SCIENCE IN THE INDUSTRIAL WORLD 



phonograph, the clockwork set in motion, and the 

 matter dictated into the mouthpiece without other 

 effort than when dictating to a stenographer. It is then 

 removed, placed in a suitable form of envelope, and sent 

 through the ordinary channels of correspondence to 

 whom it is designed. He, placing it upon his phono- 

 graph, starts his clockwork, and listens to what his cor- 

 respondent has to say." 



It will be seen that even at this time Edison foresaw 

 clearly the future that was in store for his invention. 

 And the significant part of his statement, foreshadow- 

 ing the use of phonographs in dictating letters and 

 documents, is now put in practical every-day use by 

 thousands of persons all over the world. The cylinder 

 records, however, are not used as Edison suggested 

 that is, sent through the mails in special cases or en- 

 velopes but are turned over to typists who record the 

 dictation on typewriting machines in the ordinary 

 manner. This is but one of the many ways in which 

 the phonograph has proved itself a most useful inven- 

 tion. But even without this important commercial 

 value, the instrument affords a means of harmless amuse- 

 ment and entertainment of no small significance in 

 the healthful development of a community. 



[98] 



