The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1916-09-14
THE ONLOOKER :.
Word Sketches of Topical Events
By ''Ham"

mechanical appliances. Practically
all of the more important discoveries
in this line have been made by
scientists in the last half century.
The inventions and improvements
include wireless telegraphy and tele-
phony, the steam, electric and oil
power engine; then there is the
wonderful development in aerial
and underwater mechanics.
In a recent issue of scientific
periodical there is described the
mechanism of a machine for regis
tering vibration. This intricate in
vention differs from the action of
the seismograph, inasmuch as it
registers the slightest vibration of a
particular mass of material, such as
building, where the seismograph is
utilized only for recording the dis
lance and volume of any disturb
ance of the earth. 1t is claimed the
new invention is so delicate as to
permit of the recording of the de-
gree of vibration in a twenty story
'sky-scraper," of even an ordinary
hammer blow against the walls.
1t is said that in the centuries of
the past, the Chinese had mastered
the secrets of the science of vibra-
ton to such an extent that they
could cause sound TO be projected
over distances of hundreds of miles.
Perhaps the long lost secrets are
again to be revealed to us by Ma
ture, so fond of lavishly divulging
secrets one day, only to deprive us
of them the next.
If the science of sound vibration
was thoroly mastered and utilized,
the knowledge derived would be of
inestimable value, particularly to
politicians. AS both parties depend
upon public sentiment for their
election, the question of who should
occupy Office could be easily de-
cided. All that would be necessary
to decision would be the gather
ing of all the voters of the country at
their various polling places at
predetermined hour. The vibra-
tory recording machine in Washing
ton would be wound up. AS the
clock sounded the appointed hour
in the different cities, all voters would
give voice to their preference,
Smith," or Jones'" The record
ing instrument at the Capitol
would grind out printed slip read
ing somewhat in this fashion,
Smith, 100000 pounds" Jones,
100000 pounds" AS the aver
age weight of the human voice
would be a matter of familiar sta
tistics, dividing it into the total
number of pounds pressure regis
tered on the recording machine,
would develope the number OF votes
cast. This system would eliminate
the great cost of oldfashioned cleo
ton contests with their attendant
disturbance of business.
The idea is. perhaps, little
ahead of the times, but may prove
diversion to many of our perpet-
ual motion" inventors.
The Migratory Vote Recorder
will in all probability be invented
about the same time patents are is.
sued for the first genuine Perpet-
ual Motion Engine"
Most professional writer's have
the gift of facile expression. With
out this their literary product would
not find a ready market. To these
writer's the written story of the sun
set demands at least as much at
tention AS does the dialogue itself.
The careless reader, in search of
mental excitement, often purposely
eliminates the descriptive detail SO
essential to the proper rounding"
out of the story. His craving for
speed" urges him to find and
read the action of the plot to the