Evening star., 1927-04-03
continued from First Page9

has created an important salaried off,
cial body to preside over broadcasting
programs, and 1t relies upon this serv-
i've In times OF crises for the distribu-
ton of official information. In the
end that admirable committee may
find itself arranging schemes Of en-
tertainment for a phantom army of
expiring licenses, the last living listen
ers having dispersed and gone to other
things; the other will pulsate unheard
with bedtime talks of uncles who have
lost nephews, nieces and cousins"
all unaware OF the emptiness of their
reception, and the ultimate artfulness
Of official misinformation will throb
In a void of inattention, as il it were
the last of the dinosaurs calling, and
there will be about half a dozen con-
venient sinecures more for the prime
minister to distribute.
Recent public discussions in the
British press about broadcasting pro-
grams are very significant symptoms.
They reveal widespread discomfort
among current users of receiving sets.
The disillusioned take little part in
these debates. The writer's are still
holding on and listening and COM
planning. Each one suggests a differ
ent ideal program These ideal pro-
grams recall the first bright stages
of hope. There is still fancy that
busy and eminent people may be in
duced to spend half a day preparing
and timing and saying over a meas
ured piece that any broadcasting Of
flcial may burke II he dislikes. There
is still conception of some vast or
chestra playing music to suit every
mind and taste simultaneously. There
is still craving for unsectarian reli-
giosity, for faith in things in general
combined with faith in nothing in
particular. Upon one thing do they
agree. Every one wants something
in vivid contrast to what is provided.
The transmitting authorities, still un-
willing to face the plain intimations
of destiny, are trying all sorts Of nov
elites nervously and assuredly. The
most delightful of all recent attempts
has been the thought transmission ex-
periments from London center. This
was really radio drama reduced to it's
simplest expression; even the words
and sounds were omitted. It was pure
blank listening.
u u y 4
Sir Oliver Lodge cleared his throat
and announced @the crucial moment.
Clustered individuals sat and glared
at objects and thought about them
like anything. Listeners listened
with straining eardrums and pain
fully focused minds. The poor ether,
IL it has feelings, must have felt like
a cat harnessed to cart--a most un-
congenial job to put upon the theo-
retical vehicle of material vibrations.
A hush fell upon thes British Isles
until Sir oliver said "Ahem," and per-
mitted them to relax. Then we were
to write in what we had thought or
seen. The only really pleasing result
of this widely diffused mind strain
was that lady In Torquay guessed
object No. very nearly when object
No. was in the glare of the trans
mitting souls. The first recorded case
of anticipatory wireless telepathy and
clear evidence of the relatively of
time.
But to radio mental nothings in this
way was perhaps too delicate task
for broadcasting, at least as begin
ming. Something little more mate
rial might conceivably have had a
better chance of getting through
Transrnitters. sitting before steaming
plates or other appetizing objects,
might more easily have conveyed i'm
pressions to fasting listeners. Per-
haps this will be tried later, as this
restful custom OF listening-in, to moth
ing audible whatever extends.
Under the spell or the radio idea,
have been doing my utmost to write |
impartial, impersonal. unsectarian,
non-tendential, on-controversial, un-
prejudiced. kindly things about 1t,
like the stuff its authorities invite us
to transmit. Nevertheless. am afraid
that my own opinion peeps through: |
my opinion that the future of broad |
casting Is like the future OF crossword |
puzzles and Oxford trousers very
trivial future, indeed. Il will end as