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ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL By Hillaby Asbuby Gobin WHEN I was a small boy a fine old gentleman came to my father's house one day to talk about a machine for making brick. The old man was working hard on his invention — a means of making brick by steam power rather than by hand labor. In his talk he said: ^^I would rather leave a useful invention to my f ellowmen than to be President of the United States. ' ' The small boy listening in silence was deeply impressed by this remark. He never heard the result of the experiment with the brick machine but he never forgot the old man 's remark. To appreciate the value of this saying we do not need to dis- parage the high character or vast importance of this great office, but the comparison suggests the value to society of a wonderful invention. The decisions of the President may not be known or felt by vast multitudes of the people, while the efforts of some ingenious and persistent thinker may result in such an improvement in certain commodities or utilities as to bless every home in the land. Among the greatest inventions, if not the very greatest, in point of service to all kinds of people, is the telephone. No other invention came into practical service so speedily. No other invention went so rapidly around the world and entered at once into every scene of human activity. It speaks in all languages and talks on all subjects. With equal facility it transmits the classic speech of the learned and the awkward dialect of the illiterate. By it we hear from afar the prattle of the babe, the counsel of the aged, the wail of the sorrowing, or the cheer of the victorious. It talks about money, danger, success, failure, playful jest, and loving devotion. One mo- ment its voice is angry and insolent, in an instant it becomes apologetic, respectful, and assuring. It alarms, commands, relieves, and exults in breathless speed and forcefulness, through incredible distances. Wonderful, wonderful tele- phone !