Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-01-26
THE PHONOGRApH.
SOME POINTS ABOUT THE TALK
ING-MACHINE.
Numerous Ways in Which the New.
conner can be Made Beneficial
to Mankind.

AS saving in the time given up to writ
ing, the photograph promises to far out
strip the typewriter. The business man
can dictate to the photograph as fast as he
can talk, and the wax cylinder, inclosed in
a suitable box, can be sent off by mail to
read out its message perhaps thousands of
miles away. Or else, as is now done in
Mr.. Edison's laboratory in Orange, N. j.,
the typewriter girl can print out upon
paper what her employer has dictated to
the photograph. For the reporter, the
editor, and the author who can dictate, a
device has been adapted to the photograph
which causes it to stop at every tenth
word, and to continue only when spring
is touched. Thus, the editor can dictate
his article to the stenographer, and when
the printer at the case gets the resulting
phonogram the instrument will dictate to
him in short sentences. If he cannot set
up the sentence at one hearing, it will
repeat its ten words. If he is satisfied,
it reads out ten words more. ! really see
no reason why the newspaper of the future
should not come to the subscriber in the
shape of phonogram. 1t would have to
begin, however, with table of contents, in
order that one might not have to listen to
two hours speech upon the tariff ques-
tion, in order TO get at ten lines of a must
cal notice. But think what a musical
critic might be able TO do for his public |!
He might give them whole arias from an
opera or movements from symphony, by
way of proof or illustration. The very
tones of an actors or singers voice might
be reproduced in the morning notice of
last nights important dramatic or musical
event. 1t has been remarked, by the way,
that business letters and orders by phono-
graph would not be so binding as when
put in black and white upon paper. A lit
tie wax cylinder, covered with microscopic
dots, would not be considered as good evil
dence in Court. But, if the speakers voice,
infection, accent, were so reproduced that
witnesses could swear to the personality,
would it not suffice? How could there be
any dispute over a mans will, when the
voice of the dead man was heard
In music, as | have already said, the
value of the monograph, even in its pres
ent condition, is indisputable. Musicians
are divided, and probably always will be,
as to the manner In which certain famous
symphonies ought to be conducted. The
metronome marks used by Beethoven are
but uncertain guides at best, while no writ
ten directions as to dynamic values, ex-
preston, ETC., are worth much. The
photograph will at least make it possible
for the musician of the future to know ex-
aptlv how opr- nOn,pncarc Cd tha,r 49,,
sic given, for it will repeat that music as
played to-day, with every shade of ex-
preston, with all its infinite changes of
time. Moreover, the photograph will
offer to the composer that long-sought
instrument, an automatic recorder of i'm
provisation upon the piano or other instru-
ment. In the far-otf future, when our
descendants wish to compare our simple
little Wagner operas with the complex
productions of their own days, requiring,
perhaps, a dozen orchestras, playing in
half dozen different keys at once, they
will have an accurate Photographic record
of our harmonic simplicity.
At present but few of the new phono-
graphs have been finished, and those only
for exhibition purposes When they will
be offered for sale seems to be doubtful /;
probably within few months. Mr.. Edi-
son says by the beginning of 1890 the
photograph will be far less curiosity
than the telephone is now, and that he
could begin selling the instruments at
once if he were fully satisfied with them.
There is always something which needs
improving. Just at present there is needed
funnel for so magnifying the sound that
If the instrument is placed in the center of
a table all the persons around can hear its
reading or its music. For the last year it
has been the same story-the monographs
would be ready for sale next month. 1t
was SO year ago, and it may be so a year
from now. But these many delays, which
have made people rather skeptical as to
the doings of the photograph, do not make
the wonders already achieved less wonder
full, or warrant any doubts as to the vast
possibilities which the little device con-
tains.-Phiiiip G. Hubert, Jr., in February
Atlantic.