"My problem was a long way toward its solution. With practically those same instruments, improved with a year's experimenting, I went to the Exposition, where, as you know, I interested many people. Since last June Sir William Thomson and I have succeeded in talking over a distance of about sixty miles. Moreover, I have talked, but not so successfully, between New York and Boston, a distance of over two hundred miles. To-night I expect to establish a connection between this hall and my study in Exeter Place in Boston, eighteen miles away. My colleague, Professor Watson, is there, in company with six other gentlemen."
Then, in an ordinary tone, as if speaking to some one a few feet away, Professor Bell inquired, talking into the transmitter:
Evidently Watson was ready, for there came from the telephone a noise much like the sound of a horn.
"That is Watson making and breaking the circuit," explained Professor Bell.
Soon Arthur heard plainly the organ notes of "Auld Lang Syne," followed by those of "Yankee Doodle."
"But that's not the human voice," objected Arthur's neighbor to his companion. "Musical sounds we know can be telegraphed."
Just then Mr. Bell spoke again into the transmitter.
There came a few seconds of silence. Then, to the astonishment of all, a voice issued from the telephone. All the five hundred people could hear the sound, and those less than six feet from the instrument had little difficulty in making out the words:
"Ladies and gentlemen: It gives me great pleasure to address you this evening, though I am in Boston and you are in Salem."
"I wonder what those men think now," reflected Arthur.
"We can no longer doubt. We can only admire the sagacity and patience with which Mr. Bell has brought his problem to a successful issue."
At the conclusion of the lecture many of the audience went to the platform to examine the wonderful box more closely. Arthur and Herbert were of the number, you may be sure.
"Is it all right for me to speak to Mr. Bell, Herbert?" whispered Arthur.
"Mr. Bell," he said finally, "you did make the receiver into a transmitter, didn't you? I saw you at Philadelphia, you know."
"Why," he exclaimed, "you're the boy I saw at the Exposition that Sunday afternoon last June, aren't you?" Then he added, before turning away to answer a question that a man was asking, "Better buy a Boston _Globe_ in the morning. You'll find a new triumph for the telephone there."