The Calumet news., 1912-06-04

to be sure of what | may expect from
my experiments before making proui-
ises.'' said the famous inventor "and
II is too soon to discuss the plans for
educational films. a little later and
We may be able to speak with a def
mite idea OF our subject"
Mr.. Edison is not disposed to spend
much time In conversation whenever
there is work TO be done. and those
who are familiar with his habits never
press him when once he has Indicated
that he has nothing to announce in
connection with his great inventions.
Hut IL Is known to his associates. now
that he has perfected his home kline
toscope. he will devote his energies to
the preparation OF educational films,
not only FOR that machine but the
other projecting apparatus which he
has invented.
Mr.. Edison is intensely interested i'm
his plan and fully expects to carry il
cut. lie Is confident that the moving
picture film is destined TO become an
Indispensable adjunct TO the school
room. Edison has already had num-
Der of films made. among them one
which shows, magnifed millions Of
times, the process Of chemical crystal
| lization Of certain substances. To
watch the processes as shown by that
lin is to be deeply impressed with the
| fact that there is something controll-
ng even the action Of inorganic mat
ter and he said he felt the scientists
in their searching might yet find out
| God.
IL is said he is sure that the boys
who hate school and cannot learn from
books could not help being interested
md learning rapidly from motion pie
lure screens. Edison expects To send
INTO all corners CT the earth, gathering
material for his films. When his tasl
finished the pupils Of the future will
have opportunities Of becoming ac-
luainted with activities OF the world
md of nature that adnlts of today
have not even dreamed of.
| Suppose" says Mr.. Edison, lin
stead OF the dun, solemn letters on q
hoard or card, you have a littl,
play going on that the little youngstei
can understand. The play begins witt
a couple of fslively little fellows who
carry i'm a big letter G. They put il
} down and it stands there. Then they
| carry i'm an 4. Next to IL they pul
down a T. There you have the word
cat In the same way they bring IN
he letters, or the letters run i'm OF
| dodge into place, until the sentence
| stands there-"This Is cat Then a
hand appears, pointing, and in runs a
| cat for it to point at. or course, tht
teacher gives the children the name ot
each letter and pronounccs each WORD
AS they go alorg. You can zee how
| eagerly the Youngsters will watch cy
cry movement on the picture screen
tor there will be something going on
there every moment. Nothing like ac-
tion-drama-a play that fascinates
the eye-to keep the attention Keyed
up. don't think it'll take them long
20 learn ar alphabet that's lively and
| full of character"
History is even simpler TO por tray
| Mr.. Edison tells of sending "a com
pany of people up TO Concord" and
having them fight over the battle OF
Lexington for the camera, with all the
costumes and action correctly done
right on the battlefield. We've got
Paul Revere's ride, too, and the land
ing OF Columbus
Mr.. Edison proposes TO arrange 4
course Of instruction by means of mo
tion pictures that will parallel the
/ text book course without entirely ell
minating the latter. This IS the tas';
to which he intends now to devote his
| time and money.
Some of the local schools have had
the opportunity of seeing the machine
demonstrated in small classrooms. end
II has proved TO he a success. The
flms arc fireproof and contains pho
tographs so microscopic that foot OF
tlm scapable Of recording over 200
photographs.
But of course Mr.. Edison at present
Is not disposed to go into detail as "a
| his plans, but when the time
comes" IL is certain he will have
something 10 show for his labor and