And the shudder of the second disc reproduces my voice.

That is what happens.

But how--not all the scientists of the world can tell.
The telephone current is a phenomenon of the ether, say the theorists.
But what is ether?
No one knows.

Sir Oliver Lodge has guessed that it is "perhaps the only substantial thing in the material universe"; but no one knows.

There is nothing to guide us in that unknown country except a sign-post that points upwards and bears the one word--"Perhaps." The ether of space! Here is an Eldorado for the scientists of the future, and whoever can first map it out will go far toward discovering the secret of telephony.
Some day--who knows ?--there may come the poetry and grand opera of the telephone.