The Osceola times., 1878-04-13
EDISON.
short Skesch of the Career Of the Phon-
Ssrsph G.vcntOr.

short sketch of the Career Of the Phon.
Ssrsph G.vcntor.
The occasion WAS a practical public
test of Edison's phonograph, an extraor-
dinary invention, the nature and capas
hilities of which have already been de-
scribed In the Press, and briet sketch
OF the inventor by DR.. C.eland of Chicago.
At o'clock every seat was occupied and
hundreds were standing, while probably
quite as many as gained admittance were
turned away for want OF accommodation.
In his graphic sketch of the life of Thos.
Edison, DIR. Cleland began by claiming
tor his hero a pre- eminence in the scien-
tifc world second 10 that of none of the
great inventors of the present age. The
interest attaching to Edison's career be-
gins with his experience rs a telegraph
operator, a pursuit which he learned in
Canada.
WHY HE LEFT THE DOMINION.
He obtained position as operator in a
railroad office in one of the small towns
in the Dominion. One night the agent
standing on the track. Edison tele-
graphed for orders as to what to do with
this train, and received in reply to hold
it," Before the reply had been received,
however, he had allowed the train to do.
part, and, as result, two trains were
moving in different directions on single
track at the same time. Fortunately
the engineers, as the trains were coming
together, saw the danger in time to avert
the catastrophe, and thus saved the
passengers the necessity Of being parties
to the unpleasant and invariably unsuc-
cessful experiment of two trains trying
to pass each other on the same track at
the same time. But 1t was serious mat
ter for Edison. How serious he didn't
wait to see, but without the iormality OF
rendering his resignation he started for
the states swiftly. Another incident
the speaker related, showing how Edison
perfected his first invention. 1t was
| the custom TO signal the number six and
the number of the Office to headquarters
every half hour In order TO show that
the operator was on the alert. Edison
contrived machine which performed
this service au dramatically and enjoyed his
nap undisturbed. Then he made and sold
a number of his ingenious little machines
to other operators, until finally he was
discovered and dismissed. After speaking
of Edison's commonplace experiences,
the speaker went on to tell of his visit TO
Memphis, where his inventive faculties
led him TO making such alterations in the
Instruments, that it was deemed desirable
to dispense with his services. He was
dispensed with accordingly. After
enduring the usual vicissitudes which
telegraph operator out of work usually
experiences, he
ARRlvEDIN INDIANAPOLIS.
just at the time he got to the Rail
road City strike was in progress and
men were in demand. He went into an
Office. Press dispatches were coming in
There was nobody who could take them.
Edison sat down and next morning
every paper had its regular quantity OF
Associated Press news to the disgust Of
the strikers. That gave Edison a start,
and SO pleased the superintendent that
next day he was promoted from posi-
tion worth $50 to one worth $40 per
month Why Edison left that place the
lecturer did not explain, but his next
experience was in Boston. He was
.ything but neat looking specimen,
and when he applied at an office for
work, his agricultural appearance excited
no small degree OF merrimeut He stood
this like a hero. They tried a joke ON
him. "Sit down and take this dis.
patch" said the superintendent One
of the fastest operators on the line was
at the other end of the wire, and the
words were coming thick and fast. But
Edison did it. He had another perma-
nent position. Next he appears in New
York, and here he invents the gold and
stock or well known "tapeline" telegraph.
That made his name and fame and for
tune. He has over one hundred and
twelve patents now, a number of appli-
cations for mere in, and nobody knows
where he intends TO stop. Thirty-one
years OF age, master OF English, French,
German, and understanding little
ltslian, "A dutiful son, the inventor of the
duplex repeater, the telegraphic register,
the telephone, the phonograph and the
erophene, he is sort OF a scientific
admirable Crichton. His place down in
Jersey is wonderful concern, filed with
inventions complete and incomplete,
wheels. guys, pulleys the thousand and
one mysterious appliances with which
this genius surrounds himself Phila.
delphia Press.