Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-02-01
MONKEYS CAN TALK.
The Photograph Has Proved That
Their Chatter Has Meaning.
CAMpHOR INDUSTRY OF FLORIDA.
The Future Railroad Trains Will Weigh
Half of What They Do Now.
WINE CULTURE IN CALIFORNI
lpREPARrp FOR THE DISPATCH. /.


The account of the experiments recently
made by learned professor at the Smith
sonian Institute, in determining the meaning
of the various sounds of the Simian tongue,
is Of exceptional interest. This gentleman
has, with extreme patience, succeeded in
recording upon the photographic cylinder,
many times repeated, the chatter of monkeys;
and after careful practice of the sounds thus
obtained. he finds that on repeating them he
can make himself understood by the ami
mails. AS it is but natural to suppose, it is
only sounds expressive OF sensations COM
mon to ourselves and our four-footed brethren
that have as yet been recognized and de-
fined; sounds, for instance, that express
cold, hunger, fear and other Of the feelings
most frequently experienced.
The value, however, of such Investigations
as these from a scientific standpoint can
hardly be overestimated. They will unques-
tionably result in the following out of an eu-
tirely new line of speculation and research
in the near future. This novel use of the
phonograph is an interesting confirmation
of the fact that the more or less marked ten
dency Of many scientific discoveries is
toward special applications undreamed of
when the offspring of the inventors ingenu-
ity was first made known to the world.
What at first is regarded as an ingenious
toy frequently becomes necessary adjunct
to our civilization. Photography for a con-
siderable time seemed to have little use
other than that of ministering to the vanity
of the favored few who could afford to en-
ploy it; row it is used in every branch Of
science and art, and is, indeed, absolutely
indispensable. The phonograph was long
considered wonderful but comparatively
useless plaything, and doubts are still ex-
pressed OF its ultimate practical value for
the purposes for which it was originally de-
signed; but there can be no question that
this invention. like many of its predecessors.
is destined to open out fresh fields of invest1-
cation and develop new wonders in many
and widely varied directions.
Some very interesting facts have been
lately established which point to the possi-
bility of the use OF the phonograph in the
solution OF certain problems involving mu-
sical acoustics. About two years ago. when
DR.. Wangemann, Mr.. Edison's representa-
tive, was exhibiting the phonograph before
the young German Emperor at his palace in
Berlin, record was about to be made of a
performance of the royal orchestra. DR..
Wangemann suggested certain changes in
the position of the instruments which ex-
perience had convinced him were more
favorable to the blending and recording of
sound than their ordinary disposition. The
leader of the orchestra was horror-stricken
at the idea of such an unhesrd-of innova-
tion; the Emperor at once commanded that
it should be done and the record was made.
The result so pleased the Emperor that al
the next royal concert the strings, wood
wind and brass were placed "a la phono-
graph" The recording OF the tubtlest
quality. or the "sour' of the human voice
the photograph has not yet attained to, but
for indicating the purely technical capabili.
ties of the vocal organ it possesses remark
able possibilities.
When in Paris DR.. Wangemann called
on Nine. Marchesi. the celebrated teacher
oil singing, and suggested that the phono.
graph might be used for vocal teaching, and
rendered possible certain distinctions and
shades of tone which often escape the uu-
aided ear. Nine. Marchesi ri6culed the
idea, saying that her 35 years of tuition had
been none too much to give her right ideas
on the subject, but she could trust herself
sooner than the new-fangled instrument
DR.. Wangemann, however, gained per-
mission to call the next day, when IL o.
the artists pupils sang plain scale, ascend.
ing and descending into the phonograph
Mime. Marchesi was perfectly astounded
with the result, for on listening to the record
she perceived inequalities and inaccuracie.
of tone which had escaped even her keer
ear.