[D8959AAI], Letter from George Edward Gouraud to Thomas Alva Edison, January 25th, 1889
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Title
[D8959AAI], Letter from George Edward Gouraud to Thomas Alva Edison, January 25th, 1889
Editor's Notes
I think it due to you and to myself that I should explain why the French Academy lecture did not come off as contemplated. There were two reasons; First, I found that the date fixed by the Academy was only a week prior to its meeting for the purpose of settling upon the reward of the Volta Prize.##Second, that it was so near the holidays that it would have mad too much a division of interest between the holidays and the Phonograph to make it desirable that the advent of the latter should take place at the season: by postponing this until the New Year - - 1889 - - there was, at least, some chance, and I should think every chance, of the result being that the award of the Volta prize for that year would be made to you. I intend to see that it is if bringing my not inconsiderable interest to bear in Paris will count for anything. I feel sure that you will agree that I have acted wisely in the above decision. A similar invitation has been repeatedly made to me by the equivalent Society in Berlin, and although I offered to send a substitute for the purpose they declined that and have, in the most flattering manner, intimidated that anxious as they are for an early appearance fo the Phonograph, they notwithstanding, prefer to wait until it can be brought y myself, which, of course, I appreciate as attaching an undue importance to myself the honor at the earliest possible date. Of course, everything that I have done in England in the way of identifying the Phonograph with leading statesmen, members of the Royal Family, letters, art and science, reacts upon all these other countries and the position of the Phonograph may be considered firmly established so far as popular approval is concerned. There remains now nothing but the Phonograph to maintain its reputation and this I fel confident it will do so long as you continue to give it the attention which you have given it, and if you overcome the one or two defects of whose importance you have already anticipated.
Author
Recipient
Date
1889-01-25
Type
Folder/Volume ID
D8959-F
Microfilm ID
127:661
Document ID
D8959AAI
Publisher
Thomas A. Edison Papers, School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers University