Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-12-05
That Wizard Edison.
A New Luxury Proposed fof
Breakfast Time.
THE PRINTING PRESS ABOLISHED

So Far as Making Newspapers Is Con-
cerned-Your Daily Sensation To Be
Read to You and the Rest of the Fam
DISCRIMINATION OF the Photograph,
Provided the Mcnlo Park Genius Does
Not Live Too Long.
New YORK, Dec 5-When, a few years
ago, Thomas A Ellison announced that be
would bottle up the human voice so that at
any future time it could be uncorked and
heard to speak again. there were many with
open skepticism. Now, if Mr.. Ellison
who heard the statement were to an
nounce that he would talk with persons on
the planet Mars it would be generally cred
tied. The wizard of Menlo park has not
quite accomplished that much, however, but
be proposes to do something about as won
derful in the near future. The modern news
paper is a triumph of the creative power of
man. but Mr.. Edison proposes to revolution
ize journalism by starting a newspaper
which can be appreciated by the blind, and
even by the illiterate. To obtain the news
CT the day from Mr. Elison's proposed jour
nal, all that one will have to do will be to
turn crank and listen and the newspaper
will read itself to him.
Some inkling of this marvellous project of
the great inventor having been secured a re-
porter went out to Mr. Edison's laboratory at
Orange, n J. Mr.. Edison was greatly sur
prised that any hint of the new invention
had got abroad, ami at first was loath to
talk about it 1t is simply one OF the prac-
teal uses to which the photograph in its full
perfection can be put 1t is generally known
to people at large tnat Mr.. E lison has sue
ceeded in turning out what he calls corres-
pondence phonoyrams. These phonograms
are made of peculiar waxy composition
aud can be folded and put in an envelope
the same as an ordinary letter When
message which has been traced upon them
by photographic needle is to be made pub
lie they are wrapped around
photographic cylinder and by the revo-
luton of the motor emit the sounds of the
voice which originally talked to them.
These correspondence phonograms eau be
multiplied to any extent by wonderful
process, details of which are yet to be made
public.
| 1t was stated at the laboratory by one in
the secret that if necessary 5000 or more
copies of the same cylinder could be turned
| out in one hour. They can be adjusted to
| any monograph, so that 10000 or more
talking machines" can repeat the same
sentence at a given moment The possibility
! of this was suggested to the inventor for the
| benefit of those who wished to keep abreast
of the news of the day, but who from failing
eyesight or from other causes are not able to
read newspapers. The Edison Talking News
paper company will supply its patrons with
the monographs at an annual rental Of a
small sum. These monographs can be used,
the same as any Others to reproduce sing
ing, piano playing, whistling, band music
and elocution, but they will be espe.
cially designed for correspondence. Phon
ograms later will contain each day
all the latest news in condensed
form and will cover each subdivision, such
as cable and Geographic, POLITICAL dramatic
commercial, monetary, etc. Each phono
gram will be plainly marked so that tn,
reader, or rather hearer, can choose fol-
himself which one he cares to use first. Ii
new opera has been produced the night be
fore he can listen to an able but concise crit
icism of il and enjoy the sensation of having
repeated to his delighted ears choicest pass
ages Of music precisely as they were rem
dered at the theater. If an important poiit
zeal deba te is going on the subscriber will b
treated to the most eloquent portions of tn
speeches in the original tone of the orator
Even the applause or laughter which greet
bon mots will bs faithfully reproduced.
At first it will be only designed, as ha
been stated, to furnish synopsis OF til
daily news, but for this purpose the frs
editions of regular newspapers will be reaG
condensed and repeated to receiving phone
graphs, multiplied on corresponding phone
grams, and delivered by carriers to s1bscrit
spa bb RNss IA this J way Hr the s subscriber wi
breakfast table. and not only he but sac
MEMBER of the family, can listen to it at til
same time There Will be, when the projeC
has been thoroughly established, sever,
editions of the talking newspaper. Some
them will be elaborate, and will give full r,
ports Of most important happenings,
1t will not lie necessary, with the talkiu
and singing newspaper, for the uuimagin
tive reader to worry himself by striving
, gather from the critics description just VIII,
, | pianist's performance sounded best He wi
o hear them. Instead of the hackneyed phras
= "Thunders OF applause greeted the speaker
eloquence," the talking-newspaper su
scriber will be deafened BY Il
thunder himself, Ii the president
? the United States goes fishing Il
newspaper nearer will be able to catch the e
act shade of triumph in his tone as be exclain
to his private secretary, "Pve got bite
or the precise tone Of DISAPPOINTMENT as
3 adds, "By Jovel I've lost hint" This ms
sound like romance, hut the public has NJ
: Edison's assurance that it is quite possih
+ aud will probably be accomplished in the n
# distant future Phonograms, as at prese
, made, will cost about - cents a cylinde
q Each one will contain about column
g ordinary newspaper reading matter, and t
l. news OF the day can easily be condensed in
q that space. This, however, is only the &C
l. of the phonograms in their contemporaries
i. al stage, and in future they will undoul
= edly be brought down to price far belC
=. this
10 Looks Like Coffee Is Going to BE Dear
. New YORK, Dec. 5-Yesterday was t