Instead of writing a letter, one sent the recorded _Menotape_, and inasmuch as the Menolphabet was universal and could be read by anyone--children being taught it at an early age--it was considered that this invention of Ralph's was one of his greatest gifts to humanity: Twenty times as much work could be done by means of the Menograph as could be done by the old-fashioned writing, which required considerable physical effort. Typewriters soon disappeared after its invention. Nor was there any use for stenographers, as the thoughts were written down direct on the tape, which was sent out as a letter was sent centuries ago.
As was his custom in the evening he worked for some hours in the laboratory, and retired at midnight. Before he fell asleep he attached to his head a double leather head-band with metal temple plates, similar to the one used in connection with the Menograph.
He then called for his man, Peter, and told him to "put on" Homer's _Odyssey_ for the night.
Peter went down to the library on the 15th floor, and took down from a shelf a narrow box, labeled _Odyssey, Homer_. From this he extracted a large but thin reel on which was wound a long narrow film. This film was entirely black but for a white transparent wave-line running through the center of it.
Peter returning to Ralph's bedroom placed the reel containing the film in a rack and introduced the end of the film into the _Hypnobioscope_. This wonderful instrument, invented by Ralph, transmitted the impulses of the wave-line direct to the brain of the sleeping inventor, who thus was made to "dream" the _Odyssey_.
It had been known for centuries that the brain could be affected during sleep by certain processes. Thus one could be forced to dream that a heavy object was lying on one's chest, if such an object was placed on the sleeper's chest. Or one could be forced to dream that one's hand was being burnt or frozen, simply by heating or cooling the sleeper's hand.
It remained to Ralph, however, to perfect the Hypnobioscope, which transmitted words direct to the sleeping brain, in such a manner that everything could be remembered in detail the next morning.
This was made possible by having the impulses _act directly and steadily on the brain_. In other words, it was the Menograph reversed, with certain additions.