New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-22

AND AUTHOR OF OTHER DEvICEs-A PAGE
OF PRINT OR WRITING INSTANTANEOUS
LIZ REPRODUCED AT a DISTANCE.
Several weeks ago II was announced from
Vienna that young Pole in the Austrian prov
ince Of Galicia who was country schooinas-
ter had invented apparatus for telesraphng a
scene, picture, diagram or page of print or writ
ing TO MS great a distance as an ordinary mes
sage His instrument was called the Fern
seher," or far seer. The English name for the
thing was the "telectroscope."
1t was said that with the aid of Herr SZcze-
Yanik's device person could see at one end or
a wire. anything that was visible within certain
space limits at the other end. The connecting
wire might turn any number Of corners. and
would follow the curvature Of the earth, without
suffering any Impairment Of its efficiency. In
variety of ways it was superior to the telescope.
The scene picture diagram or manuscript could
be photographed, too, as we'll as be seen. 1t
was further reported that the Polish pedagogue
had concluded negotiations with the manage
rnent of the Worlds Fair, to be held In iarls
in 1900 for the exhibition of his remarkable ap-
paratus there. Since these rather startling an
nouncements were made the foreign press has
SUPPLIED more or less information about Herr
Szczepank himself
AS he was born only in the seventies ne Is
yet good deal Of youngster, and, ike many
inventors impressonable Until recently he had
lived in a narrow sphere and had seen but little
Of the world. He went to London. however, Il
few weeks ago. and the visit was strange ex-
nerience 10 him. He is reported to have said,
with enthusiasm:
Germany beside England! Why. that Is Ike
comparing a child to an athlete, 1t was impos-
sible to the streets without the friendiy
help of the police those two-wheeled cabs went
like lightning, and took my breath away the
trains flew over house roofs; used every kihd
of vehicle for the sake of the exhilarating nov
elty-it was all like living amid the vast, the
gigantic"
Szczepanik is credited with boyish naiVetc ana
Is said to confess with undisgused glee that he
never was a success village schoomaster
Recognizing the fact that teaching was not his
forte and having a well-dcfned liking Tor SCI
ence. the young Pole turned his attention to
electricity and invention. Edison Is said to be
his particular hero. and he Is eager to meet that
Amous American. The telcctroscope Is not Herr
Szczepanik's first invention. He has patented
several ideas that are of value in the silk weav-
Ing industry, although it does not appear that
Re has made any great amount OF money out
\ them
The following description of the man was re-
emily printed in an English periodical. The
Humanitarian: The well-known definition OF
genius no longer holds good. An Infinite ca
pacity for taking pains is far more appropriate.
and this exactly describes Herr SZcZepaniks
character He is necessarily at work and finds
that the midnight oil Is more conducive TO his
labors than the midday sun. Looking at him.
you can distinguish no striking characteristic
which betrays his genius. He is of average
height, unobtrusve TO fault. and yet a man
whose work is destined to be famed wherever
civilization penetrates.
The Picturesque may be used for variety
of purposes. 1t Is likely to be employed for
mere entertainment. to some extent. IL the de-
vice is all that it has been represented to be,
II will be possible to reproduce theatrical per
formances and other public functions In their
entirety, by combining the telectroscope with
the electrophone, the one transmitting a picture
TO the eye, and the other conveying sound 10 the
Herr SzcZepanik's business agent in London
has suggested that the invention may replace
the Morse system Of telcgraphy for rapid work.
At present it is possible to send only one word
at a time But the telectroscope apparently
permits one to transmit a page containing from
a hundred to a thousand words all at once. The
operation is said to require not more than
second or two.
Perhaps the most novel feature Of this
markabe invention is that It transmits scene
in natural colors Thus far the only testimony
In regard to Herr SZcZepanks invention has
come from his paid agents or his enthusiastic
friends. No dsintorestcd and competent scien-
fist, enjoying an international reputation, has
yet been privileged TO see it in operation and to