The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-07-15
Vocal Flora and Fauna
BY ELLA WHEELER WILCOX

The unity OF all life. the oneness
q all things. and the wonder and
glory Of the Creator. have been newly
brought 10 my mind, over here -
England Dr Haydn. the leader OF
violin.sts in -. James orchestra. is
iectnrinE on Vocal Flora and
Fauna" That phrase may mean
nothing as you read IT, But learn
It's true meaning.
Dr Haydn illustrates his lecture
by lantern slide pictures. showing
floral shapes Of notes sung through
funnel upon gelaiine and other sub
stances
The note + fiat sung by highly
trained voice produces the perfect
shape Of a daisy This form is not
accidental; for innumerable tests
xii produce fh+ same shapt. when
sung by different voices OF equal cul-
ture. The uncultiyated voice Will
produce a semblance of the flower.
Forms.
Ferns. trees and fruit are produce q
by other notes, and q perfect orange
vas exhibited as the result of the
high note struck by fine tenor At
the end OF an arpeggio passage
Margaret Watts Hughes Ia the dis
coverer OF this marvellous new scien-
tifc fact The dIscoverer describes
the cylinder used rs Eidopho one. and
tells how she came 10 invent II. as
follows:
Its construction may be- said TO
have originated from the following
circumstances. In the year 1885 /
had been devoting attention TO the
study OF the six properties OF sound
In relation to the voice, and. being
Impressed with the important part
played by intensity In the formation
OF vocal sounds, especially in rela-
ton TO quality and the creation OF
over~tones. became dsstrous to find
some means by which could ties,
the different intensities OF the tones
of the human voice My Hrst task
was 10 search for an instrument and
made diligent inquiry as TO wha:
had already been aooomp lished IN
this direction. So far az was able
TO ascertain 10 such instrument had
been produced. and I felt very much
disappointed.
mot willing 10 give up any project
T endeavored to construct an appar-
atus OF my own, which hoped even
fually might answer my purpose.
This apparatus consisted OF a tube.
receiver and membrance, which
was stretched over the top of the
receiver. The membranes were made
IL 1T s<.ss4 TAI
parchment, fine silk. gold heaters
skin. tin and India rubber, My aim
at this time was to test the force OF
the different notes sung into the
tubes by the weight az the various
substances placed on the membranes
~ had been working on this path
untl May, 1885. when on one occa-
sion as ] sang / noticed that the
seeds which ! had placed on the india
rubber membrane. on becoming Out
ascent, instead Of scattering prornis-
cuously in Rll directions and falling
over the edges OF the receiver on 10
me table as was customary when a
rather loud note was sung resolved
themselves into perfect geometrf-
raj figure Surprised AT the unex-
nected appearance. and wondering II
t we're the result Of mere accident
: cleared the diaphran' OF its con
tents and scattered fresh seeds on its
surface Upon singing the same note
as before the seeds gave the same
figure
This figure. therefore which 7
never searched FOR. became the pro-
genltor Of all that followed In the
department o. the dry powders and
ire apparatus which was intended 70
demonstrate the capacities Of only
one % the properties of sound has
proved since 70 be f1e Instrument
that was needed to enable the singer
10 make visible the effects Of the
vibrations and TO show the endless
possibilities OF the human voice in
this new path o. the world % sound
The Fidophone disc can he set in
motion so az TO form some figures n
sand and other substances by means
% the flute, cornet organ or any
musical instrument giving sounds
sufficiently powerful 70 cause the disc
TO vibrate regularly But complete
success can be Insured only when the
movements In the disc are directed
BY the voice Of a skilled vocalist
Amy flexible disc, Whatever If
shape or size. under the Influence 81
regular vibrations. may be made 20
divide and subdivjde go as "a give
series OF different figures
Mrs. Hughes has gone forward
with her experiments. and nov is aoie
10 secure permanent films which are
used In lantern slides. The Edo
phone society has been formed with
MANY branches and Or Haydn il
tscsuring and explaining this won