The Union daily times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1918-current, 1922-02-10
Won Success On
Greeting Of Emperor

Phlladelphla Viii nold an eSpoSltlon
in 1926 to commemorateth l50th an
niversary of the signing of the Decla-
ration Of Independence recalls an
episode of the centennial exposition
m lS76-perhaps the most dramatic
incident IN the history of American
science.
But for curious turn OF circum
stances the remarkable development
of the telephone, then exhibited for
the first time and ridiculed as being
at best but an interesting toy into
the important factor it now is in the
commercial and social life of America
might have been delayed for years,
if not entirely arrested.
Alexander Graham Bell had been
exhibiting his instrument for some
time but it had not attracted serious
attention. Through the efforts Of
Gardiner G. Hubbard, one of the
most enthusiastic of Bells small
eroup of supporters, the exposition
juices had promised that, while max
ing their rounds Of the exhibits on a
certain Sunday afternoon, they would
stop for few minutes 10 examine
the instrument displayed by the
young Scotch American professor Of
vocal physiology.
In The History Of the Telephone
Herbert Casson gives q graphic de-
scription Of the scene in the exposi
tion building and of the tense mo-
ment which followed the arrival al
the Judges.
When Sunday aftrnoon arrived,
he writes, BELL was at his little
table, nervous, yet confident. But
hour after hour went by, and the
Judges did not arrive. The day was
intensely hot, and they had many
wonders to examine. There was the
first electric light, and the first grain
| binder. and the musical telegraph of
Elisha Gray, and the marvellous ex-
hibit of printing telegraphs shown by
the Western Union Company. BY
the time they came to Bells table
through litter of school desks ano
blackboards, the hour was seven
o'clock, and very man in the party
was hot, tired and hungry. Several
announced their intention of return
ing to their hotels. One took up 4
telephone receiver, looked at il
blankly and put it down again. He
did not place it to his ear. Another
judge made a sighting remark which
raised laugh at Bells expense
Then a most marvellous thing hap
pencd-such an incident as woukl
make chapter in THE Arabian
Nights Entertainments"
Accompanied by his wife, the En-
press Theresa, and by bevy of cour-
tiers, the Emperor Of Brazil, Dor
Pedro de Alcantara, walked into the
room, advanced with both hands out
stretched to the bewildered Bell, ana
exclaimed: Professor Bell, | am de-
lighted to see you again The Judges
at once forgot the fatigue and the
hunger. Who was this young inven-
TO, with the pale complexion and
black eyes that he should be friend
OF emperors? They did not know
and for the moment Bell himself had
forgotten, that Dom Pedro had once
visited Bells class Of deaf-mutes at
Boston University, He was especial
ly interested III such humanitarian
work, and had recently helped organ
ize the first Brazilian school for deaf
n.utes at Rio de Janeiro. And s.,
with the tall, blond-bearded Dom
Pedro IN the center, the assembled
judgs and scicntists-there were
more than fifty in all entered with
unusual zest into the proceedings of
this first telephone exhibition.
"a wire had been strung from one
o! the rooms TO the other, and while
DR.. R.Nl went to the transmitter,
Dom Pedro took up the receiver and
placed il 10 his ear. Il was a mo-
ment Of tense expectancy. No one
knew clearly what was about to hap
pen, when the Emperor, with dra-
matte gesture, raised his head from
the receiver and exclaimed with a
look of utter amazemert: My Cod
il talks"
Casson tells vividly how the judges
remained until ten o'clock that night
listening by turns at the telephone;
bow the crude instrument was trans
fcrred the next morning to Il position
of honor in the judges pavilion, and
how it became the star attraction Of
the centennial.
There were days of discourage
mcnt, months and years of disap-
pointment, before the Bell invention
won full recognition, but the develop
ment that has brought about M
tion-wide telephone system, linking
the most remote corners of the coun-
try and serving the needs Of 13,000,-
oV0 subscribers began with the GU
rious turn Of fate which brought the
obscure Boston professor, the Bra