The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-07-20
MAN MIMICs NATURE.
Machines that Talk, Walk and Pro-
duce Sleep.
London Tit-Bits.

London Tit-Bits.
1t is generally considered that Edison's
Phonograph gives US the most clear and
distinct imitation of the human voice that
II Is possible to obtain by means of ma
chlnery. Particulars have just been made
pubic, however, of a wonderful invention
which is a distinct advance on the ordi-
nary photograph, inasmuch as while the
latter only gives off a record of what has
actually been made upon the cylinder by
the human voice, the former talks, so to
speak. first hand.
This talking machine is the invention
OF a DR.. Marage, who is still hard at work
bringing ii TO a state OF perfection. AT
present he has not got so far as 10 be able
to make the machine pronounce the five
vowels, a, e, /, o, u, as clearly and dis
tinctly as the human voice. Even at such
stage the machine has its uses, for DR..
Mirage purposes to modify the steam
sirens used on shipboard so that they will
initiate the vowel sounds. Thus different
phonetic syllables may be obtained which
can be used to form an international alpha
bet
The machine is of a very peculiar con-
struction, having five dummy heads at
tached to il, in each of which is a per
feet model of a persons mouth while in
the act of pronouncing one of the vowels.
These false mouths have pliable lips, per-
feet teeth and, in fact, are exact mechani-
cal reproductions of the human mouth.
The sounds are achieved by passing GER
tain currents of air through these mouths,
which are fitted with sirens which give out
the various combina tons of sounds.
Some fifteen months ago Capt. Lewis
Perew startled New York by exhibiting
which, he claimed could walk at the rate
of twenty miles an hour. The wonderful
automatOn, which is made chiefly OF
aluminium is seven feet five inches In
height, wears a mans clothes, talks by
means Of photograph in its stomach and
rolls its eyes by means of clockwork in the
head. The iron giant is attached 70 an
automobile which it appears to be pulling,
but by which il is in reality pushed.
When the lever is started the monster
raises it's right foot and throws 1t forward
just ordinary person would do while
walking, and this. of course. is followed by
a similar movement of the left foot. How
the figure is made to walk is, of course, the
secret of the inventor. 1t is surmised, how
Gle moving independently, but which, at the
same time, transmits to the automation
through a skillfully masked tube the power
by which it goes through the motions OF
walking.
Several inventors have at enc time or
another endeavored to make an effective
sleep-producing machine with more less
success. The latest invention of this de-
scription is that of DR.. Gaiffe, of Paris,
whose mechanical sleep-producer is known
by the name of the vibrating cOronet' 1t
consists of three bands of metal encircling
the head. A branch strip extends TO either
OF the eyelids, and by aid of a spring gently
vibrates against them. The celebrated DR..
Bertillon generally uses this instrument on
his sleeplesS patients.
There are also several other more or less
complicated devices on the market for pro-
ducing sleep. One of these-made by Ma
thieu, of Paris-consists of compact ma
hogany box five inches high, four inches
wide and three and one-half inches deep.
from the top of which projects a nickel
pivot, penetrating the centers of two hori-
zontal panels of ebony, eight inches long by
one inch high. Inside the box is clockwork
which causes the ebony panels to revolve.
Each is studded on both sides by hori-
rental row of circular mirrors the size OF a
shilling, and maintain q velocity of one rev.
olution per second.
To induce sleep by the aid of this piece of
mechanism the room is darkened and bright
rays of light from lamp or gas jet are re-
fiected from the mirrors. The patient, by
concentrating his gaze upon the revolving
panels. soon becomes fascinated by the
vibrating glitter, the mOnotony of which
soon fatigues the eyes, which unconsciously
close in sleep.