The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-10-16
KING EDNAI.D GROWING DEAF


b"SS NihCTiC".i bcf .Cc 10 Ala Hear
ing of Himself and Queen.
From the New York Times.
Edward VII of England is growing
deaf. This fact became known last
Saturday when artificial hearing in
struments We're shipped to Bucking-
ham Palace, Londin, by the American
Line steamer New York, for the use
of the King and Queen Alexandria,
who has long suffered from deafness.
The instruments are the fineyt and
most complete ever made.
There are three sets. The sound
concentrator or transmitter and the
ear pieces Of the first one are Of ivory.
connected with white silk covered
cord. and fitted with a head band.
The second is. the same size, but fin-
ished in black, while the third is in
box form. resembling camera, con-
tanning two transmitters. and is for
use at the theatre or table. All the
metal parts are finished in gold. The
first two instruments may be, .gorn,
with the exception OF the ear piece,
under the waist or coat.
The fact that King Edward is hard
Of hearing will be a great surprise to
the public generally. The secret has
been we'll kept in the royal retinue
Queen Alexandria, who has been at
ilicted with deafness most Of her life,
has tried many English Inventions
but they have all failed to help her.
Last spring the King and Queen
granted an audience to an agent from
New York, who demonstrated the
utility Of q new American device. The
demonstration was in every way a
success and set Of specially made
instruments was ordered to enable the
head Of the British nation and his
consort to carry on a conversation in
an ordinary tone Of voice, which has
been difficult
The instruments have been made so
as to enable the T,ng and Queen to
talk together without the uso OF a
trumpet or horh. ghe transmitter, or
sound concentrator. will be attached
to the clothing IT the royal ,uple. In
the case Of the Queen 1t will be hid
den in the fnldc II her dress while
that for the Kings use will be hidden
i-"n: view undsrpearh his coet. Tre
sounds are focused on the concen-
traitor in the same manner that the
rays Of the sun are focused by meaus
Of an ordinary reading glass. At this
point Of a focus Is placed a super
sensitive micophone. which takes up
the focused. or magnifed, sounds.
and conveys them TO the ear by
means OF a small, sllk-covered tinsel
cord, through which an electric cur
rent is conveyed BY o small battery
to an earpiece, which IS held to the
ear. The batteries are carried in the
pocket, being about three inches high
and an inch and @ half in diameter.
The earpiece Is somewhat smaller
than the ordinary telephone earpiece,
but highly sensitized, and can be hid
den In the hand. The only visible part
Of, the instrument Is a portion OF the
silk cord which connects the concen-
traitor with the earpiece.
The third instrument contains q
double transmitter, for table use.
This will be set in the center Of the
table. covered with cut flowers. Wires
will be attached. running under the
table to the part Of the table occupied
the King and Queen. This will en-
able the conversation between the
royal pair and their guests to be con-
Quoted without interruption.