Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1896-11-08
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
The BioEraph Is the Kaleidoscope EN-.
Inrged to Life-Sizc.

1
| Inrged To Life-Sizc.
The rapid evolution OF the kaleidoscope is
one OF the marvels OF the present year, says
the Baltimore Sun. In 1887 Mr.. Edison con-
celved tho idea OF reproducing TO the eye
the effect of motion by means OF swift
| and graded succession OF pictures. The idea
was suggested by a childs toy, "the wheel
. OF life," and for several years experiments
were conducted at his Orange laboratory,
| until finally the device was completed Now
with the nickel-in-the-slot machine, one
may see a prize fight a celebrated dancer
or train in motion, all in miniature, 1t is
true, but none the less vivid and realistic
Even II the kaleidoscope had never been de-
veloped beyond this point 1t would SIN
have been a most wonderful invention,
but 1t has not stopped there. Mr. Edison
himself has contrved the "vitascope," while
Mr.. William X, l.. Dickson of New York
has perfected the "biograph," and both are
most remarkable inventions
The bograph is the kaleidoscope on an en-
larged plan. The latter gave the pictures in
miniature. The former reproduces them life
size, and the action is perfect. New York
paper describing an exhibition of the bio
graph at the Olympia theater, says of one of
the pictures which is produced: THE finest
was one of the Empire State express going
at sixty miles speed. The train is seen COM
ing out of distant smoke cloud that marks
the beginning of curve. The smoke puffs
grow denscr on the vision and soon coach
after coach whirrs to the front, and II seems
as though the entire left hand section of
the house would soon be under the wheels
that are racing for New York"
This, 1t must be admitted Is far ahead of
the little figures which dance up and down
in the nickel-in- the-slo machine but the pos
sibilities are still greater The telegraph is
but step farther toward the kinetophono-
graph, by which in few years we may
expect to enjoy grand opera with not
singer upon the stage except the figure pro-
iected upon the canvas by the new invention.
Miss Dickson, the sister of the inventor,
tells us what we have in store in the follow
ing extracts from a little volume recently
issued.
THE rich strain OF a Seidl or Damrosch
orchestra. issuing from a concealed phonO-
graph, will herald the impending drama and
attune the hearts of the eXpectant throng.
The curtain will rise, exposing some one Of
the innumerable phases of pictorial art,
some English pastoral some fastness In
the Alps or Himalayas, some tempestuous
ocean scene quickened with the turbulent
anguish of the sea- some exquisite land
scape STEPPED in the jeweed lights of sun
set or the roseate sheen OF the morn. The
actors Will enter singly and in groups, in
the graceful Interviewing of social life, the
swirl OF the dance or the changeful kaedo-
scope OF popular tumuIt. The tones will
be instinct with melody, mlrth, command
every subtle information which goes to make
up the sum of yocalsm; the clang OF arms
the sharp discharge of artillery, the roll of
thunder. the boom OF ocean surges, the
chant OF the storm wind the sound OF Anda-
lusian serenades, and the triumphant burst
of martial music. All these effects of sight
and sound will be embraced in the kineto-
SCOPE drama, and yet OF that living, breath
ing, moving throng not one will be in
creased in a material frame. A company OF
ghosts playing to spectral music"
And Mr. Edison himself says II believe
that in coming years, by my own work and
that OF Dickson and others, who will doubt
less enter the field grand opera can be
given without any material change from
the original and with artists and musicians
long since dead" May we all live long
enough to witness this blending of science
with the arts in the most perfect develop
lnent the world has ever known.