THE PROGRESS OF ELECTRICITY.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XX, Issue 1427, 8 February 1888, Page 5

THE PROGRESS OF ELECTRICITY.

(Dr Taylor's Science Gossip.) In the electrical world most people's minds are occupied with the statement of Mr Edison, which has appeared in all the newspapers, to the effect that he has taken the phonograph in hand, and converted it from a mere toy into a business and legal instrument. I say the "statement," for Mr Edison has not contradicted it, and we may therefore presume it has been published with his knowledge and snnction, otherwise I should have thought that Mark Twain had written the puff, and has done so in his best and raciest style. The phonograph has not advanced one stage since its invention, nearly ten years ago, and there is no earthly reason why it. should not be developed into a very useful instrument. Like all great inventors and discoverers, Edison is a very sanguine man, and indulges in very optimistic views, but he has never laid his admirers under such credulity a3 in this paragraph about the phonograph. The merchant will shortly use it in his office, and talk into it as he does the telephone. Then he will take out the impressed sheet, and send it, say, to a client in Melbourne, when the client will remount it, and hear the actual voice of the sender — nay, the spoken letter can be repeated a thousand times if necessary. The phonogram will not wear out at any time, however distart ; the voice will speak years after the owner of the original voice is dead ! A will need no longer be made on parchment, it can be converted into a phonogram, and the dead man's voice will be heard in court, should his will ever be disputed. And all this is so cheap that anybody will be able to afford to purchase a phonograph. The possibilities of modern science are becoming tremendous. Mr Edison's last statement beats anything in Sye for imagin ative ability and raw originality. So everybody is waiting further news.

Let no one ever repudiate an honest effort.— Scott