The morning call., 1893-08-07
THE PHONOGRAPH.
Experience of Country Newspaper
Man at Chicago.

EdisOn's phonograph has magnific ent set-
ting forth, and you can investigate and enjoy
this fascinating instrument to your hearts con-
tent utterly free of the annoying nickel. Beau.
tful young ladies Will very obligingly explain
| The wonderful instrument 10 your perfect I'M
derstandng and treat you as nicely as though
they thought you were going to buy one OF
them-One OF the machines l mean. You will
be interested to learn now the photograph Is
being used for teaching languages, also In
commercial life. The man of business talks his
communications into the Instruments mouth
piece. Later. the typewriter, at her leisure.
which Is thing typewriter Is usually very
fond Of hangs The tubes In her dainty ears the
dented wax gives back the words of the man OF
business, and the typewriter puts the matter
into letter. Or the wax cylinder is talked
full, sent OFF by mail. and the words reproduced
at the most distant point. 1t seems like witch
craft.
perhaps you would like to talk into 1t your
self?" the pretty girl asked. In the sweetest
tones, after she had treated me to cylinder after
cylinder OF songs and brass bands and eXer-
cists in the Gei man language.
l said thought it would be nice. So she nut
a brand-new wax cylinder on the machine
nicely adjusted the mechanism. ana babe me
speak into the mouthpiece. l never felt so
bashful III my life.
Il don't know what 10 say" l stammered,
after looking vacantly into the mOuthplece and
then AROUND tbr building and then into the
bright eyes Of the attendant. suppose you
begin.''
SO she uttered few remarks and!one or TWO
other people took hold OF the thing aud said
i something. looking foolish all the while. Then
ihewise took hold again.
"Say, what you think OF the phOnOgraph ?'
suggested the young woman, seeing that l felt
my position Keenly.
THE Monograph is-the-the photograph
lS-a-" began, In frightened tone.
You must speak louder" she explained.
So spoke louder, but / didn't know what
said, and even sang .eble little verse till
people who had been listening began to move
away with a Wearied look on their faces, and
the Young lady shut off the power.
Now. if you Will listen through the tubes.'
she continued, you viii hear repeated all that
has been spoken into it,
SO hardened. The little machine buried
and whizzed and thrn began talking. 1 rec
ognized The young ladys remarks and what
the other people had said. every note and sylla-
Bile exactly reproduced. aud then the thing be-
gan to stammer and halt and give forth what
seemed TO be the remarks OF young man
with red hair and blue neckte, who, never
having been In public life. is Unexpectedly
elected to preside at parish meeting and
has 10 re urn thanks for the honor conferred
upon HIM. There were some hrmmings and
hawiugs and number of whstliug noises, ill.,
teIspefsed with eloquent rauses. and l could
hear the instrument break forth into cold
perspiration as it finished the remarks. Then
put the tub IS carefully down.
IL am to understand, am !, that those con-
| GLIDING stanzas represent what l spoke into
| the machine % l asked in a mild and inoffsn.
! sive tone.
| Just the same" the young lady replied,
| with 4 far-away look in her eye.
"My tones, my understanding?
"Everything.' she said.
So that explains il. l know now why the
people do not ask me TO sing OItener. under
stand why they do not ask me 10 sing 20
Promise Me-" and Daddy Won't Buy Me
Bow wow" aud such things, at couceit Is and
why nobody ever comes 10 me when lbe reg.
ular tenor is away aud asks me 10 take his
place for a Sunday in the choir. | have
felt hurt about these things. and thought l was
kept down by Jealousy, but now my mind Is
cleared of a misunderst 'nding that might have
lain upon 1t forever. had not Mr.. Edison in
v nted his photograph. How grateful L am 10
him.
land do 1 under stand" said to the young
lady, that this cylinder, upon which l have
imprinted these remarks, can he preserved ?'
For centuries" she answered.
"And my voice, with The information it fails
TO convey, produced indefinitely"
''W lille the world lasts" she said.
But" l pursued, getting anxious, II under
stand you can pare off that wax cylinder. de,
stroying the evidence, ana use II for more vital
purposes. AIN rigbt?"
'Quite right" she observed.
'Miss EdisOn" l SAID, In a trembling voice.
II am not rich, as men count Riches but here
Is a dollar and a half"
"Give yourself no uneasiness," the young
lady rej0ined Il shall destroy the cylinder.
We always do"
Aud so l came away. You will never know
what weird, uncanny thing is your own voice
until il comes out Of phonOgraph.
You think you know Its sound, but the sound
you hear when you speak Is not what you bore
other people with.
l shall try not TO talk so much hereafter.