The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1878-11-16
SELECTED MATTER.
THOMAS ALVA EDISON.

Thomas Alva Edison, was born in Ohio
thirty-one years ago. He commenced
his enterprising career as a newsboy on
the Grand Trunk Railway. Very soon
he had obtained the monopoly for the
sale of papers over the line, and employ
ed four boy assistants.
By and by he conceived the idea of
publishing for himself. There was an
old, springless car, with a smoking-room
attached to the train, on which he sold
4hiS-papers, and as no one would travel
in it, Edison got leave to use it. He
bought an old press and quantity of
type, fitted it up in the smoking-room,
and regularly issued a small weekly print
called the Grand 7funk Herald, price
three cents, containing gossip of the
neighborhood, accidents and other mat
ter.
George Stephenson, at work on the
/ Montreal tubular bridge, found Edison
engaged on his paper and was so pleas
ed with the boys earnestness, that he
ordered an extra edition for himself
This connection with the press intro
duced him to the telegraph, which he
straightway determined to master.
Having learned how to send and re-
ceive messages, at the age of seventeen,
he obtained situatian as telegraph op-
orator in Stratford, Canada. Thence
he went from city to city of the States
West, South and East-Cincinnati,
indianapolis, Louisville, New Orleans,
Bottom and New York, leading an un-
settled operators life +; now being dis
charged, now leaving of his own accord.
All his spare cash and time were spent
in providing experimental electrical ap-
paratuS to illustrate his studies or to try
some of the original ideas which throng-
ed his brain.
At Indianapolis he produced his first
inventive success, an automatic signaling
instrument, and at Cincinnati in 1865
he perfected a duplex system for sending
two messages in contrary directions over
one wire at once. He was pooh-pooh-
ed and ridiculed until he went to Bos-
ton in 1868, where an appreciative su-
perintendent Of the office recognized in
him the fire of suppressed genius.
1t happened that eight years ago there
was unusual excitement in the gold mar
ket, and at the climax of the hurry the
company's indicating instrument broke
down. The superintendent was out, and
no one could set it right. In themidst
of the confusion Edison stepped up and
volunteered to do it. The manager
looked somewhat doubiously at the new
conner, but the emergency was great,
and Edison's offer was accepted. In a
few moments the instrument was work
ing as before, and Edison was forthwith
engaged at good salary in the service
of the company.
From this time his career is that of
an electrician and inventor. He soon
patented several valuable inventions,
and becoming well-known, was appoint
ed Inventor-in-Chi to the Western
Union, the colossal telegraph monopoly
of America, and to other companies.
Two years ago he retired to Menlo
Park, sequestered spot on the Penn
sylvania Railway, twenty-four miles
from New York. His establishment here
consists of his laboratory, dwelling house
and the cottages of his workmen, includ-
ing a restaurant started by smart Yam
kee, for the convenience of Edison S
visitors.
The laboratory is plain wooden
two stories high, isolated on
ence. The lower part is oc-
Edison's office and library,
:chanics' shop, where dozen
e forging and shaping his ideas
n and wood.
Upstairs is the laboratory proper, a
ing room lined from end to end with
an array of chemicals. On tables and
in showcases about the room are lying
all manner of telegraphic apparatus,
lenses, crucibles, and pieces of his own
Observation-Disclosures, monographs
and aerophones. A perfect tangle OF
telegraphic wires from all parts of the
Ira;on is focused at one end of the room.
An ash-covered forge, a cabinet organ,
rusty stove, with an old pivot chair, a
table we'll stained with oils and acids,
complete the furniture of this curious
den, into which the sunlight filters
through the chemical jars, and falls in
parti-colored patches on the dusty floor.
The moving spirit of this place by
day and night is best described as an
overgrown schoolboy. His face is pale
and beardless. His nose and chin are
well shaped and prominent, his mouth
thin his forehead full and expansive.
butfnot very high; his hair is of dark
chestnut brown, and silvered with gray,
The most striking feature of his face is
his eyes, which are blue-gray, deep-set.
intense, and penetrating. His smile is
boyish and pleasant, and his manner
| somewhat shV.