The Phonograph.

It is a singular fact. [sic: ,] which the phonograph has revealed, that no person hears the true sound of his own voice. As repeated by the instrument, it is readily recognized by others, but is strange to the speaker. At a recent phonographic soiree at Colonel Gouraud's house, in Norwood, the Bishop of Nelson (Rev. Dr. Andrew Burns Suter) spoke into the instrument. When he heard his own voice reproduced, he thought it like his mother's, and it was to him full of « strange impressive memories. » The next day he sent the following message to Mr Edison:

I heard a voice last night; 'twas passing strange—
'Twas not my father's, though it told of him;
'Twas not my mother's, though it her recalled;
'Twas not my brother's, I have had but two—
One is, and one is not—and yet the voice
Had something in it which did both recall.
I never heard the voice before, though oft
I've caught its echo from the hills of life.
To-night I heard it, and my soul rejoiced.
I've seen myself before—but now to-night
I've heard myself, and trembled as I heard.
O man of science, what is this of yours?
You have me, every tone and emphasis.
I dare not say « I did not raise my voice, »
I cannot e'en deny its softened tones.
Oh, glorious truth. My God, he has a heart
Which treasures up my sentences in full;
As David sings, « These tears are safely stored
Within Thy bottle, noted in Thy book. »
The eternal mind and memory retains
Each groan, each shout, or jubilant, or grave.
Fear not, O Edison, one triumph more
For truth. Go on and prosper truly thou,
Child of true science manifesting all,
For what doth manifest that that is light.