MR EDISON'S PHONOGRAPH

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2519, 1 September 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

MR EDISON'S PHONOGRAPH

The following letter appears in the Times : —Sir, —At 2 o'clock this afternoon, at the address below, I bad the honour to receive from Mr Edison his "perfected phonograph;" which, on the authority of Mr Edison's own statement in his own. familiar voice, communicated to me by the phonograph itself, "is the first instrument of his latest model that has been seen outside of his laboratory or has left bis hands," and is consequently the first to reach this country. At five minutes past 2 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 3000 miles from the place where he had spoken, and exactly ten days after, the voice having meanwhile voyaged across the Atlantic Ooean. "His first phonogram," as Mr Edi«on calls ic, tells me, among other thiugs, 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 bad to be repeated in order to be clearly and easily understood by every person present, including a child of 7 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, huinorouely 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 others of the interesting contents of the " phonogramic cabinet" sent me, is an exquisite poom, entitled " The Phonograph's Salutation," composed by the well-known and gifted American poet and preacher, the Rev. Horatio Nelson Powers, D.D , of Piermqnton 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 ils own power in its "Saluation " is found in the fact that to several members of my family who are familiar with the rev. doctor's style of oratory, from having sat under his preaching in former years, the voice of the author is perfectly recognisable, even by my youngest child of 7 years, who had not heard the voice since he was 5 years old. Besides the above, Mr Edison has sent for our amusement numerous musical records of great interest and beauty; pianoforte, cornet and other inHtruments, solos, duets, &c, many of which, he tells me, have been frequently repeated, some several hundred times. Altogether our experience of the day have beon so delightful and unusual, not lo say supernatural, that it makes it difficult to realise 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 uupnrallelod triumph of mind over niattor. All honour to Edison I —l huve honour to be, Sir, your obedient servant. 'Jr. E. Gottbaud, Little Menlo, Beulah Hill, Upper Norwood, Surrey, 26th June. P. S. —It may be interesting to add that the above communication was spoken by me into the phonograph and written from the phonograph's dictation by a member of my family, who had, of course, no previous experience of the instrument.