Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-04-18
THE NEW TALKING MACHINES.

As saving in the time given up tn
writing, the monograph promises to
far outstrip the typewriter. The bust
ness man can dictate to the phono-
graph 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 monograph which
causes it to stop its message at every
tenth word, and to continue only when
a spring is touched. Thus, the editor
can dictate his article to the phono-
graph as he does now to his steno-
grapher, 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
sentences at one hearing, it will repeat
its ten words. If he is satisfied, threads
out ten words more. / really see no
reason why the newspaper of the fu-
ture 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 a two hours
speech upon the tariff question in or
der to get at ten lines of a musical
notice. But think what musical
critic might be able to do for his pub
lie! He might give them whole arias
from an opera or movements from a
symphony, by way of proof or illus
tration. 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 little wax cylinder covered
with microscopic dots would not be
considered as good evidence in court.
But if the speakers voice, infection,
accent, were so reproduced that wit
nesses 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 heardP
In music, as have already said, the
value of the photograph even in its
present 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 I'M
certain guides at best, while no writ
ten directions as to dynamic values,
expression, etc., are worth much. The
photograph will at least make it pos
sible for the musician of the future to
know exactly how our composers
wished their music given, for it will
repeat that music as played to-day,
with every shade of expression, with
all its infinite changes of time. More
over, the monograph will offer to the
composer that long-sought instrument,
an automatic recorder of improvisa-
ton upon the piano or other instru-
ment. In the far-off future, when our
descendants wish TO compare our SIM
pie little Wagner operas with the COM
pick productions of their own days,
requiring, perhaps, 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 pho
nographs have been finished, and those
only for exhibition purposes. When
they will be offered for sale seems to
be doubtful; probably within a few
months. Mr.. Edison says that by the
beginning of 1890 the photograph will
be far less a curiosity than the tele-
phone 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 inn
proving. just at present there is
needed funnel for SO magnifying the
sound that if the instrument is placed
in the centre of table all the persons
sitting around can hear its reading or
its music. For the last year it has
been the same story,-the phono-
graphs would be ready for sale next
month. 1t was so a year ago, and it may
be so year from now. But these many
delays, which have made people rather
skeptical as to the dongs of the phon-
ograph, do not make the wonders al
ready achieved less wonderful, or
warrant any doubts as to the vast pos
sibilities which the little device con-
tains. Philip G. Hubert, J1., en- Attars-
tic.