The evening times., 1897-01-25
ON HIS WAY TO WASHINGTON
j. C. Chester, a Montanian, De-
yises a Talking Machine.
HE HAS HOPES OF A FORTUNE
He Fits Telephon TO His Body and
* Able to Converse Is
Tramping Here to Exhibit His
Phone and Hiinself-A Unique
Case-Many Patents Involved.

J. G. Chester, a deaf mute, who is de-
scribed to he a living telephone is
now on his way to Washington OH foot, to
exhibit the apparatus OF his own devising,
which has distinguished him as genius
and won him the name he bears. He halls
from Glendive, Montana, ami has been for
some time travelling about the country, Civ
ing exhibitions.
The devise nc has invented enables him
to carry on a conversation. He is not "A
true deaf mute in the sense that Laura
Brfdg1nan was. He has certain sense Of
hearing, and can utter n few CULTURAL
sounds But he is going to do more. He
expects to hear ana speak intclligibly
His scheme is to fit a telephone 10 his
body 50 that where he travels it Will travel
also. When he lies down the telephone
lies down. When he walks the telephone
walks His body is the body OF the tele-
phone, and there is no life in either without
the other. lie is a living telephone, able
to hear and speak through space.
In spite OF a great deal OF fun that has
been poked at him since the conception Of
his invention, he has gone on Undismayed,
until now tor hc-sta nds completed IL
is an actual thing, and he is trampinG il to
the capital 10 exhibit it-and himself; and
he hopes to make a fortune for hirnself as
well as 10 confer a great benefit upon deaf
and dumb mankind
This living telephone is bulky fellow.
He wears under his clothes, almost next to
his body, Il great many coils of insulated
wire These are carried around the waist
many times. like a lady's ribbon, and, icing
slender. they do not hurt him or cause him
any Inconvenience.
Iu one pockettherc is "A bulky package.
1t is not heavy, bot it sticks out with
hump that cannot he concealed. 1t is
dry battery, and is related TO the wire ia
an important way.
The first thing the observer notes is
large receiver, similar TO the one used on
telephone This is attached to the left
ear. 1t is a powerful sound receiver. At
tached to it is wire that can be connected
with he teeth. in case the mute cannothear
with the receiver.
He has found by many experiments that
the duled nerves Of the ears are quckened
by these powerful electric appliances ard
that he does hear. It's q vague, uncertain
hearing but a great deal better than
none at an II is more a vibration than a
hearing lie gets a nurmrT OF sounds,
not as clear as given by the Saltpeter So
luton in which hands can be dipped, but
clear enough for everyday use and more
convenient than the basin II fluid now so
commonly used by deaf muteS to get sound
vibration.
The funniest part of the apparatus is
found in the transmtter and receiver that
II, X a
which the transmtter is suspended and a
receiver for the sound Both Of them are
for the use of the public
Should you meet this walking telephone
upon the road he would offer you the
transRlitter and receiver that hangs upon
the hook. The receiver you would place to
the ear and you would talk through the
transmitter The deaf mute would listen
intently, the sound being much assisted
by the receiver in his ear.
When he replies he speaks through tin
horn connecting with the wires, and trusts
to the carrying effect Of the telephone In
this way he can converse over space OF
several feet as easily as any other man.
But it is in public halls and assemblies
that this machine is expected to do its
best work Here the telephone can be
connected at the stage. and the mute in
the audience will get the full sound
There are many patents involved i'll this
machine. for the inventor has borrowed
freely from all the known devices. But he
hopes he will be forgiven for the sake of
the human race.
Never was man more impressed with the
worthiness Of his own mission. Penniless,
on foot. without friends, he has set out
for Washington and the Patent Office. He
is convinced that all who take the trouble
to examine his walking telephone will ad-
mire it, and that means money enough for
all the patents required.
He has raised himselffrom apoor, worth
less fellow to be an inventor of at least
many ambitions, and, who knows, he may
vet be the Edison OF sound for the deaf.