A TELEPHONIC JOKE.

Inangahua Times, Volume IV, Issue 97, 19 November 1877, Page 2

A TELEPHONIC JOKE.

Edward Armstrong, snperinteudcnt of (lie Suburban Telegraph Company of Cincinnati, was on a visit to Chicago a couple of weeks ago. On his return lie reported that, he had made arrangements to test the telephone between .the two cities. The music of a brass band at Chicago was to be transmitted over the wires and distinctly hoard in Cincinnati. Out of courtesy to the newspaper fraternity, it was announced that none but members of that profession would bo ndmitted to the first trial. When the time came thirty novvspapor men were present, pencils and all. It took Mr Armstrong time to adjust things properly, but finally sweet sounds were heard. Musical critics, reporters, and editors placed their cars close to the relay and could not conceal their joy. " I hear the telephone whirr," said one; another threw his hat in the air with delight, while the remainder fell upon each other's nt-cks to weep. vPi-e* sently one of the party said he could distinguish the French horn from the bass drum, another thought the fellow playinu the trombone was blowing too hard to make artistic music, another could count just sixteen pieces in the baud, while still another eountel seventeen. Everybody listened and drank in the delicious strains. Finally the music was abruptly stopped. As they all wanted to examine the telephone to its bitter end, Mr Armstronlifted the iop of the relay bo< undisclosed a little swiss music-b >x, which on being wound up struck up " A Life^n the Oean Wave, a Home on the Rol.ing Deep." The faces of the astute news, paper men very visibly lengthened as they contemplated what a complete sell had been practisod on them. It is presumed that Mr Armstrong properly appreciated the fun. He had just graduated in the same school »t the hands of Mr Summers at Chicago a few days before Some of the reporters felt quite blue over the sell, as a number of thorn had been studying scientific works on the transmission of sound for weeks, and had several Oulumns of introduction m advance, wuiob, was already in type.