Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1897-04-23

new use In the Chicago schools, where
some easy-going genius has introduced
it as an aid to learning languages
The student instead of wearing out the
teachers patience in his woeful strug.
gle with language, is placed in front
of n machine, and by hearing the
constant repetition acquires the cor
rect pronunciation. This, it is need
less to say. is much more agreeable to
the teacher than the old method.
We have grown accustomed to
motor cars. and even in a way to
motor carriages, but an enterprising
American has recently made applica-
ton for patent on decided novelty.
For many years Englishmcn have en-
joyed what is known as the house
boat, and the new invention is sorle-
what on that principal. 1t is called
II moter house and answers about the
same purpose on land as the house
boat does in the water. With this
device small family can journey at
will over the country, and it may
prove a very economical method of
living, especially in the matter of
taxes. The patent is asked for on a
collapsible second story of the house
wagon; when this is raised the article
is four-roomed house of two stories
mounted on wheels and propelled by
a motor mounted on the axles under
the wagon.
Among other novelties a Parisian
inventor is perfecting a photographic
watch, and there is a great deal of
joking among his friends about tho
watch, which, "on touching spring,
will whisper the time in your ear"
What a saving of eyesight! There
will scarcely be need for the blind to
be made to see if there are many such
tllNcIltlOilS.
From Paris also comes the story of
an Italian mind-reader with most as
tonishing power. Large halls were
filled nightly with admirers of his
miraculous exhibitions. After he left
the city it was ascertained that the
tricks were really performed by means
of a small pocket telephone, marvel
of the electricians art. Itwas fastened
in some invisible way behind his ears
and his assistant thus gave to under
stand all that was required.
So accustomed has the world become
to the wonders of electricity that it
occasionally demands more than even
the electrician can supply. 1t is
rumored that not long ago Edison was
startled by receiving q letter from a
romantic young lady asking if he
could not invent an electrical con-
trivance that would enable her to see
the face of her future husband. His
answer is not recorded!
A few years ago it was announced
that the inhabitants of Mars were
endeavoring to signal us. Everyone
went wild over it, and all were disap-
pointed that we could find no method
of replying. Recently in a London
magazine writer announced that it
is not only possible but easy to open
up communication with any we'll dis
posed planet we may desire by little
well directed patience by method of
conversation similar to the telephone.
All this is very interesting if not
practicable, and presents many curious
problems. Yet who knows? To our
great-grand-children it may seem no
stranger than one of the inventions of
to-day would have to our great-grand
fathers.
The world is ever changing. The
absurdities of to-day are the pos
sibilities of tomorrow and the estab-
lished facts of next week. Meantime
the electrician is in demand the world
over, in the town and in the camp, on
the farm and in the laboratory. All
sorts and conditions of men are max
ing a study of the wonderful power
the power which no one understands,
and yet whose marvels fill whole
world with amazement.