Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-08-10

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Edism's phmogzaph has . magnificent
setting forth, md zen can Investigate and
enjoy this fascinating instrument to YOU
hearts cDntanf utterly free 81 the annoy
ing nickel beautiful young ladies' viii
very obiigingiy explain the instrument q
your perfect understanding and treat you
- nicely a. though they thought ron wers
going 10 buy one Of them-one Of the MA
chimes, mean You will be interested u
learn how the phonograph is being used
for teaching languages. also In commercial
life. The man ef business talks his com
munications into the Instruments mouth
piece Later. the typewritsr, At her leisure
hangs the tubes To her dainty ears, and
aentsd VIZ gives back the words Of shs
man Of business. and the typewriter puts
.. The matter ints letter. NDr the WAX CT In
der Il talked fall, sent Of By mail and the
words reproduced at the most distant point
Il seems like witchcraft.
PERHAPS You would ike to talk into II
yourseiffe the pretty girl asked in thu
sweetest tones after she bad treated me tc
eylinder after cylinder Of songs and bras
bands and exercises in tbs German Ian
gtaSe.
| I said thought il woaid be nice. So she
pnt brand neg wax cylinder on the ma
chine, nicely adjusted the mechanism and
balie me speak into the Houthpiece.
never felt 40 tssshful in my life.
II don't know what 10 say l STAN
mered after locking vaeantly Into the
uouihpieee and then around the building
aail then into the bright eyes Of the at
PENDANT ''Snppoee you begin"
80 .hs uttered few remarks, and one oi
two other people took hold Of the thing
and said something. looking foolish all the
while. Then likewise took hold again.,
say what you think of the phono
graph" suggested the young woman, see
ing that felt my position keenly.
The photograph is-the-the phono
graph is--a''f began In frightened tone
You must speak louder" she explained
Sol spoke louder. but didn't know what
said and / even sang feeble little VERSE
Till people who had been listening began tt
move away, with wearied look on theil
faces, and the young lady shut of the
power.
Now, If you will listen through ths
tubes" she continued. ''yoa will hear re
so | hearkened. The little machine
blurred and whizzed and then began talk
ing. I recognized the young ladys re
marks, and what the other people had said
every note and syllable exactly repro
duced. and then the thing began TO STAN
mer and halt and give forth what seemed
To be the remarks Of a young man with RED
hair and blue necktie, who, never having
been in public life, is Unexpectedly elected
To preside at u parish meeting and has u
return thanks for the honor conferred upof
him There were some hemmings and
hawings, and number of whistling noise,
interspersed with eloquent pauses, and
could hear the instrument break forth int
1. cold persplration as 1t finished the re
marks. fhen 1 put the tubes carefully
down.
~ am to understand am l, that thost
concluding stanzits represent what | SPOKE
into the nachiusl" | asked ~ 4. mild and
inoilensive tone.
Just the same the young lady replied
with faraway look in her eye.
MY tones, my words --everythingS"
Everything" she said
So that explains it. l know now why
people do not aspire to sing oftener. | I'M
tierstand why they do not ask me to sing
"Oh, Promise Me" and DADDY Won't Buy
Me Bowwow." and such things at con
| cer,s. and why nobody ever comes to me
h.n the regular tenor is away and ask.
me To take his place for = Sunday in tbs
choir. Ihave felt hurt abott these things
and thought | was kept down by jealousy
but now my mind is cleared Of misundsr
standing that might have lain upon IL for
ever had not Mr. Edison invented his pho
nograph. How grateful | am to him.
And do | understand" | said to the
young lady that this cylinder upon which
nave imprinted these remarks can be pre-
served"
For centuries, she answered
And my voice, with the information /,
fails To convex, Reproduced indefinitely"
While the world lasts, she said
But" j pursued, getting anxious, 81
understand you can pare off that wax cyl
Under, destroying the evidence, and use i,
for more vital purposes. Am l rightp
Quite right, she observed.
miss Edison" | said in trembling
voice. Il am not rich, as men count riches
but here is sl.O'--
Give yourself no uneasiness." the young
lady rejoined II shall destroy the cyin-
der We always do"
And so | came away. You will neve,
know what weird, uncanny thing is your
own voice until it comes out of phone
lraph. You think you know its sound
but the sound you hear when you speak is
hot what you bore other people with.
shall try not TO talk much hereafter.
w. q. Fuller. Jr., in Auckland On. y
Tribune.