Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1891-01-23
THE PHONOGRAPH.
EMPEROR WILLIAM EXAMINES
" srR& CURIOUS INSTRUMENT.
interesting Experience OF inventor
Edison's Lieutenant Before Ger
many,s Royal Family--Kaiser
Williams Nee 1anical Skill.


ant in charge of the photograph, had
some highly interesting experiences dur
ing his recent tour of Europe with that
curious instrument. While the machine
was on exhibition in Heidelberg de-
spatch came from Emperor William, of
Germany, requesting MIR. Wangemdn to
bring the phonograph to the palace at
Potsdam.
1t was arranged that the interview
should take place at z in the evening in
one of tho private chambers adjoining
tho great dining hall. The Emperor
Agrceted his visitor cordially and without
formality. 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 MIR.
Wangeman at once as man of extraor-
binary force of character, keen percep-
tions, aud remarkably quick intuition.
Almost his first request of Dir. Wange-
man was that he would take the phono-
graph to pieces and explain infinitely the
purpose of each part. This was done,
and the Emperor listened attentively, Of
ten cutting short tho explanation when
he perceived the idea in advance of the
words. When the instrument was again
complete and had been put in operation,
the Emperor marveled at what he heard.
Mr. Wengeman had taken to the palace
q collection OF the best cylinders in his
possession. They carried on their waxen
]. surfaces the impressions of the voices of
s3many OF the prominent personaaes who
had visited the Edison headquarters in
Paris, and many selections from the best
operas which had been produced at the
French capital during the exposition
There were samples, too, of the best work
of the most celebrated vocal and instru-
mental artists then in Europe. Every
thing was there save the original speak.
ers 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 tracing, represented ali
that was grandest Id hariro: aaits {, a.
was most thrilling in contemporary elo-
qucnce. After hearing the first revela-
ton of the hidden marveis of the box,
the members of the royal party looked at
the little black rolls with expressions in.
to which there crept suggestions of sup
restitution aud reverence.
AS one treasure after another was
poured into their delighted cars the en-
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 huency; it sang, it whistled,
it laughed, it groaned. Not till nearly
midnight did the royal company weary
of the entertainment, and then MIR. Wan
geman was permitted to depart after
cordial expressions of gratitude and re-
gard, and IN 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 ordered
special train sent out for Mr.. Wange-
mans accommodation, rs it was neces-
Ssary that he should be in Berlin early in
,.ethe morning.
The interest taken by the Kaiser and
his household in the phonograph was by
no means exhausted, and three times in
all by royal request Mr.. Wangeman Wis
tied the palace. On his seeJhd visit he
took with him number of unused cyl
inders upon which to record the voices
of several of the royal family, the music
of the court band, and some vocal and
piano selections. There were about
twenty-four members of the royal house.
( hold present, aud Mr.. Wangeman was
received in the private room of the EN-
peror. The spot was delightful one.
The room was large, some thirty by
forty feet, richly furnished, but not elab-
orately ornamented. 1t had, in fact, a
somewhat bare appearance Great win
dows, fifteen or twenty feet high, opened
into the garden, where the court band
was playing, as is the custom every even
ing after dinner. After the first greet
ing, and when the photograph had been
nnpacked, the Emperor asked Mr.. Wange-
man to take the instrument entirely to
pieces. The request .7as obeyed. 1nen
the Emperor said he would try to ex-
plain tic instrument in detail to those
who had not been present on the previous
occasion, and would attempt to put it
together again. He asked MIR. Wangc-
man not to help him in any way, but to
correct him if he made any mistake.
Mr.. Wangeman, with some apprehcn
sions, agreed. The task which the
Emperor set himself Mr.. Wangeman had
never seen performed, and he didn't be-
iieve the Kaiser, or anybody not an ex-
perienced mechanic, could succeed with
ait. So he looked on and listened rather
nervously, puzzling his brain meantime
HOY he should be able to assist the EN-
Peror without hurting his feelings. But
the dilemma was an imaginary one, and
when the Emperor had finished MIR.
Wangeman was overcome with astonish-
ment. William handled the various
pieces skilfully and confidently, and cx-
planned the purpose of each as lucidly
and positively as Mr.. Wnageman himself
could have done. In few minutes the
dismantlcd machine was completely re-
stored and it was in perfect order. When
he had finished he turned to Mr.. Wange-
man, who had not spoken during the
explanation, with:
"Was tha. correct, Herr Wange-
man 90 =