The Edison phonograph monthly (Mar 1903-Feb 1904)

8 EDISON PHONOGRAPH MONTHLY. marching songs so popular a few years ago. Davids and Mcakim are the authors and M. Witmark is the publisher. No. 86ri, "Your Dad Gave His Life for His Country," is a patriotic song of Decoration Day; the kind of song that touches a popular chord in the average American. It is sung artistically by Francklyn Wallace, and has an orchestra accompaniment. The words are by Harry J. Breen and the music by T. Mayo Geary. No. 86t2, "American Flag March," is a clever whistling solo by Joe Belmont, the first Record by Mr. Belmont that we have been able to list in several months. "No. 8613, "Dear Old Girl," is a pathetic and sentimental ballad, with orchestra accompaniment, nicely sung by Harry MacDonough. Records of this character are always in demand. The words are by Richard Henry Buck and the music by Theo. F. Morse. No. 86T4, "The Cavalier March," by the Edison Concert Band, is a splendid twostep air and a Record that will sell whenever played for admirers of band Records. No. 8615, "If You're Such a Great Star, Why Don't You Shine?" is a coon song Record in Arthur Collins' best style. The song portrays the scorn and indignation of a coon girl, who was taken to the circus by a gentleman friend. He had told her that he was a great star, but at the circus she found him in one of the catres. Mr. Collins sings the part splendidly. With orchestra accompaniment it makes a Record that will be a good seller. No. 86t6, "Merry Birds Polka," is another well made and delightful addition to the list of piccolo Records made by Frank S. Mazziota. Few instruments make such clear Records as the piccolo, and when played by an artist like Mr. Mazziota they are doubly desirable. "Merry Birds Polka" is accompanied by the orchestra. It was written by J. S. Cox. No. 86t7, "The Woodchuck's^ Song," is a Record of Fay Templeton's song in "The Runaways." made by Bob Roberts, a baritone who is thereby introduced to buyers of Edison Gold Moulded Records. This song has for its chorus the old query, "How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck would chuck wood?" The Record has an orchestra accompaniment. The music of the song is by Theodore F. Morse and the words by Robert Hobart Davis. No. 86t8, "Razzle Dazzle," is a characteristic Cakewalk air played as a banjo solo by Vess L. Ossman, whose talent needs no comment. The orchestra accompaniment makes the Record exceedingly attractive. "Razzle Dazzle" is the work of Harry Von Tilzer and is cleverly written. No. 86tq, "Reuben Haskin's Ride on a Cyclone Auto," is an unusually good talking Record by Len Spencer. It gives in a realistic and extremely funny manner a description of a Maine farmer's ride in an automobile ; how he is frightened out of his wits by the terrific speed of the machine, and how it ran over and killed chickens and does on the way. This Record will be a great laueft provoker. No. 8620, "The Bridal Rose." is an overture by the Edison Symphony Orchestra. It is a pretty bit of music and played in the best possible manner. No. 8621, "I Ain't Got No Time," is a comic coon duet by Collins and Harlan. This Record is also made with orchestra accompaniment, and with No. 8608 are the first Records ever made at the Edison Laboratory with such accompaniment. "I Ain't Got No Time" is an excellent Record and will attract more than ordinary attention. Mr. Collins sings the air and at each pause Mr. Harlan breaks in with a funny remark. The chorus is then sung as a duet. Felix F. Feist wrote the words and Ted S. Barron the music of this song. No. 8622, "Girlish Dreams," is a bell solo by Albert Benzler, with orchestra accompaniment. The air is pretty. Mr. Benzler plays it perfectly, and the orchestra music adds to the attractiveness of the Record. This composition was written by E. Hoist. No. 8623, "Daughter of Love Waltz," is a fine Record by the Edison Military Band. Its music is very attractive and the band execution could not be better. It was recorded at slow tempo for dancing. The music is by C. \V. Bennet. EDUCATORS APPROVE LANGUAGE COURSES WITH EDISON PHONOGRAPHS. Modern educators are becoming deeply interested in the Phonograph method of teaching French, German and Spanish employed by the International Correspondence Schools of Scranton, Pa. We have received newspaper clippings telling of demonstrations made at teachers' conventions in Duluth, Minn., and Chardon, Ohio, of the value of the Phonograph as an aid in teaching languages. The following endorsement shows how educators are taking up the matter: — Department of Romance Languages, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md. International Correspondence Schools of Scranton, Pa. Mr. A. Menke, Jr., Asst. Suf>t., Baltimore, Md. Dear Sir : — I wish to thank you again for your most interesting exposition of the method of teaching modern languages with the aid of the Phonograph, now in use by the International Correspondence Schools. The Phonograph Records are excellent and so carefully graded that the student can understand the grammatical construction as well as the meaning from the first. The accompanying textbook is put together on a rational basis and contains far more minute explanations of rules and idiomatic usages than an instructor usually gives in class. The system of correcting the student's pronunciation by means of the Phonograph should also be entirely satisfactory in view of the standard quality of the machine in use. I wish to add that I consider the system superior to any other method of phonographic language teaching now on the market, and, I may say, the least expensive for the learner because of the equipment provided. Murray P. Brush, Associate in Romance Languages.