The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1922-10-06
On
Radio Concerts

N0ULO NOIlNCl -
Since several people who attended
the radio concert given by Mr.. Yer
non Lucas at St. Viecent last Friday
evening nave criticised both the con-
cert and Mr.. Lucas to the writer per-
haps a little explanation OF concerts
by radio will help understand the
situation better. Mr.. Lucas as viii
be remembered, was raised IN 81.
Vincent and graduated from the
Pembina high school. He now lives
in Fargo where he is connected with
a firm known as the Fargo Radio
Service Co. and came to st. Vincent
for his travelling expenses to give
this concert, having nothing to 90
with the amount charged at the door,
also having rented the hall himself
the following evening and giving a.
free concert. =
Static electricity exists in the at
mosphere in our latitude during the
summer and early fall months and in
the warmer latitudes all the year
round. 1t comes in over the radio
aerials just like it does over the
country telephone lines after thunder
storms in summer and as yet no ef-
fective means has been discovered
Of eliminating it. At times it is so
bad as to make the working OF the
transatlantic stations impossible.
This static is very arratic and at
times even in summer not partlcle
of it is evident to the JOY of the radio
fans.
Last Thursday night was almost
ideal for radio but static was very
bad on Friday, Saturday and Sunday
NIGHTS. It comes over the radio in
struments as rasping, cracking
noise and the better the radio set the
louder this static will be. With the
modern sound magnifying instru-
ments in radio pin scratch sounds
like the filing of a buzz saw and q
tiny mouse squeak like the shrill,
high pitched whistle of a locomotive.
Multiply these several times and
have the result of static coming in on
a modern, high priced radio set such
as Mr.. Lucas had with him the other
evening. Had it been the evening
before his audience would have sat
and listened in wonder as the beauti-
full strains of an accompanied violin
player in St. Louis floated through
the ether and was Reproduced in
perfect detail in the St. Vincent hall.
Or they could have waltzed to one of
the finest orchestras in the country
as it's music coming all the way from
Pittsburg filled the hall. But static
electricity interfered and greatly
mar1ed results.
AS stated above Mr.. Lucas came
with the very best and modern radio
instruments obtamable. They were
tested out at the Pembina high school
station on Monday morning with ex-
cellent results and the writer order
ed a set to- place in the home. Mr..
Lucas was no more to blame for the
results of the concert last Friday
evening than was Pembina for the
kind of weather we had here last
fourth of July.
Static conditions in the atmosphe'"
rarely bother radio in the day time
even in summer Also it is fast dis
appearing at night time and will not
bother much until warm weather
next summer. But radio has come
to stay in spite of occasional poor
nights when weather conditions are
bad. The manipulation of the mod
ern instruments is simple and can be
quickly learned. The cost depends
upon the range of the instruments
but one should not expect satisfac-
tory results from set costing less
than $50 and of course if you wish
ed the best you could double that
amount. The results are wonderful.
In your own home or place of bust
ness you get the worlds news, the
worlds best music, base ball scores,
bedtime stories for the children, lee
lures on health and worlds of other
information that not only broadens
your views but brings you in touch
with all mankind. With a set cost
ing from SIS to $3.50 complete you
literally have the best in the United
States in music, lectures, sermons,
etc. in endless variety and from any
of dozens of broadcasting stations
sou may " n. to listen to or that
special occasion.
CHAS. D. CURTIS.