edison kindly consented
yesterday to explain to the reporter all
about the dolls and to give him an op-
portunity to examine them and test
their capabilities. By February, how
ever, they will be on sale all over the
world, and at the exceedingly moderate
price of from So to 81 each, or not
much more than the value of the doll
alone without the speaking attachment.
In little room in the second story
of the great laboratory at Orange were
dozen or so of the dolls yesterday in
various stages OF manufacture. Some
of them were dressed and ready tc en-
tertain company, while others, strange
to say, without the use of their heads.
Mr.. Edison picked up one OF the dolls,
whose golden curly hair and pink
cheeks were lovely in their perfection,
and whose light blue eyes stared in
mild surprise at the reporter, and, wind
ing her up by inserting a clock key in
the small of her back, handed her to
the reporter. He then pressed spring,
and the doll, still looking at the reporter,
said in plalntive tone, 81 love you,
mamma, love you dearly mamma, but
l am tired and sleepy now. Please put
me in my little bed"
The doll continued to stare with the
widest of wide open eyes at the
reporter while asserting the fact that
she was sleepy, but the distinctness
with which she said 1t, and the guileless
expression of her pretty face convinced
him that she was telling the truth, so
he laid her gently down on the table
near by. Then Mr.. Edison wound up
brunette doll, with jet black curls and
sparkling brown eyes. This doll started
off at brisk rate with the following:
Twinkle, twinkle, little star.
How l wonder what you are,
Up above the world so high,
Like diamond in the sky,
and she recited it with feeling and ex-
preston. Another of the dolls informed
the reporter that Jack and Jill mean
dered up a gentle activity for the pur-
pose of procuring temperance drink,
and while there Jack met with an acci.
dent and fell, and jill Systematically fol-
lowed his example. She incidentally
mentioned that Jacks skull was frac-
tured, but did not say how badly Jill
was injured, if at all.
Another doll baby, who was musically
inclined, sang in a sweet childish treble
"Rock-a-bye baby on the tree-top" all
the way through with good expression,
and without false note. She sang 1t
quite loudly, too, so that any one
could have heard her across moderate
sized room. Still another sang pretty
little German song, but as the reporter
did not understand German, he is unable
to tell what the song was about.
81 have only lately succeeded in
bringing this to a state OF perfection"
said the inventor, as he lovingly stroked
the curly pate of one of his little talk
ers. "But now all that remains is to
manufacture sufficient of them to en-
able my company to place a large
enough quantity upon the market to
meet the demand which we are assured
them. The moderate prices at which
they will be sold, considering their ac-
complishments, will surely make them
popular, and the little girl who hereafter
has an old fashioned dumb doll will be
an object of pity to her more fortunate
companions whose dolls can talk and
sing and laugh and cry, and, in fact,
make any sound that real living child
could. The little phonograph which,
with its accompanying clockwork, is
placed In each of the toys is the perfec-
ton of delicate mechanism, but at the
same time IS so strongly made and so
durable that it will last as long, if not
longer, than the doll itself. The cylin-
| der which receives phonographic i'm