THE PHONOGRAPH 189 



Ground Bazaar. ' And the thought struck him,' 

 Mr. Ewing writes to me, ' to exhibit Edison's 

 phonograph, then the very newest scientific marvel. 

 The instrument itself was not to be purchased — 

 I think no specimen had then crossed the Atlantic 

 — but a copy of the Times with an account of it 

 was at hand, and by the help of this we made a 

 phonograph which to our great joy talked, and 

 talked, too, with the purest American accent. 

 It was so good that a second instrument was got 

 ready forthwith. Both were shown at the Bazaar : 

 one by Mrs. Jenkin to people willing to pay half 

 a crown for a private view and the privilege of 

 hearing their own voices, while Jenkin, perfervid 

 as usual, gave half-hourly lectures on the other 

 in an adjoining room — I, as his lieutenant, taking 

 turns. The thing was in its way a little triumph. 

 A few of the visitors were deaf, and hugged the 

 belief that they were the victims of a new kind 

 of fancy-fair swindle. Of the others, many who 

 came to scoff remained to take raffle tickets ; and 

 one of the phonographs was finally disposed of 

 in this way.' The other remained in Fleeming's 

 hands, and was a source of infinite occupation. 

 Once it was sent to London, ' to bring back on 

 the tinfoil the tones of a lady distinguished for 

 clear vocalisation ' ; at another time ' Sir Robert 

 Christison was brought in to contribute his powerful 

 bass ' ; and there scarcely came a visitor about 



