uld be heard across the wires even
more distinctly than loud utterances, even a whisper being audible. In
confirmation of this statement, Mr. Watson commenced speaking in turn
with each member of the company; and after the efficiency of this
method had been proved to the satisfaction of all, he took up a
newspaper and informed the assemblage that gold had closed the
previous evening at New York at 105-5/8. As there were quite a number
of business men present, the effect that this practical demonstration
of the value of the telephone produced can scarcely be exaggerated.
Other passages from the daily journals were then given, and by this
time the desire for conversation having become general, Mr. Watson was
plied with questions such as: "Is it thawing or freezing at Malden?
Who will be the next President?" etc. It was remarkable that Mr.
Watson was able to distinguish between the voices at the Boston end,
he calling at least one gentleman by name as soon as the latter
commenced speaking.

This went on for some time, until a lady at the Malden end sent the
company an invitation to lunch per telephone, and an appropriate
response was made by the same medium. At length the Boston company
were requested to remain quiet while a lady at the other end conveyed
to them the sweet strains of music. The assemblage thereupon listened
with rapt attention while a young lady commenced singing "The Last
Rose of Summer." The effect was simply charming. The sound of the
voice penetrated into the Boston end of the telephone with a
distinctness equal to that attainable in the more distant parts of a
large concert room, and a unanimous vote of thanks was sent by the
handy little instrument which had procured for the assemblage so
agreeable an hour.

* * * * *

The superb steam engine built by C.H. Brown & Co., of Fitchburg,
Mass., which was illustrated and described on page 1 of our current
volume, has been purchased by Messrs. Phineas Jones & Co., and is
being erected in their extensive carriage wheel works at Newark, N.J.

* * * * *

CROSSING A RIVER ON A WIRE.

A reporter of the New York Sun wanted to realize the sensation of
being suspended on a wire 275 feet from the surface of the earth. He
applied to the engineer of the Brooklyn bridge for permission to cross
the East river on a wire, three quarters of an inch in diameter, which
hangs between the two tower