I was fairly dumfounded, and thought perhaps he was casting a slur, as I had been doing considerable talking. At any rate I felt that whether he was telling the truth or not, I had a right to take exceptions. [Illustration: EXHIBITING A PHONOGRAPH NEAR ELKHART, IND.--PAGE 505.] If he had meant to slur me, I would be insulted. If he had told the truth, I had a right to oppose unfair competition. I then demanded an explanation, and assured him that I did nothing else _but_ talk, and considered I had a perfect right to investigate any sort of a machine that would be at all likely to monopolize the business. He then took the cover off the box and showed me an Edison phonograph, which he had gotten in exchange for a horse. He had come on there expecting to meet his cousin, who was to furnish the money, and they were going to travel and exhibit it. I asked him to "set 'er going" and let me hear it spout an hour or two. He said it would take several minutes to arrange it, besides he didn't like to use up any more tin foil than was necessary, as he hadn't much on hand. I asked him what he thought of doing. He said he didn't know, but guessed he'd go back home if his cousin didn't come. "Why can't you and I give an exhibition?" I asked. "Where will we give it?" "Suppose we go to some country school-house a few miles out and give a show to-morrow evening?" "All right, I'm willing. I have plenty of small hand-bills." "Then we'll hire a team to-morrow morning and drive out to some thickly-settled neighborhood and advertise it. You're sure it'll talk, are you?" "Talk? You bet it'll talk!" The next morning we were up and ready for business, and, after hiring a horse and wagon, started out. After driving several miles, we found a place where we thought it would pay to stop, and upon inquiring for the school directors, were referred to a farmer living near by. We called on him, and after stating our business and promising himself and family passes, were given an order on the school-teacher for the key, when she had locked up for the day. We drove directly there, where we found nearly forty scholars in attendance. After making the teacher's acquaintance and explaining our business, she gave us permission to deliver a circular to each one present, and to make an announcement. This I managed to do, and stated to them that if I had time after the performance with the talking machine, I would deliver a lecture on Telegraphy, and explain the manner of sending messages, and how batteries were made, and how long it would take a message to travel from New York to San Francisco. My idea, of course, was to represent as much of an attraction as possible, as I felt certain that if we got them there, and got the machine to talking once, they would forget all about Telegraphy.