The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-11-05
AN IMPROVED MEGAPHONE.

IBoulogne Letter to London News1
This afternoon, at the circus, in the
presence Of a select gathering of local
nOtabilities, Col. GOul&ud Mr. Edison's
well known coadjutor, showed for the
first time in public a new sound trans
mitter, to which he has given the name
of the GOuraudphOne Col. Gouraud
mOdestly attributes the entire merit of
the invention to young American. Tor
ace Leonard Short, who submitted its
principle to him two years ago. Since
then Col Gouraud. in conjunction with
MI Short, has, at great expense, per
fected the apparatus; the experimental
stage is over and the public exhibition
of it's power has become possible Per-
maps mercfully for the audience. today
the occurrence of some damage in tran
sit to certain parts of the instrument
prevented a complete demonstration of
its capabilities. for when fully equipped
1t transmits the human voice many
times magnif1ed in volume over enOr-
nous distance, several tens of kilorne-
tres" according to Col. Gouraud 1t
makes itself heard equally well in fog
and will also carry against very strong
wind It's value in many ways if these
promises are realized and especially in
connection with vessels at sea or in dis
tress, can easily be imagined and its
usefulness is increased by the fact that
no receiver is required a what may be
termed the other end to capture the
sound or to make it Ineligible
Almost all that was visible this after
noon TO the observer was a gigantic
graphOphOne funnel. and the colonel re-
Trained from giving details of the con-
struction of his apparatus, as he is re-
serving them for the British associat ton
before which he viii shortly read a paper
on the invention. Later, that is to say
at about the end of September he will
fix his machine on the uppermost plat
form of the E7iffel tower. and from there
will discourse through it without raising
his voice. but his words viii be heard
all over Paris, even to the Notifications
and beyond.
Colonel Gouraud made a little intro
ductory 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 it he explained that he had
determined TO give publicity in this
country first of all for sentimental rea-
sons. involving an interesting bit Of au-
topography. Born in the United States.
the colonel's father, a F'renchman, died
when he was 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
public his invention is a kind Of com
n7emoration Of his reunion with his rel
atives on the paternal side
His speech spoken into a photograph
in a low tone was repeated by the CT u
raudphone with striking effect His voice
quite filed the large circus. Other exam
pies of the power of the instrument fol-
lowed military trumpet calls rang Sonor-
ously throughout the place. cornet solo
charmed the audience, q song sung Into
the photograph by French gentleman
present was reproduced with tHenty-fold
strength