Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-15

The "GournudphOne," Which May He
Heard All Over Paris.
Roulngna DSnnt ch I'm he Hnndnn NeNys
BoulOgne Dispatch In tn


AT the circus, in the presence of select
gathering of local notabilities, Col Gour-
aud, Mr.. Edison's well-known coadjutor.
showed for the first time in public a new
sound transmtter, to which he has given
the name of the Gouraudphone Col. Gour-
aud modestly attributes the entire merit of
the invention to a young American, Mr.
Horace Leonard Short, who submitted its
principle to him two years ago Since then
Col. Gouraud, in conjunction with Mr..
Short, has, at great expense, perfected the
apparatus: the experimental stage is over,
and the public exhibition of it's power has
become possible. Perhaps, mercifully for
the audience, the occurrence OF some DAM
age In transit to certain parts of the in
strument prevented a complete demonstra-
ton of its capabilities, for when fully
equipped 1t transmits the human voice
many times magnitied in volume over enor-
nous distance. several tens of kilometers,"
according to Col Gouraud. 1t makes itself
heard equally well in fog, and will also
carry against very strong wind Its
value in many ways, if these promises are
realized. and especially in connection with
vessels at sea or in Distress can easily be
imagined. and Its usefulness is increased
by the fact that no receiver Is required at
what may be termed the other end to cap
ture the sound or to make 1t ineligible.
Almost all that was visible this afternoon
to the observer was a gigantic graphophono
funnel, and the colonel refrained from Civ
ing details of the construction of his APP
paratus, he is reserving them for the
British Association. before which he will
shortly read paper on the invention
Later-that is to say, at about the end OF
September-he will fix his machine on the
uppermost platform of the Eiffel Tower,
and from there will discourse through il
without raising his voice. but his words
will be heard all over Paris even to the
Notifications, and beyond.
Col. Gouraud made a little Introductory
speech in French. language he speaks
with remarkable facility, in spite of the
fact that his whole life has been spent out
of France. and in the course of 1t he ex-
planned that he had determined to give pub
lcity in this country first of all for senti-
mental reasons, involving an interesting bit
or autobiography. Born in the United
States, the colonePs father a Frenchman
died when he was only five years old and
since then he had until recently lost all
trace OF his French relatives Not long
since he discovered them, and was received
by them with open arms. His choice of
French soil on which to disclose to the pub
lie his invention is a kind of commemora-
ton of his reunion with his relatives on the
paternal side.
His speech. spoken in a photograph in a
low tone, was repeated by the Gouraud-
phone with striking effect His voice quite
filled the large circus. Other examples Of
tary trumpet calls rang generously through
the place. cornet solo charmed the au-
dience, song sung into the phonograph
by French gentleman present was repro
duced with twentyfold strength. 1t should
be added that the photograph was used as
an intermediary solely because the damage
to portions of the machine prevented its
being worked as It would be under normal
conditions. Various other interesting DEM
onStratfOnS of the excellence of the new
sound transmitter followed, and a very cor
dial vote Of thanks to Colonel Gouraud
brought the proceedings to close.