St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-09-06
GENIUS OF AMERICANS
1t Astonishes the Emperor of
Germany and the Gar
ofRussia.
The Photograph Exhibited to
Them by Theodore E.
I Wangeman.
The Voice Of the Late Emper-
or Frederick Is Re-
produced.
A Deeply Interesting View of
A. Deeply Interesting View of
the Homes Of Roy
atty.

the home life of the present crowned
heads of Europe, of being entertained in
their palaces and Offering entertainment
for the men who hold in their hands the
destiny of Europe. A. Theo. E. Wan
geman, Edison's lieutenant, who IS in
Minneapolis now, and will have charge
OF the monograph at the Exposition, is
such a man. 1t was he who, in behalf
of Mr.. Edison. took the curious instru-
ment to Europe and explained its work
ings to the great rulers. He had some
novel experiences and he can relate
them in most entertaining way. To
New York Sun representative he told of
his visit and the many pleasant Incl
dents. While the machine was on ex-
hibition at Heidelberg despatch came
! from Emperor William, requesting Mr..
Wangeman to bring the photograph to
the palace at Potsd am.
The kaiser arranged for a half hours
audience for the purpose of examining
the instrument, about which all Europe
was talking by that time. MIR. Wanged
man, Judging by the experience he had
been having, made up his mind 1t would
be rather long half hour. The result
proved it, for the kaiser was so fasci-
mated by the machine that he spent four
hours and half with Mr.. Wangeman
on his first visit, and subsequently sent
for him to spend two mere evenings at
the palace.
The first meeting was arranged for
by the oberhoff marschall, as the
functionary is called who has immedi-
ate charge of the emperor's household
and personal affairs. He sent a car
rage for Mr.. Edison's represent
alive on his arrival at Pots
dam, and the interview took
place at z in the evening in one of the
private chambers adjoining the great
dining hall. The emperor greeted his
visitor cordially and without formality.
He shook hands and spoke. in warmest
admiration of the genius of the maker
of the photograph. He inquired par
ticularly about Mr.. Edison's manner of
living and his habits of work. There
were present also the empress, one or
two court ladies, and two or three
adjutantS of the emperOr'S personal
staff. The kaiser impressed Mr..
Wangeman at once as a man
of extraordinary force of character,
keen perceptions, and remarkably
quick intuition. Almost his first
request of MIR. Wangeman was that he
would take the photograph to pieces
each part. This was done, and the en-
peror listened attentively, often cutting
short the explanation when he per-
ceived the idea in advance of the words.
When the instrument was again COM
plete and had been put in operation
the emperor marveled at what he heard.
Mr.. Wongeman had taken to the palace
{ collection of the best cylinders in his
possession. They carried on their
@waXen surfaces the impressions Of the
voices of many of the prominent per-
sonages who had visited the Edison
headquarters in Paris. and many selec-
lions from the best operas which had
been produced at the French capital dur
ing the exposition. There were sam
pies, too, of the best work of the most
celebrated vocal and instrumental
artists then in Europe. Everything was
there save the original speakers and
artists themselves. A little box, two
feet square. containing some dozen or
more small, black, hollow cylinders.
each having upon its surface hundreds
of fine, almost Invisible tracings. repre-
sented all that was grandest in har-
mOny and all that was most thrilling in
contemporary elOquence. After hearing
the first revelation of the hidden mar
velS of the box, the members of the
royal party looked at the little black
rolls with expressions into which there
crept suggestions of superstition and
reverence.
AS one treasure after another was
poured into their delighted ears the Ell
thusiaSm and wonder of the listeners
were unmeasured. Manifold tests were
made of the machines perfect mimicry.
1t talked German, French and English
with equal f1uency; it sang, it whistled,
1T laughed, it grOaned. Not till nearly
midnight did the royal company weary
OF the entertainment. and then Mr.
Wangeman was permitted to depart
after cordial expressions of gratitude
and regard, and an earnest request that
he would repeat his visit. The hour
was so late that the last regular train
had left for Berlin, and the emperor Or
dered Special train sent out for Mr..
Wangeman's accommodation, as it was
necessary that he should be in Berlin
early in the morning.
The interest taken by the kaiser and
his household in the photograph was
by no means exhausted, and three times
in all by royal request Mr.. Wangeman
visited the palace. On his second visit
he took with him a number of unused
cylinders upon which to record the
voices of several of the royal family, the
music of the court band. and some vocal
twenty-fOur members of the royal house
hold present, and Mr.. Wangeman was
received in the private room of the en-
peror.
The principal object of the visit that
evening was to make photographic rec
ord of the voices of the three little
princes, Wilhelm, Heinrich and Adel-
bert. The Empress Augusta Victoria
was especially DESTROYS of preserving
nj 10 st
the boys, and both she and the EN-
peror were much interested in hay
ing the youngsters acquit themselves
3 creditably in the performance. Will
/ helm, the crown prince, is but six years
I old. Heinrich is less than five, and
I Adelbert is a year younger. They
I thought the photograph was great
: larks, and in genuine boy fashion they
y wanted to try all sorts of experiments
oto see what it would do. When it came
{ to preparing the memorial cylinders
( touching incident occurred. Wilhelm
aTeproduces his fathers disposition. He
!: is a sturdy, vigorous little fellow, full
] OF determination and fire. He sang the
} German national hymn into the phono-
! graphs faithful ear with all the vim and
5 patriotic ardOr of which he was capa-
1 BILE. He has true German soul for
music, for when the notes came back in
the test to see II the record was perfect
1 the boyish voice was in perfect tune,
rand the emperor and his wife were de-
9 lighted with the results.
Then came little Heinrich, boy of
gentle disposition and delicate orga-
nism. He is genuine, whole-hearted
boy just the same, and he stood in front
of monograph to repeat the we'll
known patriotic German poem begin
ming: Itch hat einen cameradin."
The lines are full of fire and pathos,
and the little orator put his whole soul
into them. The empress was deeply
moved when he came to the lines where