Page:Paine--J Archibauld McKaney collector of whiskers.djvu/11

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PUBLISHER'S PREFACE

THE remarkable researches and discoveries of Mr. J. Archibald McKackney have hitherto been buried in the monographs of the American Society for the Promotion of Curious Science. Mr. McKackney, it may be remarked, is an elderly gentleman of great wealth and an eager mental activity whose estate is one of the show-places of the New England coast. For several years he had been engaged in assembling his unique collection of Human Whiskers before his discovery and employment of their musical vibrations made a world-wide stir among the students of Acoustics and Harmony.[1]

  1. For technical references see Annual Reports Am. Soc. P. C. S., Vol. XII., pp. 287-324 (1901); Vol. XIV., pp. 103-149 (1903). Also Appendix B. Revised Edition—Der Mechanismus der Menschlichen Sprache nebst Beschreibnng einer Sprechenden Maschine von Wolfgang von Kempelen (Vienna). Also latest Edition, Theory of Harmony, Weitzman.

    Also A Critical Analysis of the McKackney Theory of the Analogy between the Æolian Harp and the Human Beard or Whisker, (Pamphlet by Dr. Bruno Heilig, published by Leighton & Leighton, London, 1904.

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