Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1895-05-09

200 wears hence the same scene could
be thrown up at villa new way Of
recording history. you eee."
us not the mechanism very compll-
Gated"
"Not more so than that of the kline
toscope and the phonogreph, and the
difficulty of Photographic apparatus in
minute fractions of second. Certain
ashes of motion, a'e caught in ten
forty-ninths OF u second. Rut in pre-
serving them and in their reproduce
ton, ont or two Obstacles are met
With. The negative itself is very small
not mrch larger IL: II your thumb
nail. In reproducing these postures
and movements great care is neces-
sary in maintaining proportions.
Niccties of Adjustment.
TO throw upon a screen a series Of
movements, each taking up an inter-
val Of time not longer, perhaps than
a fifth part Of ten fcrty-ninths of n
second, and at the same time to insure
fidelity is the problem. AS it is, there
are occasional distortions. If move
ment in the reproduction be not, so to
speak, run out consecutivcly. that Is,
If a change Of posture be not accurate
~ photographed, although the move
ment occupied but the two hundredth
part of second. the effect will be
distorted. Hence the extreme nicely
required in the mechanism"
Perhaps tomorrow" said Mr. Edi-
son. 1--WE may perfect the machinery.
Perhaps we shall have to work an
other year upon it. In truth, it is q
very simple matter. 1t consists mere
ly in adjusting thoroughly understood
principles to q new contrivance made
up of old contrivances. Were it not
that we have such infinitely small
sections of time to deal with there
would be no difficulty at all. But, as
have told you, we know how to
overcome the difficulty. We simply
lack practice"
"Does it make any difference of
what nature the representation to be
produced is?
cat present. yes. In time, however.
it will not. The reproduction of such
sights and sounds as those enacted in
the opening Of congress would be
very easy. The spectator could sit
down in his drawing room or office
and have the whole scene enacted in
frs;nt of him. Nor would any special
apartment OF any particular prepara-
ton be necessary. But, with grand
opera, it would be more difficult. One
must exercise great care in securing
the ensemble. There are myriads of
details connected with the tones, the
gestures, the dress, the colors, tlls.
light, and such like. 1t is proposed to
give these With scrupulous fidelity.
Hence the temporary cessation Of pro-
gross. Although we could give all
these impressions with comparative
eAactness. 1T is intended to be perfect
ly faithful to the original. II never
does to perpetrate half performance.
1t is disappointing ard apt to shake
confidence in an invention. For my
self, have no doubt whatever of the
outcome. Before many years we will
have grand opera in every little vii
lage at 10c a head-and the very
highest grand opera. You will hear
and see Patti in your own parlor.
She will be heard hundred years
after her death, and seen and will
move and thrill her auditors in 301O.
The presidents Inauguration can be
treated in the same way. Pope Leo
and his cardinals may be seen and
heard for unnumbered centuries to
come"
It's Value i'm History.
Mr.. Edison's blue eyes lighted up
with enthusiasm.
"What a way to write history" he
repeated, echoing the words Of his
quesrioner. "Well, had never
thought of that, particularly, and yet
it is way to write it. isn't it? How
much more effectively one could con-
vey to future generations an idea of
the president than words and writing
could. In fact, written records would
cease to have their historical import
ance.'
Another use for the invention name
ly, the sentimental one, had not occur
red to Mr.. Edison either. Yet the
machine ought to be welcomed by
;overs-it insures the perpetual pres
ence of the adored one. Has not the
poet said:
Could 1 but hear her voice,
Could but see her face,
Why do the gods deny the gifts poor
mortals long for most?
But Mr.. Edison was not yet born in
Camoen's time.
"Yet," went on the wizard, "these
things are not as wonderful as they
seem. 1t appears to me that the peo-
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