The Little Gleaner, Vol. X.: A Monthly Magazine for the YoungVarious
Religion
The Little Gleaner, Vol. X.: A Monthly Magazine for the Young
Various
Christian literature for children -- Periodicals
At five minutes past two o'clock precisely, I and my family were
enjoying the at once unprecedented and astounding experience of
listening to Mr. Edison's own familiar and unmistakable tones here in
England--more than three thousand miles from the place where he had
spoken, and exactly ten days after, the voice having meanwhile voyaged
across the Atlantic Ocean.
"His first phonogram," as Mr. Edison calls it, tells me, among other
things, that this instrument contains many modifications of those which,
a few weeks ago, were exhibited at the Electrical Club in New York, and
so widely reported by the Press.
In the several long phonogramic communications to me (no single word of
which had to be repeated in order to be clearly and easily understood by
every person present, including a child of seven years old), Mr. Edison
mentions that he will send me phonograms by every mail leaving New York,
and requests me to correspond with him exclusively through the medium of
the phonograph, humorously remarking in this connection upon the
advantages he will himself derive from the substitution of phonograms
for a style of writing not always too legible.
Next to the phonogram from Mr. Edison himself, and before all the
remainder of the deeply interesting contents of the "phonogramic
cabinet" sent me, is an exquisite poem entitled, "The Phonograph's
Salutation," composed by the well-known and gifted American poet and
preacher, Horatio Nelson Powers, D.D., of Piermont, on the Hudson. This
poem makes the phonograph tell its own story of what it is and what it
does, in a style and with a power that must add not a little to the
already high reputation of its author. It was spoken by him into the
phonograph, so that we cannot fail to read it as he would have it
read--a privilege of no small importance to both the poet and those who
hear him.
Perhaps the highest justification of the phonograph's description of its
own power in its "Salutation" is found in the fact that to several
members of my family who are familiar with the Doctor's style of
oratory, from having sat under his preaching in former years, the voice
of the author is perfectly recognizable, even by my youngest child of
seven years, who had not heard the voice since he was five years old.
Besides the above, Mr. Edison has sent for our amusement numerous
musical records of great interest and beauty--pianoforte, cornet, and
other instruments, solos, duets, &c., many of which, he tells me, have
been very frequently repeated--some, several hundred times.
Altogether, our experiences of the day have been so delightful and
unusual, not to say supernatural, that it makes it difficult to realize
that we have not been dreaming--so interesting withal as to make it seem
a duty, as it is a pleasure, to communicate the above to your
widely-read paper, which I have so frequently observed to chronicle the
works of the author of this unparalleled triumph of mind over matter.
All honour to Edison!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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