Ralph, 124C 41+, glancing over the head-lines of his _News_, saw that considerable space was given to his latest exploit, the paper showing actual photographs of the Swiss Alpine scene, which a correspondent had taken as the avalanche thundered down the mountain. The photographs had been sent by _Teleradiograph_ immediately after the occurrence in Switzerland, and the _News_ had printed them in all the _natural_ colors twenty minutes after Ralph had turned off the ultra-power in New York.
These photographs seemed to be the only thing that interested Ralph, as they showed the house and the surrounding Alps. These, with the monstrous avalanche in progression photographed and reproduced in the natural colors, were very impressive.
Presently he revolved the color screen of his projector to green--the technical page of the _News_--to him the most interesting reading in the paper.
He soon had read all that interested him, and as there was still an hour before dinner time he began to "write" his lecture: "On the prolongation of animal life by π-Rays."
He attached a double leather head-band to his head. At each end of the band was attached a round metal disc that pressed closely on the temples. From each metal disc an insulated wire led to a small square box, the _Menograph_, or mind-writer.
He then pressed a button and a low humming was heard; simultaneously two small bulbs began to glow with a soft green fluorescent light. Grasping a button connected with a flexible cord to the Menograph, he leaned back in his chair.
After a few minutes' reflection he pressed the button, and at once a wave line, traced in ink, appeared on a narrow white fabric band, the latter resembling a telegraph recorder tape.
The band which moved rapidly, was unrolled from one reel and rolled up on another. Whenever the inventor wished to "write" down his thoughts, he would press the button, which started the mechanism as well as the recording tracer.
(Below is shown the record of a Menograph, the piece of tape being actual size.
Where the wave line breaks, a new word or sentence commences; the three words shown are the result of the thought which expresses itself in the words, "_In olden times_." ...)
The Menograph was one of Ralph 124C 41+'s earliest inventions, and entirely superseded the pen and pencil. It was only necessary to press the button when an idea was to be recorded and to release the button when one reflected and did not wish the thought-words recorded.