By Proxy

In the wings of a theatre at Potsdam, Germany, a flossy pianist began to play. What he played was transmitted by telephone to the ears of the members of an orchestra in Berlin 17 miles away. They followed the piano on their various instruments; what they played was transmitted to Potsdam by another telephone and then amplified so as to fill the theatre in the wings of which the flossy pianist was softly strumming. On the stage of the theatre an opera company sang to the music of the Berlin orchestra, thus successfully completing an experiment which would, Berlin officials suggested, make it possible for small opera houses in outlying districts to secure far better orchestral accompaniment than has heretofore been possible. The audience at the Potsdam opera house seemed well satisfied.