“The Voice in the Box!”

Quick Quotes 32. The following quote is from the June 1904 issue of Talking Machine News:

A correspondent, whose bona-fides is unquestionable, sends us particulars of a curious case of a madman and a talking machine. Ten years ago he was in lodgings in Dublin. In the same house lived another man who was possessed of the idea that someone was constantly whispering in his ear. Even when at church, the voice distracted him in his devotions, and when he went in search of employment, it was there before him, with the result that he was never engaged. The owner of the voice, used in addition, to treat him to electric shocks at night. At this time “talkers” were not generally on sale in Ireland, and our correspondent, an enthusiastic amateur, made himself a disc machine, driven by an electric motor. When it was completed he called in his fellow-lodger and started the machine. They were, of course, greatly interested, but the incipient madman grew extremely excited. “The voice in the box!” cried he. “Electricity! I see it all now; you are the ruffian who put the electric man on to me! You it is who stop me from getting employment! You are the villain who keeps me awake with electric shocks at night!” And our correspondent found himself on the floor, with machine, wet batteries, and accessories on top of him. His assailant was with difficulty restrained from throttling our friend there and then. His mind, which, of course had been unhinged for some time, had given way completely, and he was removed to the asylum. He died last year still raving of the electric talking man.

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“Quick Quotes” are some bonus content for the blog. Each time I find an interesting or amusing little quote that does not really need any further explanation or background information, it will appear on Windows into History under this heading. You can keep updated each time I post a new entry by clicking on the follow button on the right of the screen. I welcome any comments or suggestions, and will consider guest posts.