The Phonogram, Vol. 1:5 (1891-05)

) 10S THE PHONOGRAM: Placed once upon a substantial basis, the Phonogram has in view a scheme for enlarging its sphere and thereby securing for the phono- graph still greater triumphs, V. H. McRae. A Unique Name For an Unparalleled Instrument. Genius knows no metes—no bounds; disre- garding past achievements, spurning obstacles, seeking ever new fields and new victories, it lives only to do and dare. The gloomy and brooding young Corsican who set out mechanically to win station in an armv and for a countrv not his own, was never • • daunted, and never swerved till he reached the post of First Consul. When he had grasped •that, his ambition and cumulative energy en- abled him to obtain whatever his fancy prompted him to desire by the aid of his gen- ius. Crowns were snatched from the heads of kings, armies cut down as the mower cuts the wheat with his scythe, cities burned, nations humiliated. Whatever he aspired to perform he accomplished. So it is with the American savant, Edison. He has recentlv contrived a new instrument, the 0 kinctograph, from the old zoetrope and Pro- fessor Mavbridge's instantaneous photographs of animals in motion. Combining these he has made an apparatus for the purpose of continu- ously recording motion and reproducing it at will. He will, for instance, take 30 or 40 pic- tures a second of an acrobat's movements. He proposes to keep a continuous record of a pub- lic speaker's motions, using a kinctograph for this purpose, just as he would record the spoken words on a phonograph; and repro- duce the two together for the amusement of future generations. The eye of a genius is as alert as the eve of a sentinel. 0 A Correction. The article in our iast issue on the subject of the Columbia Phonograph Company was erron- couslv attributed to Mr. E. I). Easton. It was, 0 as a matter of fact, prepared in this office by the editor, on data furnished in part only from Washington. The views expressed as to the effect of the phonograph upon stenographers are our own; as arc also the conclusions in the last paragraph, relative to the success of the Colum- bia Company. The statement that the phono- • • • j ■ graph is used in the Armory of the Washington Light Infantry, was based upon a newspaper clipping which, we now understand, related to a proposed trial. Obituary. In the death of Mr. L. Halsey Williams at his home in Leetsdale, Pennsylvania, one week • ago, the public at large have lost a well-known business man and the phonograph people have lost one of its most ardent promoters. Mr. Williams was born in Portsmouth, Ohio, in 1S42. In 1S47 his parents moved from that place to CaTTnonsburg. He was educated at Jefferson College where his father, the Rev. Aaron Williams, held the position of professor. He did not graduate but left school to join the army when the war broke out. He served with distinction in Knapp’s Battery. After the war Mr. William? settled in Pitts- burg and made a reputation for himself as the assignee for the bankrupt firm of Ira B. McVcy & Co. He succeeded Jas. Kennedy as financial editor of the Commercial which position he held for several years, afterwards organizing the St. Clair Banking Company, which formed the Fifth National Bank. He was for a long time cashier of this bank. About four years ago he became general mana- ger of the Bridgewater Gas Company, but his health failing, he was compelled to quit busi- ness and take atrip to Europe. He was vice-president of the Eastern Penn- sylvania Phonograph Company and was large- ly interested in the West Pennsylvania Phono- graph Company, and the North American Phonograph Company. He took a verv active interest in this enter- prise. At the time of his death he was a director in the Bridgewater Gas Company, secretary and treasurer of the New Castle Water Company, a director in the Central District Printing and Telephone Company, treasurer of the Mercan- tile Library Hall Company and a director of the Fifth National Bank. He will be greatly missed in phonograph cir- cles as well as in banking circles, where he was said to have been known as the best posted man on banking and commercial law in Pennsyl- vania. « \.