The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-07-11
WILL OFTEN TELL THE STORY.
The Strange Guests To Be at the
Stanley. Tennant Wedding.

LONDON. July 10.-The bells that will ring
out welcome from Westminster Abbey on
Saturday to NJ. Stanley and Miss Tenant
should, II they are wise, take extraordinary
precautlon to say only what they mean, and
say 1t in their most polished style. 1t must
have been with at least wild sort Of curl
osity that tn y looked upon the piece Of
mechanism " ich was placed well within
hearing dista Of them today. They had
never seen an, tbing like 1t. Mayhap had
never heard Of 1t.
1t was a phonograph. The bells were
asked to speak they spoke. Then the pho
nograph was asked to speak; 1t spoke, and
the story told by the bells the phonograph
repeated The organ, too. was In a state Of
mind. 1t had filed the Abbey with the music
to which thousands would listen on the occa-
sion of the wedding of Mr.. Stanley and Miss
Tennant. IL had been so 'nor0us as the
north wind and as soft as the summer
zephyr; but, growing careless, II had per-
mitted couple Of notes to which no invita-
tions had been issued to enter the Abbey.
IL had heard the notes come in, but their en-
trance had caused only passing emotion Of
discomfort until small bit Of machinery Of
which the organ had taken no notice called
It's attention In most exasperating because
matter Of fact manner, to the circumstance,
which It had hoped would attract no atten-
tion. Every word the organ had said was
repeated by the uninvited guest, and among
the words were two false notes.
The choir which Is TO sing at the wedding
Of Mr.. Stanley and Miss Tenant rehearsed
its part today also. and among the listeners
was the phon0grap1. 1t registered every
note In its mechanical way, and when the
choir had finished, and had told itself, after
the manner of choirs. that 1t had never per-
formed more successfully, the phonograph
recorded all its remarks.
1t may be surmised that the phon0graph
did not pay Westminster Abbey visit with
out an object. Being constructed upon pure
ly mechanical lines. Of course It had an OBJ
ject; This object has been partly accom-
pllshed.
The phonograph has been satisfied that the
bells. organ and choir will perform their du-
1t intends to remain there until the last yes
tige Of doubt has been dissipated. This done
1t will make its bow TO Mr.. and Mrs. Stan
ley and beg to be made an '-'uate friend OF
the family. 1t will be 9 request
Is not corSplied W. Ia
which will 6e-pA
Stanley by ColtH -, -~o, .<sNs.
most wonderful Oh. ~p91rv.sI,HafIi ~ ieSSnNSssAtre
more to tell that is wRRrangen u rosaAu any
phonograph that has ever spoken.
This phonograDh will be made OF Califor-
MIA cherry, beautiful wood, and such parts
OF 1t as are constituted Of metal will be COW
cred, but not hidden, in case OF bevelled
glass. 1t will contain spaces for a hundred
volumes Of voices, and to its possessor will
be abls to tell a marvellous story. II will
be able to repeat the welcome Of the bells,
the swelling notes of the organ and the
voices of the choir. IL will be able to tell,
word for word, the language Of the marriage
contract and the names Of the slgners there
to. 1t will contain the good wishes of the
American friends Of the great explorer and
those who are not so far away.