The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1878-05-07
The Wonderful Inventions,
An Afternoon With Edison, the In
-ser ventor of Talking Machines.
CNew York Graphic.)

We went over to Menlo Park. N. j.,
two of us, to see Edison and his won
derful inventions and make some discov-
cries and sketches. Menlo Park is not
park 1t is not city. 1t is not a
town. 1t is composed wholly of Edi-
sons laboratory and half dozen hou-
ses where his employesIive. 1t is, in
short, Edisonia, and nothing else.
Just north of the track is long, plain,
white wooden building, full of windows
and two stories high; this is the labora.
tory Of the Jersey Columbus whose
name has suddenly become famous. Ma
ny telegraph wires are festooned from it.
The first floor is occupied by scribes and
book-keepers in one end, ,and at the other
some ten, or twelve skillful workers in
iron. who at anvil and forge, lathe and
drill, are noisily engaged in making pat
terms, and models for the establishment.
His iron ideas, in tangled shapes, are
scattered and piled every where; turning
lathes are thickly set on the floor, and
the room is filed with the screech Of the
tortured metal. m - ~ sG..f
Up stairs we elimb-to room the
size of the building with twenty windows
on sides aud ends. 1t is walled with
sheises of bottles, like an apothecary
shop-thousands of bottles of all sizes
and colors. In the corneriis a cabinet
organ. On benches and tables are bat
teries of all descriptions, microscopes
magnifying glasses; crucibles, retorts, an
ash covered forge, and all the apparatus
tof chemist. Az table sit two earnest
men, each holding alternately to mouth
and ear the nouthpiece of telephone.
"Well,, What are you up to-day2" asks
an acquaintance who has sauntered in.
"We have got the Chicago telephone
repeaterin the circuit at last, and we are
now talking. through 800 miles of wire
via St. Louis, Cincinnati, Louisville
Washington and Philadelphia-the par
abola OF the West. II doesn't work vel
yet This is the largest circuit ever at
tempted, and it would not be possible
without Edison's repeating machine
| w udI ludIt-- Sdl uoni oil tuc WOiuo
This last he shouted into the mouth
piece, and the words flew to the Missis
sippi and back in second and the maj
across the table shouted back: "Do yor
hear me now2'
Two other men are standing near to
gether in the middle of the room.
"Why, you bel You certainly be ?
exclaimed the elder with great earnest
ness. "You are the greatest man in th'
world to day J" Ar
80, nonsensef Don't talk that way =
said the younger, laughing and wavins
him off deprecatinely, as he turnet
quickly aud greeted US with shy wei
come. ~ q s4e
The man who spoke was apparently
farmer who had put on his Sunday ap
Iparel and driven down to Menfo Park t
see the marvels of which he had incred
ulously heard. And now, though tn,
miracle worker turned away from; him
he added in a strident tone. @
j "You air the most popular man il
Ameriky! There amt any man the peo
pie are so anxious to see!"
The younger man WAS COW busy will
sheet of tinfoil, which he had laid OF
piece of card board and was trying tt
rub the wrinkles out Of. He is o man o
about feet 10 inches high, high theel
bones, and lean, long neck. He would