Mr. Edison considers that the size of the opening of the mouthpiece has considerable influence on the distinct articulation of speech. When the sounds are pronounced before the whole surface of the diaphragm, some hissing sounds are lost. They are, on the contrary, intensified when these sounds reach the diaphragm through a narrow orifice with sharp rims. If the opening is toothed on its flattened rims, the hissing consonants are delivered more clearly. Speech is reproduced more perfectly when the mouthpiece has a covering of some thickness, so arranged as to deaden the sounds arising from the friction of the tracing point on the tin. Mr. Hardy has rendered the registration of phonographic tracings more easy by adding a small ebonite tube, resembling the mouthpiece of a wind instrument, to the mouthpiece of the phonograph. USES OF THE PHONOGRAPH AND ITS FUTURE. Mr. Edison has lately published in the ‘North American Review’ of May-June 1878 an article on the future of the phonograph, in which he himself discusses the different applications which may be made of this instrument. Without sharing all his anticipations, which appear to us to be very premature, we think that some extracts from his paper may be interesting. ‘In order to furnish a basis on which the reader may take his stand ... a few categorical questions and answers are given upon the essential features of the principle involved. ‘1. Is a vibrating plate or disk capable of receiving a complex motion which shall correctly represent the peculiar property of each and all the multifarious vocal and other sound waves? ‘The telephone answers affirmatively. ‘2. Can such complex movement be transmitted from such plate by means of a single embossing point attached thereto, to effect a record upon a plastic material, by indentation, with such fidelity as to give to such indentations the same varied and complex form? And if so, will this embossing point, upon being passed over the record thus made, follow it with such fidelity as to transmit to the disk the same variety of movement, and thus effect a restoration or reproduction of the vocal or other sound waves, without loss of any property essential to producing on the ear the same sensation as if coming direct from the original source?