The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1919-10-17
Miss Betsey Lane Shepherd.


The concert held at the high school
last Monday evening was unique af-
fair. TIE guests, whose number IN
cluded most of the music lovers of Ed
gerton, assembled delighted at the
prospect of hearing a recital by the
celebrated Miss Betsey Lane Shepherd.
But surprise was in store for them.
Not one Miss Shepherd, but two, sang
to the spellbound audience. And this
phenomenon was brought about by
means of a graceful cabinet, which
stood beside the artist on the stage and
matched her performance, note for
note and tone for tone.
The first performance of the miracle
was in the initial number on the pro-
gram when Miss Shepherd, standing
beside the cabinet, sang in unison with
Mr.. Edison's Recreation of her own
voice. In the midst of the song Miss
Shepherds lips ceased to move but her
song went on without q break. Slowly
| it dawned upon the astonished audience
that the artist was no longer singing,
though her voice came forth to them
as clear and sweet as ever. She sang
again and the only perceptible differ
ence was the motion of her lips. She
ceased but her voice did not. Veri-
tablv it seemed that there were two
singers upon the stage-tWo singers,
but only one voice. For the tones
which came from the New Edison
matched those from the living artist
so perfectly that it was impossible to
detect any difference. The instrument
produced not an echo or copy, but the
real thing Miss, Shepherds voice I'M
spoiled by any mechanical transforma-
tons; untainted by any metallic ring.
Successive numbers on the program
proved that the field of the New Edison
is not limited to vocal records. An or
chestra selection was Reiterated with
such fidelity that it was possible to fol-
low the notes of any single instrument
throughout the piece, for the identity
of each was preserved, contributing its
special color to the ensemble. A Re-
Creation of number on the piano was
a revelation to those who had decided
after hearing talking machine records,
that the piano tone could not be repro
duced. Further numbers in which Miss
Shepherd performed served to convince
the audience of their inability to dis
tinguish between Reiterated art and
its original.
One of the most interesting novelties
in this evening of unique experiences
was when Miss Shepherd sang a duet
with her own voice. 1t was as though
two artists with voices of exactly the
same tone-quality, the same express
sion, the same timbre, were singing to-
gether. The effect somehow was I'M
real and weird, as though one artist
had been bewiched into two by some
magician's art.
The climax of the evenings enter
tainment was when the room was dark
ened in the middle of one of Miss Shep-
herd selections, and the listeners were
left with no means but their ears of
determining when they were hearing
her voice in double volume, and when
it reached them only from the New
Edison. At first everyone doubted his
own ability to Judge, but as her previ-
Gus proofs were forgotten in the spell
Of the song, they became more and
more convinced that no instrument
could sing as this voice was singing,
and that Miss Shepherd was making no
more breaks in her performance. Sud
denly the lights were snapped on. The
audience was astonished to discover
that Miss Shepherd was not there at
all and that the New Edison had fur
nished the song alone.
Such miracles are indeed the work of
magician but most benevolent one.
For the wizard who accomplished this
miracle of Recreation is as anxious
that it shall add to the comfort and JOY
of mankind as he has been that his
other inventions be used for the good
of the race. Thousands of New Edi-
sons made up in special form durable
enough to stand hard knocks of army
and navy usage have been furnished to
our boys on shipboard and in camps
and are proof of his generous inter-
est in happifying the world, without
regard for personal gain-for these
Army and Navy Models of the New
Edison are made and sold with no profit
to Mr.. Edison.
The Edgerton boys of Co. M took
one to France and from them only
praise for the many hours of music
from it. Will Bardeen arranged the
recital for Edgerton music lovers.