Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1893-10-31
HIS EXPERIMENT.

HIS EXPERIMENT.
Most men have a hobby, and Silas
Bland, of 1.-The Beeches," in the fair
country OF Surrey, was no exception
to the rule. AS matter of fact, one
hobby did not satisfy him. He dab
bled 10 nearly everything-chemistry
photography. geology, numismatics,
mechanics. mesmerism. all had their
attractions for him; but of recent
years the inventions of Edison, the
famous electrician, had absorbed the
greater part of his attention. And
now, as an elderly man of independ-
ent means, the sole occupant of a
large and handsomely furnished man.
sion, he gave up the greater part of
his time to the study of the wonder
full productions of the man he so
much admired. 1t goes without say.
ing that signs were visible all over
the house Of the old gentleman's pro-
clivities:
Visitors never required to ring to
gain admittance; in fact, there was
no bell visible. The stone slab in
front Of the door yielded slightly to
the pressure Of the visitors foot, and,
as consequence, an electric peal
notified the servants Of an arrival.
Telephone communication reigned
supreme, and from all the principal
rooms in the house the master, with
out seeing his servants, give his orders
while sitting at his desk or reclining
in his armchair. A complete set of
electric burglar-alarms attached to
every door and window on the ground
floor had hitherto afforded him i'm
munity from nocturnal visitors, but
as he contemplated shutting up the
house for month or so while he
sought a change of scene, it behooved
him to think of some method Of sub
DUNG a burglar who, in spite of
''war's ALARM" knowing he was in an
empty and isolated house, might defy
the noisy demonstrations of the bells
and proceed with his looting.
Silas settled himself to think it out
one night, and quiet chuckle at the
end of an hours meditation would
have convinced listener, had there
been any, that he had worked out
plan to defeat and capture any bold
emulator of Bill Skies who might at.
tempt to carry out his designs against
''The Beeches."
Now, Silas BANDS very latest
"pet" was an improved Edison phono-
graph. which he had managed to
Smuggle into this country in defiance
of the patent rights supposed to be
held by an English syndicate. It
was a never-ending source of delight
to himself and his friends to listen to
the records of American orators and
musicians whichaccompanied the ma
chine. Then with large supply of
blank cylinders he was prepared to
preserve for posterity the voices of
those friends who were privileged to
speak into the wonderful invention.
In some cases the reproductions were
marvellous and to strangers it would
appear as if the voice they heard &C.
tually proceeded from the mouth of
the person who, perhaps six months
ago and 5000 miles away, had spoken
into the machine.
For the benefit OF those who have
not had an opportunity of examining
this delicate piece Of mechanism, it
NAV be as we'll to explain that as soon
as the sound which it is desired to
record has been craven upon the wax
cylinder by the action of the needle,
obedient to the vibration aroused by
the voice. it may be reproduced i'm
medlately by the reverse action. And
not only once, but thousands of
times. The cylinder. almost noise
lessly revOlved by an electric current,
will receive and, in turn, deliver an
grafton OF three minutes in length,
every infection of the voice being re-
produced with absolute fidelity.
Here. then. was Silas BANDS oppor-
tunity TO defend his hearth and home
during his absence and that 1T the
servants.
He invited an actor friend to dine
one evening, and afterwards got him
to deliver certain carefully prepared
sentences in stentorian voice, and
in most realistic STYLE into the
monograph.
A trial showed that the effort was
most successful. and Mr.. Bland soon
afterwards completed his little ar.
rangements, shut up his house, and
departed On his holiday with light
heart and q curiously self-satisfled
smile.
Now, it happened that soon after
Silas BANDS departure, one Of these
poor oppressed and downtrodden
.'knights of the jemmv," William
Mcnamara by name. but more com.
monty known as ''Bill Mac" Icing in
the nsighborhood Of 1.-THE Beeches,"
one day ION business" cast an envi-
Gus eye upon the apparently deserted
mansion.
William felt particularly low just
then, a. his old and tried pal Angus.
tus Montgomery, had been just SEN
fenced BY q pessimistic Judge to
eighteen months tharu" for some
alleged trifling tnaccuTacy on the part