The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1890-04-10
NOTHING SEW UNDER THE SUH.
They Knew It All I've Centuries Ago. and
Here's Proof Of Il.

A curious little book has just been dug
cut from the dust Of two centuries and has
been partially republished by the German
newspapers for the purpose Of proving
that there is nothing new under the sun.
The little book Is entitled Foolish Wis
dom and Wise Foollshness," and was
written by an old-fashioned German
political economist named Becher. At
the time Of its publication the book was
regarded as something Of q Munchausen
narrative Of the authors travels through
Europe. During his wanderings Becher
became acquainted with most Of the
learned men on the continent, and learned
Q vast deal concerning the scientific work
Of his day. The first genius he met was
Franz Grundler, q Nurnberg optician. He
says Of him: "Grundler is a most re.
markable man. He has an idea that he
can cork up in q bottle, by means Of q
spiral, the ordinary spoken words Of q
mans voice, carry them around with him
thus for an hour or more and then open
the bottle and let them out. How far
Grundler has got with the execution Of
his idea since l saw him l do not know.
The whole conception appears to be quite
impossible Of execution and silly"
After thus limiting that even in the days
Of the thirty years war some men had
learned q thing or two concerning the
principle Of the phonoGraph, Becher has
a word to say Of can instrument by means
Of which persons more than q German
mile apart could talk with each other In
low tone Of voice" Becher calls the
instrument a stentrophonicyn, and de-
scribes how in using it he was Obliged
to press his lips very close to the bell
Of curiously shaped trumpet.
81 have seen," he continues, lone ol
these instruments at Grundler's In Nurn.
berg, and talked with him through It.
Although We were good distance apart
at the time and talked very loudly, no one
between US could hear a word We said"
During his tour Of inquiry Becher also
discovered that in several regions out
side Of Germany men had learned ito
write down what others said with won
derful rapidity, by means Of strange char
acters." "Englishmen have discovered
Q kind Of tachvgraphy," be explains, "oE
an art which enables them to write as
rapidly as the fastest speakers can talk.
They have brought this wonderful art
to such q perfection that young persons
often write out full sermons without q
mistake. Orations in parliament can be
written out by this means % rapidly o.
they are delivered, which l regard as q
very useful invention" So much for
stenography two centuries ago.
To save himself the trouble Of learning
various languages Of thecountries through
which he passed, Becher compiled uni-
versal language, not unlike our Volapuk.
This language, he says, was derived
directly from the nature Of things, slipped
easily over the tongue, and could be
learned In four weeks. It had but twelve
letters, and 500 words, was clear Of dec
clination and conjugations, and subject
to but six rules Of syntax.
Among the many other wonderful
things which Becher saw on the conti-
nent and wrote about In his little book
were an air gun (which shot lead without
-