Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-03-04
me late and were never acquired by

came late and were never acquired by
most
The old photograph always had
been, and remained, an instrument
which necessitated that some one hop
up at the end Of each piece" and turn
the disk over or put on new one.
This last feature, probably more than
any other, got tiresome. Usually there
was some one in the family who was
made the goat" in this regard, or who
willingly assumed the task
In either case, they finally became
| weary, and were secretly glad when the
radio came to relieve them.
After all, the essence OF successful
musical listening lies not so much in a
receptive intelligence as In a comfor-
table physical attitude, let who will dis
pute it.
This has been so widely recognized
habit at all concerts and renditions of
chamber music.
The incessant physical movement
which attends public band concert in
park often succeeds in destroying its
beauty for thousands.
X X X
&c. the monograph went downstairs:
but now, as the hands raise the lid and
place a record on the turntable, it all
seems natural enough.
After all, 1t is a marvellous instru-
ment
1t seems to work" Just as well as
And there is not bit of electricity
about it nor anything automatic"
at all.
Out Of an inert disk OF what seems to
be some sort Of rubber composition and
a contraption Of metal, wood and mica
come tones reasonably clear and sweet.
They come, too, with surprising
strength when one stops to realize that
there is no electricity, mighty giant,
boosting them to the skies.
This record has reposed for years On
the shelf, as silent as the wood itself.
but now at the touch of a hand and
the propulsion Of spring 1t leaps into
! syllables
That not note, not breathing. Is
different, that the listener instantly re-
calls them all. as they arise, is no fault
Of the record.
1t was a fault of physics and of
f1nality.
How often the listener, In the old
days, had hoped that somehow miracle
would occur, on some record or other.
and that the singer would suddenly
cough, or do something else unexpected
| ~~~S fSAAs VAASAS OlAC hllCW WSll eIlOuRQ
that she would do nothing of the kind
But there were recompenses, too.
Here was music without the benefit
of announcer!
One did not have to listen to various
eulogies nor be told that this great tenor
was the greatest tenor in the world"
OF course, he was!
Everybody knew it in those DAYS
Most intelligent listeners knew the
story Of the opera and the scene which
the record reproduced, in part.
Just music, sweet music. without some
lnsultingly healthy voice roaring at Won
Well. folks, the sun is shining over
the Bay Of Naples and the fishing
smacks have come out to fish. or to
smack, as the case may be. On the
wharf the fishwiveS stand by their
knitting as we listen to the wonderful
voice OF our street singer"
One begins to think it q pretty good
old monograph. after all.
Here are scores, hundreds, Of splendid
records.
A little furniture polish on the case
a bit OF bufing on the metal work and
the old box would look as good as new
No doubt 1t was shame to exile it in
this way 49,
Say, take that chair out of the cor
ner there in the dining room! The old
monograph is coming upstairs! This is
| Its inauguration day!