The Phonogram, Vol. 2:3 (1892-03)

THE PHONOGRAM. 63 use of the phonograph saves the eye, whose powers manifestly deteriorate when applied to the study of shorthand for any length of time, and whose loss is irreparable. In making good our promise-tb show to the public a better way, we have only to add that we believe we are conferring on mankind at large a benefit in making this exposition, and that by the publication of it we hope it may be disseminated so as to reach millions. The Coming Phonograph Convention. During the coming month the National Pho. tiograph Association will hold its convention in this city, when questions of unusual inter- est will be discussed and acted upon. There is now in sight, for this practical and all-embracing instrument, a career, so to speak, of vast importance, which may be pointed out in the future numbers of this magazine. Since the consolidation of the Edison General Electric Company and the Thomson-Houston Company, a future of wide usefulness and prosperity looms up. Easily Controverted. The Universal Typewriter , published at Syracuse, N. Y., imparts to us information so contradictory in character that we are moved to inquire which 44 horn of the dilemma'* this editor intends to have his readers adopt. In an editorial he remarks, 44 Progression is never accomplished without the aid of new ideas. All truth is as old as eternity, hut new features may ever be added to the eata- gory of development." Now, within a few years past a most wou- derful piece of mechanism l as been contrived by the fertile brain of Mr. Edison, whose ever- increasing utility is the theme of admiring and grateful patrons in all parts of the world. This instrument forms not only eyes to the blind and ears to the deaf, but usurps three other most important functions of a human being by writing down what is uttered, retaining it in the mechanical storehouse of its memory, and then talking it back at you, whenever you choose to make it do so. It is employed by the Congress of the United States, a body of men whose wisdom and whose acts are now considered of more force than any other association in the world, for the reason that men have utterly failed by the aid of stenography to compass the tasks necessary to carry on the business of Congress. It is used in every State in our Union, in every civilized country of the globe ; yet it forms the subject of adverse criticism in an article published by The Universal Type- writer, in its March number of 1892. To print the opinions of a contributor means to give them the value of editorial approval, unless the editor expressly disclaims coinciding views on the point in question. Therefore we call attention to this fact as well as to the point we made in the beginning of this review, viz.: the editor’s motto. 44 Progression is never accomplished wit bout the aid of new ideas." Now. if the press under- takes to sneer at the new idea of the phono- graph, and to air the opinions of every fledg- ling of thirteen years old with regard to its merits, where is the benefit of new ideas? All the points made by this youthful writer are easily controverted. 1. He says the phonograph is not easily portable. We reply, it is much more so than a sewing machine or writing table for stenog- rapher’s work. 2. 44 If the phonograph took down all that is said in a court room it would record un- necessary matter." ^ m This critic is not posted, or he would know that there is now a sensitive diaphragm invented, which records whispered sounds and reports them distinctly in a loud tone. 3. “ Business men don't want to sit straight like statues before their desk^and talk to the machine." There is no re^on for^sq doing;. A flexible tube used at present affords them means of varying attitudes at will. * * 4. “ Even if the phonograph were satis- factory, the salary of a typywritist would equal the salary of a stenographer." This forms an inducement for the type- writist to learn the phonograph, since it increases her earnings. We might here quote the figures given us by the officers of the World's Medical Dispensary at Buffalo, N. Y., which state that the saviqg wher^ 1 FOURTEEN PHONCGRAHS arAused is, in year, $2,133.40. 5. 4i Shorthand can take anything but an extraordinary rate of utterance." m The phonograph takes all rates of utter- ance with accuracy, and reproduces them at a speed to suit the will of the transcriber. 6. 44 If a ‘typewriti>L has corrections to