Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1889-07-18
EDIsoN's PHoNoGRAPH.
A Great Future Prophesied for the New
Talking Machine.

A Great Future Prophesied for the New
Talking Machine.
As a saving in the time given up to
writing, the photograph 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 u suitable
box, can be sent of by mail, to read
out its message perhaps thousands of
miles away. Or else, as is now done
in Mr.. Edisons laboratory in Orange,
N. D., the typewriter girl can print
out upon paper what her employer has
dictated TO the Photographs For the
reporter, the editor and the author
who can dictate, n Device has been
adapted to the monograph which
causes il TO stop it's message az every
tenth word, and TO continue only when
a spring is touched. Thus tho editor
can dictate his article to the phono-
graph as he does now to his stenog-
rapher, and when the printer at the
case gets the resulting phonogram the
instrument will dictate to him in short
sentences. II he can not set up
the sentence at one hearing,
it will repeat its ten words
II he is satisfied it reads
out ten words more. really see no
reason why the newspaper Of the
future should not come to the sub
scriber in the shape Of phouogram.
1t would have to begin, however, with
table Of contents, In order that one
might not have 10 listen to two
hours speech upon the tariff question
in order to get at ten lines OF "a
musical notice. But think what
musical critic might be able TO do for
his public! He might give them whole
arias from an opera on movements
from a symphony. by way of proof or
illustration. The very tones of an
actors or singers voice might be re-
produced in the morning notice Of
last nights important dramatic or
musical event 1t has boon remarked,
by the way, that business letters and
orders by photograph would not be SO
binding rs when put in black and
white upon paper A little wax cyl
inder covered with microscopic
dots would not be considered as
good evidence in court But
if the speakers voice, inllec-
ton and accent were SO reproduced
that witnesses could swear TO the per-
sonality, would it not su1iccP How
could there be any dispute over q mans
will when tho voice OF the dead man
was heard?
In music, as have already said the
value of the monograph even in its
present condition is indisputable Mu-
sicians are divided. and probably a.
ways will be, as TO the manner in which
certain famous symphonies ought TO be
conducted. The metronomc marks used
by Beethoven are but uncertain guides
at best, while no written directions as
to dynamic values, expression, etc,
are worth much The monograph will
at least make it possible for the musi-
clan OF the future to know exactly how
our composers wished their music
given for it will repeat that music rs
played to-day, with eyory shade Of OK
preston. with all its infinite changes
of time. Moreover the phonograph
win offer TO the composer that long
sought instrument, an automatic re-
corder of improvisation upon the
piano or other instrument. In tho
far-oil future, when our descend
ants wish to compare our sim
Pile little Wagner operas with the
complex productions of their own days.
requiring, perhaps, dozen orchestras,
playing in half dozen different keys
at once, they will have accurate phone
graphic record Of our harmonic sin.
plicity.
At present but few of the now phono-
graphs have been finished, and those
only for exhibition purposes. When
they will be oitorod for sale seems TO
be doubtful; probably within few
months. Mr. Edison sa, chat by tho
beginning OF 1890 the photograph wiz
be far less Of curiosity than tho telc-
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 il the instrument is placed
in the center Of table all the persons
sitting around can hear its reading or
music. For the last year it has been
the same story-the monographs
would be ready for sale next month
1t was SO a year ago, and il may be SO
q year from now. But these many de-
lays, which have made people rather
skeptical as to the doiugs Of the phone
graph do not make the wonders 81.
ready achieved less wonderful, OF war
rant any doubts as TO the vast posi-
bilitics which the little device con
tains. Atlantic Monthly.