The sun. (Wilmington, Del.) 1897-19??, 1901-07-02
A TALKING NEWSPAPER.
Remarkable Institution of Buda-
Pesth, Hungary--Certain Classes
VI News ut Regular Hours.


The possibilities of the telephone
as news distributor are not utilized
In this country except on special oc-
casions. such as election nights, or on
the occasional of international yacht
races or other momentous events.
That 1t could be utilized to q greater
degree is demonstrated by the sue-
cess of the telephone newspaper. Of
Ruda-Pesth, which has been in opef.
alton fol- several years past. This sos
called newspaper" distributes news
to its subscribers by means of tele-
phones, according to regular sched4
ule. At present it has about 6,2o0
subscribers and operates some 375
miles of wire, says World's Work.
News such as that commonly found
in metropolitan dailies is gathered by
a corps of reporters through the
usual manner, and this is whipped
Into shape by the editorial staff in
much the Same way. when iii proper
presentable shape the news Is read
off by stentor, and the subscriber
taking down his telephone receiver
may hear whatever is being read at
that moment. OF course one could
hot wait with the receiver to the ear
all day for some particular news fea4
tire, consequently the telephone adj
vices are arranged according to d
fixed schedule.
Each subscriber is provided with d
printed programme, attached to the
instrument on the wall, or table, tell
ing just what may be expected at any
hour of each day, except Sundays and
holidays, between 1890 a. m. and
1880 p. m. When concert or some
high entertainment is being reported,
the service is continued much later.
Stock exchange reports reach sub
seribers several hours ahead of the
evening papers. Reports of the lega
islative bodies and political news oc-
cupy the time from HAS to ~
o'clock. General news, of course,
comes in all day.
Twice day, at 1870 and at six
o'clock in the evening, resume is
given for the benefit of those who
may miss any particular news item.
From five to six in the evening there
are concerts, literary criticism, art
notes, sporting reports and similar
miscellany. On Sunday there is spe-
cial schedule, including news sum
mary in the morning and an after
noon concert. A children's entertain
ment Is given every Thursday evening
at six o'clock.
The above service, including the in.
stallation Of the instruments, is given
by the "Telefon-Hirmondo," which is
the name of this queer news distrib
utter, upon payment of a yearly sub
scription of $3.50. OF course, adver.
Using plays an important part in the
income of the paper, as it does in al
newspaper work, though the tele
| phone news distributor is at disad
vantage in this respect, as the time
devoted to advertisements is strictly
limited. The regular charge is 4:
cents for each IL seconds, or $40 ;
minute.
The newspaper file is made up o.
the written slips read by the stem
|
announcement The stentors are Sc
lected for their strong, clear voices
and Evolutionary powers. There arr
ordinarily six of these readers, foul
for duty and two alternates. Whel
all the stentors are present they taxi
turns of ten minutes each, though
sometimes they are required to tak'
half-hour shifts. The paper gives con
certs in its offices, which are rem
dered to the subscribers by means o
telephone transmitters and receiver
Of special construction.
The Hirmondo is said to be yer,
we'll received, and appeals mos
strongly to the intellectual classes
There are no editorial comments, ex
cept literary criticisms and art notes
and the editor is strictly accountable
for suits against the paper for libel
He has already had two or three law
suits, but has won all of them. a still
further extension of the system is he
ing worked out through the introduc
ton of pennyin-the-slot principle
/ The coin employed is really 2o-fille
5 piece, equivalent to two cents.
l The advantages of this service to in
!. valids and busy people who only wan
a resume of the days happenings. q
well as the relaxation and pastime at
: forded by the concerts and stories i
+ lighter vein are apparent.