Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-09-07
of THE EVENING STAR.


TRYING THE MAcH1NE-EDIsoN's EXHIBIT.
Correspondents of THE EVENING STAR
PARIS, August 20.
In the immense multitude of striking OBJ
jects in the Paris exposition there are two
which excite the most universal and unfagging
interest-the Eiffel tower and the photograph.
1t may seem absurd to compare. two such dis
similar things, but in one respect they are
alike-in the attention they attract and the
wonder they excite. One is the work Of a
French engineer and the other the product of
American genius. Both produce their wonder
full results by the manner in which metal is
moulded to human uses by human skill. One
appeals to the eve and the other to the ear.
THE TOWER,
formed almost entirely of thin strips of iron
woven into graceful fabric nearly 1000 feet
high, dominates the whole scene and forms the
prominent landmark of Paris as you approach
1t from all sides. 1t attracts every eye and
calls forth expressions Of wonder from all
tongues. Every day the four elevators are
thronged by visitors eager to ascend At the
second stage, where the last elevator is taken,
you must usually wait an hour in spiral queue
In order to form one of the squad of sixty to be
carried to the top. And this Is going on all day
and day after day without intermission. 1t Is
the great success of the exposition, both in .
scientific and pecuniary point of view.
THE PHoNoaRAPH.
But down in the great machinery hall, which
looks 30 small from the top of the tower, is the
other object alluded to which attracts scarcely
less attention-the monograph. 1t is made of
metal also, but stands upon small table, occupy
ing for each instrument scarcely foot of space.
There is nothing in its appearance to cause it
to be singled out from the myriads Of objects
about 1t. There are eight of these little in
struments on separate tables in portion of the
space OF 5000 square feet occupied by Mr..
Edison's exhibits. And around these tables it
has been found necessary to construct long
winding guards, as at the elevator Of the Eiffel
tower, in order to regulate the access Of the
eager crowds.
HOW THE PEOPLE ARE AccoMMoDArRp.
To each Of the instruments is attached hear
ing tube divided into six branches, and an
operator sits there ready to adjust them to the
ears Of the persons in the line as their turn
comes. And there from morning till IL o'clock
at night the line is kept up almost without
break. 1t is very interesting to sit within the
rail and watch this line as it passes It consists
OF all classes and all nations as chance has
thrown them together. They wait patiently,
gazing at the machine with varying expressions
Of curiosity. When squad of six takes hold Of
the tubes-they may consist Of lady, work.
man, typical American, q Turk in turban, a
dark skinned Egyptian in his robe and sash
and little French girl-you can watch all
these faces az they first catch the actual sounds
OF human speech coming from the little in
strument, and they form
A CURIOUS STUDY OF FACIAL IMPRESSION.
You can see how similarly the smile of won
der is formed upon all the countenances Few
Of the crowds that hear it have any clear no
ton of how the sounds are produced. but they
hna <~nvx,
iron and wood and are lost in amazement.
Many of them show signs of skepticism and
peer narrowly under the table for the man who
10 playing the trick.
Mr. Hammer, who has charge of the whole
Edison exhibit, said tina. often from Is 600 To
$1,000 people have listened to it in one day and
that before the exhibition closes the number of
those who have heard it will run ND into
millions.
IN VARIOUS LANGUAGES.
This thing is going on all the time. not only
| in machinery hall but in small room in Mr..
Edisons part Of the United States exhibit, and
| in the room devoted to the graphophone, which
attracts the same interest. In this part there
10 not the same motley crowd, and the exhibi-
| tions are given more deliberately and in sew
eral different languages. The Russian, the
Italian, the German, the Frenchman and even
| the Arabian can hear his own language spoken
by this marvellous instrument 1t is not to be
wondered at that it should hold the unfailinQ
attention Of the changing crowds of visitors.
Tor TO most OF them 1t il q perfectly novel
thing.
TALKING LETTER.
The traveller to whom letter writing becomes
| such q bore will soon learn to prize this inven-
| ton when he finds that at any hotel he can do
e did, through the kindness OF Mr.. p. l.
Waters, who has charge Of the graphophone In
the exhibition. He gave me . cylinder, at a