Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-01-23
A CURIOUS PROPHECY.
How Commodore Maury Described a
Talking Machine Fifty Years Ago.

Nearly fifty years ago the late Commodore
Maury in jesting mood spoke of recording
human speech by speaking through a trumpet
upon sheet of paper, and in general way
described the phonograph or graphophone.
This curious prophecy, made in a joke was
discovered the other day by Dr. G. Brown
Goode, director of the national museum, in
looking over the life of Commodore Maury
recently published in London. 1t is contained
in letter written by Commodore Maury to a
relative in New York, dated May II, 1874. At
that time Commodore Maury was superin-
tendent of the naval observatory in this CITY
If Commodore Maury had been alive and pres
ent when Prof. Goode read this letter he
would have been astonished to see what the
professor did. He turned and took up n
trumpet and talked into 1t. He was speaking
not upon piece Of paper but upon a hight
wax cylinder. When ne had finished speak
ing he lnclosed this little cylinder in a little
pasteboard case or box and mailed it to Mr.. e.
ID. Easton, the president of the Columbia pho
nograph company of this city. Mr. Easton mt
the cyider on graphophone, adjusted the ear
piece to his eat and then read what Prof.
Goodies voice had written on the cylinder Ii
was copy OF Commodore Maury's letter, in
which he wrote:
What pity il is that NJ DaGuerrc, instead
of photography, had not invented a process of
writing by merely speaking through a trumpet
upon sheet OF paper. What a glorious thing
1t would have been. 1 could then have mailed
out letters in the bofdest hand and at any time
Instead of saying i wrote you a letter last
Monday, the phrase would have been Il spoke
you a ream last Tuesday The world would
become a mere scribbling shop-a vast book
machine. When out visiting and YOU would
wish to give the cook an order you would only
have to haul down the pipe and the cook would
have written order at her feet and then there
could be no mistake about the pudding. What
convenience that would be to house keepers.
Such contamination though, must be left to
the generation OF our children. 1t would be
curious thing If they were to carry on their
courtship in this way"
Acquitted of a Charge of Embezzlement.
In the Criminal Court today Charles Dean
was placed on trial for the embezzlement of
100 pounds of beef from Thomas A. Scott
January 8, Mr.. Waller for the defendant. Scott
testified that Dean took the meat out in a
wagon to sell for him and he converted it to
his own use. selling it for 50. On cross exam
NATION witness said that Dean helped him
about selling from the wagon and he some
time gave him twenty-five, thirty-fve and fifty
cents day and some little things from the
store. James Otis, the stepson of Scott testi-
he'd to being with the wagon when the meat
was sold. Officer Sanford testified to the ar
rest when Dean was very drunk For the de-
PENDANT Mr. Waller said he had no witnesses,
no defense and would simply submit the case
to the jury; that he worked for Scott under no
agreement as to pay and that having
a wife and two children Mr.. Scott paid
him twenty-five to fifty cents per day. The
case was submitted to the jury the court (Chief
Justice Bingbam) charging that they must
lind that he formed the intention to appro-
PIRATE to his own use at the time he received or
sold the meat to convict. II he formed the in
tention after he received the money he could
not be convicted under the indictment
The jury found a verdict of not guilty and
defendant was discharged