Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-09-20

Idea to take down some Of their remarks
by means of the graphophone. Accord
ingly, he procured a portable instrument and
secured the cooperation Of about \ dozen other
men Of science attached to that learned estab-
ishment in the carrying out of this remarkable
SiaL. II was a great sight to behold the group
of eminent doctors and professors gathered in
front of the monkey cage at the Zoo in the
rear Of the Smithsonian building seriously
waiting results, while Prof. Garner ground
away at the hand ~graphophone with its crank
attachment and the keeper CT the animals
poked the monkeys up with a stick to mako
them talk.
THE TWO CHATTERERS.
One monkey was tame and the other one
wild. The wild one could not be induced by
the most vigorous poking to MAKE any remarks
worth mentioning. An occasional scream of
rage was all that could be elected from him.
The tame monkey did nothing but chatter and
gibber most unintelllgibly. as it seemed to the
rest OF the audience, but Prof. Garner WAS in
clined to think that this was really conversation
worth taking down, and so he ground away
vigorously at his instrument, using up half a
dozen cylinders in obtaining the records he de-
sired. 4 big tin horn attached to the graphic
phone was inserted through the door of the
monkey cage during the performance.
Prof. Garner was very far from imagining
that he would be able to understand this
monkey talk when repeated to him by the ma
marks of one monkey and grind them
out through the horn for the
benefit of the other monkey, so as
TO observe what sort OF responses the second
one would make. By comparing the original
observations and the replies he hoped to get
some few clues that would eventually enable
him to translate the monkey language. Cnfor-
t~unately, the wild monkey would only scream
angrily. and thus the experiment was in a
measure a failure, though the professor is con-
WINGED that he has obtained on his cylinders
some really useful simian observations. if he
could only tell what they were about. This is,
in fact, the only difficulty remaining, and he
does not despair.
THE MARINE BAND,
which may be called the Presidents own, in
asmuch as it supplies all the music at the
White House, is rendering itself immortal Just
at present by having its most harmonious
strains bottled in large quantities. When the
performers in this wonderful band are all dead
and gone people viii still be able TO hear 1t
play. Every afternoon 1t gives a concert in a
room on Z street near It'll. to which no
listeners are admitted save five monographs.
The instruments stand in a row OH tables and
each of them is equipped with en- enormous
brass horn. In front OF the horns the band dis
courses the ~loveliest airs in its repertoire.
which are thus recorded on wax cylinders i'm
perishably for the entertainment OF people in
all parts of the united States, who have simply
to drop q nickel in the slot and listen to the
concert.
You would be very interested to see the man.
ner in which this business Of bottling music is
carried on Wizard Edison runs a music-bot-
ting factory on an extensive scale at Orange.
N j.. where thousands of fresh airs are turned
out on wax every month. The companies that
handle his talking and singing machines in
various parts OF the country all do such bot
Ting on their own count, each company hav-
ing its specially. For instance. the Washington
company Is making a speciality Just at present
of band music, the Kentucky company goes in
almost exclusively for negro business-planta-
ton dialogues, with banjo solos interpreted,
and scenes on the levees-and SO with the others.
HOW IT IS DONE.
While the Marine Band plays into the five great
horns an expert manipulates the machines.
Each phonograph being supplied with a smooth