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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 38

Personal Commendations

page 45

Personal Commendations.

Letter to Hon. Joseph Medill, Editor "Chicago Tribune."

Freight Auditor's Office, Omaha, Neb.,

My Dear Mr. Medill:

Instead of going to church this morning, I have come down to the office to thank you for your renewed thought- fulness in sending me the pamphlet about the Audiphone. I sent to Mr. Rhodes for one after receiving your first notice, and got the conversational style. It answers the purpose admirably. It has created quite a sensation among my friends. It was comical to see a number of them fanning themselves with it, under the impression that it was simply a fan, and then in a few moments to see their astonishment when they saw me hearing with it just as well as I ever did. All the physicians to whom I have shown it endorse it warmly.

Your sincere friend,

E. F. Test.

From E. F. Test.

Union Pacific R. R. Office, Omaha, Neb., Messrs. Rhodes & McClure, Chicago, Ill.

The Audiphone came all right yesterday noon. It appears to answer the purpose admirably, and seems to have page 46 created quite a sensation among my friends. Now that I have it, I don't want to do without one for a day. I am astonished and delighted at the volume of sound the instrument can convey through the nerves. It seems to work on the principle of ventriloquism. I enclose my cheque No. 4: on the State Bank of Nebraska for $10.00.

I am, respectfully yours,

E. F. Test.

From Rt. Rev. R. Ii. Clarkson, D. D.,

"Iam personally acquainted with Mr. Test of Omaha, and I can scarcely make him hear by shouting to him. If you make that man hear you do wonders."—Bishop Clarkson's remark while purchasing an Audiphone in the Chicago office.

From a Young Lady.

"My father, who has been deaf forty-six years, and who can only near when you are near to him and speak very loudry, can hear an ordinary conversation by the help of the Audiphone."

Chicago,

From John Atkinson.

Office of Racine Gaslight Company, Racine, Wis., Messrs. Rhodes & McClure, Chicago, Ill.

Gents:—I have been deaf for thirty years, but can now hear distinctly with the Audiphone. I thank God that I page 47 now have something that will help my hearing, and that I can now enjoy, as well as others, some of the delights of this world's amusements.

Yours truly,

John Atkinson.

From W. W. Evans.

Grant Locomotive Works,

Patterson, N. J.,

Messrs. Rhodes & McClure, Chicago, Ill.,

Gents:—Your Audiphone to hand. The lady (my sister) has tried it, and finds she can hear now an ordinary conversation, which she cannot do without it. I would not part with it for ten times its cost.

Very respectfully,

W. W. Evans.

From Henry Milnes, Esq.

I have been a little deaf for over thirty years and very deaf for twenty years, and have not heard a sermon, lecture, or a tune on the piano for twenty years. I procured an Audiphone yesterday and can already hear quite well an ordinary conversation, and expect by a little practice to be able to hear sermons, music, etc., without much difficulty.

Chicago,

Henry Milnes.

S. H. Weller, D.D.,

"The loss of hearing is a deprivation than which there is scarcely any other more serious. The extent to which this misfortune prevails can only be realized when we reflect page 48 that the deaf are to be found in numbers in every community. The man, therefore, who by any device, affords relief to this army of afflicted ones, not only deserves honorable mention as an inventor, but becomes a benefactor of his race. The "Audiphone," recently invented by Mr Rhodes, of the firm of Rhodes & McClure, gives good promise of meeting this case. The inventor himself, with whom it is difficult to converse at all, joins readily, with the use of this instrument, in ordinary conversation. I am satisfied, from ex-periments which I have witnessed, that, excepting instances in which the auditory nerve is fatally paralyzed, all the deal may, by its help, be enabled to hear and intelligently converse. This invention employs an entirely new and hitherto unused medium of sound and hence the most convincing and gratifying results are obtained, where the natural organ of hearing is entirely destroyed. I should like to speak in terms of strong commendation of an invention which is certain to be widely used, and which is bound to play a prominent part in ministering to the comfort of the afflicted."

S. H. Welles,

Resident Minister, Chicago.

From E. C. Ely.

Office of Reynolds & Ely, Wholesale Provision Dealers,

Peoria, Ill.,

Messrs. Rhodes & McClure, Chicago, Ill.

Gentlemen:—The 'phone at hand, and on trial even more satisfactory than could be expected at first use. My wife and friends are delighted and enthusiastic over it. They are rejoiced that I can hear, and I am glad that it no longer requires an effort on their part to enable me to do so. I have sent the pamphlets to friends similarly afflicted, and would like five or six more for the same purpose.

Yours truly,

E. C. Ely.

page 49

From Mrs. F. A. Lex.

"114 South Twenty-First Stkeet, "Philadelphia, Pa.,

"Messes. Rhodes & McClure:—The Audiphone arrived safely, and I hasten to assure you of its perfect success for my hearing. In ordinary conversation I cannot use it against the eye-teeth, as it makes the voices too loud, although the Audiphone is scarcely drawn. I entered into general conversation with perfect east, last evening, for the first time for five or six years. A melodeon or piano I hear distinctly at great distances. Reading aloud is also easily heard. My family and friends are so rejoiced at my success, and regard the instrument in wonder. My physician is delighted with it, and thinks, as my deafness arose greatly from nervousness, that the Audiphone will stimulate the auditory nerve, and possibly benefit or restore my sense of hearing. The terrible strain being taken from my mind gives me such rest and spirits that I almost forget my deafness.

Yours very truly,

Mrs. F. A. Lex,"

From H. A. Barry.

"Messes. Rhodes & McClure:—The Audiphone, per Adams' Express, arrived all right, and my wife is delighted with it. She has been to the theatre and other public entertainments, and for the first time in twelve years was she able to hear all that was said.

"H. A. Barry, 26 Post Office Ave., Baltimore, Md." Dec. 9, 1879."

From John B. Scott.

"I find that the more accustomed I become to the use of my Audiphone the better results do I obtain, and having page 50 been quite deaf for over thirty years I can assure you it is a great gratification to be able to attend any place where public speaking is going on and hear all that is uttered by the speakers—a pleasure that has been denied me all that time.

"John B. Scott,

New York."

From Christopher Cooper.

Messes. Rhodes & McClure,

Gentlemen:—I received the Audiphone you sent me quite safe, and am pleased totell you that I can hear remarkably well with it. Gave it a good trial last evening. My wife talked and read to me just as she would to a person that had their natural hearing, and I could hear every word distinctly. Could hear my children converse with each other, which I could not do without the Audiphone. My little boy said he felt almost sorry that I had got one, as I should be able to hear all he said now. I noticed that it is not necessary to apply the Audiphone to my teeth when the baby cries, unless I want to hear an extra loud yell, so now I may begin to think there is some advantage in being deaf, for if I want to hear anything I can do so, and if I do not want to hear a noise, I can shut off the sound of the Audiphone.

Yours, etc.,

Christopher Cooper.

From C. H. Pinkham, Jr.

Boston, Messrs. Rhodes & McClure, Chicago, Ill.

Gentlemen:—The Audiphone is a success with my sister. She hears perfectly and is consequently overjoyed.

Success to you in your business. May you make ten million dollars.

Yours,

C. H. Pinkham, Jr.

page 51

From the Evening Wisconsin.

The editor of this paper, Mr. W. E. Cramer, who is very deaf, after making some experiments with the Audiphone, says, in an editorial (we quote his exact words):

"He has come to the conclusion that the Audiphone is a very valuable invention. His deafness is of long standing and his hearing is very much impaired, yet, with the Audiphone he can hear persons speak at a distance, which would be utterly impossible without its use. He has tried it in the process of reading and he finds it very serviceable. The use of the Audiphone has the advantage that it can be applied without effort and that when a deaf person is disposed to be lazy he can hear, notwithstanding. With the old "snake auricular" this cannot be so for there is always a deal of labor in striving to keep the auricular in the ear."

Later.—(Same paper, October 18, 1879.) "We have been continuing our experiments with the Audiphone, and we have come to the conclusion that it is a superior invention for ordinary conversation. The singularity of the Audiphone consists in this: that the ingenuity of man seems to have invented something by which a person of impaired hearing can hear without the use of his ears. The two upper teeth (eye teeth) of the mouth become, as it were, the ears, and so long as the edge of the Audiphone is upon those teeth, the articulations of the human voice are conducted with accuracy to the understanding."

Still Later.—(Same paper, Jan. 7, 1880.) "Mr. Rhodes, of Chicago, inventor of the Audiphone, accompanied by his sister, Miss Lena Rhodes, paid the Wisconsin office a pleas-ant visit this forenoon. Mr. Rhodes uses the Audiphone himself, and says its usefulness to him materially increases by use, and that he can hear with it an hundred per cent better now than when he first commenced to use it. He is page 52 constantly engaged in improving the Audiphone, and feels confident of yet making it of great use to the thousands of deaf and dumb who are now within asylums. Mr. Rhodes' personal appearance is so much in his favor that he would be observed almost anywhere. Phrenologically he possesses a head of genius, and he has certainly signalized himself by an invention which, the longer it is tested, will place him among the marked men of this extraordinary era of scientific progress in all that tends to the comfort and civilization of man."

From Oscar P. Taylor.

Webb City, Ark.,

Gentlemen:—Audiphone is to hand and may God bless you for your invention; can hear as well as any one.

Yours,

Oscar P. Taylor.

From Eliza J. Barret.

Mr. Richard S. Rhodes,

Dear Sir:—Please accept my thanks for "Audiphone." I have delayed acknowledging its receipt until I could try it, and speak of its merits more intelligently. It is, indeed, a simple yet beautiful and valuable invention, and a great boon to those who, like myself, are afflicted with the loss and impairment of the sense of hearing.

Respectfully,

Eliza J. Barret.

From Abbie R. Stevens.

"Salem, Mass.,

"Gents:—I hear ordinary conversation with ease, and it is a wonder to me every time I use it. Sounds that I have page 53 not heard for years and had quite forgotten came back distinctly, and the more I use it the better I like it."

Later.—(Dec. 13, 1879). "I attend church, hear per-fectly six pews from the desk, and cannot hear the minister's voice without the Audiphone. I go to lectures and concerts, and, in short, am alive again and a part of the world. Sometimes I think my Audiphone is bewitched, it works so well."

The Audiphone operates with remarkable power in enabling the deaf to successfully hear the varying sounds and harmonies of music, whether produced by the voice or instruments. To such who have heretofore been denied the pleasure of hearing the "divine art," this invention will be of great advantage. So, also, is it invaluable as an aid to hear sermons, lectures, public speaking, etc.

The Audiphone is Patented throughout the civilized world.

Price:

Conversational, plain $10
Conversational, ornamental $15, $25, and $50

(According to Decoration.)

Double Audiphone (for Deaf Mutes, enabling them to hear their own voice) $15

The Audiphone will be sent to any address throughout the world, on receipt of price, by

Rhodes & Mcclure,

Agents for the World,

Methodist Church Block, Chicago, Ill.

Audiphone Parlors, Adjacent to the Office.

No. 107 S. Clark Street.