OUT OF THIN AIR

those men who were able and interested. It was here on March 11, 1921 that he and his class heard the first radio concert ever to be received on Prince Edward Island.

They had been picking up regular ship—to—shore messages in Morse code on the wireless receiver he had built. But on that particular March evening they suddenly heard what sounded like music and speech. It was fading badly, but once in a while it became crystal clear. Imagine the excitement and intensity in that classroom now transformed into a Prospero’s cave as each anxiously took his turn with the head-set to hear those miraculous sounds coming through.

Quite by chance they had tuned in students at Union Technical College in Schenectady, New York, who were conducting transmitting experiments with a gramaphone and a wheezy player-piano. It was indeed an exciting breakthrough. Dad lost no time getting in touch with Union Tech to offer congratulations and to exchange technical informa— tion. Of course the boys in Schenectady were delighted to hear they had been received in Canada, and they agreed to make a special broad- cast for Prince Edward Island the following week.

Meanwhile at home, Dad busied himself. This was an event not to be missed. He made arrangements not only for the press to attend, but the Premier, most of the Cabinet, the Mayor of Charlottetown, several judges and prominent businessmen. But how could so many—there were thirty—seven in all—listen in on one headphone set? He solved it by improvising a loudspeaker attached to an earpiece from the headset to a large brass phonograph horn—the kind the famous fox terrier listened to his master’s voice through.

When the big night arrived the honoured guests were seated in the front row close to the loudspeaker. The crowded classroom was filled with cigar-smoke and expectation. What followed was truly a unique experience for all of them. Conditions were unreliable and static was bad, but Dad twiddled the tuning knob persistently. He was using the same receiver he had built at the Citadel, and after all, if he had been able to tune in Paris and Berlin, surely he could get Schenectady, New York again.

Yet nothing but hisses and an undulating whistle were heard through the horn. The boys in the class sat with their fingers crossed sharing an intensity of the kind you see shared by fans when they hope their favourite team will score the winning goal. The guests looked at each other as the horn continued to emit its whistles and crackles. Just as

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