The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1878-08-24
THOMAS ALYAiI EDISON.
THE GREAT INVENTOR.

from Holland, and settled near Newark,
y. J., but were an ancient family of Eng
li,h descent. When young Edison was
about eight years Of age his parents re-
moved 10 Port Huron, Michigan, from
which time he began to earn his own living.
lie made his first appearance in public life
rs a uawshoy; and, before he had reached
the age of twelve years obtained the ex-
elusive contract for the sale of newspapers
on the Detroit division OF the Grand Trunk
railway. Here his energy aud determine
ton 10 excel began to distinguish itself
He employed several boys to aid him, and
continued to travel aud sell newspapers
until seventeen years of age.
Meanwhile, lie purchased 4 small print
ing outfit, which he carried on the train,
and with which he printed small week ly
paper called the Grand TrUhk Neraid-
Articles were contributed by the employees
of the railroad. The printing WAS done
10y hand pressure and the paper issued
with regularity. His subscription list con
tanned 80 names. The son Of Robert
Stephenson, who accompanied board of
inspectors sent from England to inspect
the Grand Trunk railway, seeing an edi.
tIon OF the paper being worked OFF while
the train was in motion, purchased 200
copies and sent them to England as sam
pies Of American newspaper enterprise,
and the only newspaper i'll the world print
cd on a railway train.
Upon the breaking out of the war in the
South. the enormous increase of newspaper
traffic confined his attention solely 10 that
branch Of industry, aud offered opportuui-
ties for the exercise OF his original genius
To meet the eager demand for uews-a de-
mand which MIR. Edison noticed could III
brook the tedious movement of the trains.
lie conceived the idea, and had constructed
large bulletin boards, one of which he
placed al each station along the line
pom these boards he caused To he chaiked
10y telegraph operators and station agents
The news headings of his papers, which he
te'cGraphed in advance of the train. Tins
device was noticed. and characterized by
the press rs thoughtful idea for 4 news
boy, and was speedily adopted on other
roads.
I The relations young Edison thus formed
with the telegraph awakened 4 desire to
understand it, which lie graiiiiei by very
soon learning 70 operate il. He speedily
became very proficient operator. We lind
him occupying positions successfully at
Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Louisville, Mem
phiS ami Boston.
/ M. Stewart gives the following very in
terestIns account Of young Edsons first
,!>.t into the Boston office:
first knew Tom Edison in 1866. At
tiat Zine was an operator in Tennessee
Tom WIS employed by Col. Coleman, the
superintendent Of the Western Union
office i'll Memphis. He was 4 cawky boy.
Of about eighteen or nineteen, ard was
reading everything about electricity that
hc could pick up. lie had lean and hun.
cry look aud always seemed TO be under
the influence of some secret excitement.
He had got into his head the idea Of send
IuI duplex dispatches, and all his spare
time was devoted to experiments IN the
office. Coleman stood it FOR some time. but
a. last began to growl. lie allowed that
Tom was crazy, and sand that most any
fool ought 10 know that wire could not
br worked both ways at the same time
lie declared that lac wouldn't have Tom
pattcrIuG around the office with such sili-
ness. and finally discharged him in disgust
The boy went back TO some town i'll MiclIi-
gan, and lost track OF him.
Some time afterward | was transferred
To the Boston office. At that time wire
No. !, a. II was then called, was the crack
wire of the country. The fastest men were
working II. For some cause the operator
Ia Boston resigned. II was difficult to
lind i man To take his place. \ half-dozen
fellows tried II, but found it too much for
them. cine after another they dropped it
like hot potato, and sloped wiser than
they came There was a man in the Office
named VI. +. Adams. lie thought the
world of Tom Edison, and recommended
nIm g: the place, vouching for him rs
iirst-c.asS operator. C.. r. Milliken, the
manager. tciegraphed to the little town in
Michigan, asking Tom if lie would come on
and accept the position. Tom answered
YES. and without further words started for
Boston, VIA the Michigan Central and
Grani Trunk railroads. While ruuuiu.
through Canada he got showed under. and
vas kept on the track in one spot for > 1
hours, cold aud hungry, without bed
As usual, lie owned but one suit OF clothes
and that was on his back Unfortunately,
It was Summer suit lie might have
frozen to death had lie not bought an old
rough :ouudahout oycrcoai from 4 Cauuck
railroad laboEer. But lie finally got through
all hight.
WAS in ihe Boston Office when he ar
rived, and must say, continued Mr. Stewar.
bringing his list down upon the table. he
WAS the worst looking specimen of human
lty ever saw. The modern telegraph tramp
isn't marker lie wore a pair of Jean
brceches six inches too short for him, a pair
# very low shoes, the Canuck jacket and
i broad. brlmmed buttcruut hat, relic Of
"ls life in Memphis The wide rim was
badly torn, and hung down 50 that .ou
could see his ear through the opening.
There was a slight trace of dirt on his
upper lip, that lac called 4 moustache.-
His hair hadn't been combed for a week,
and he wore the blacklist white shirt that
MAS ever seen on human being. Ncrv-
ousiy pinchins his upper lip--a bit that lie
had-hc inquired for the manager, and was
scrt to MillIkcu.
Are You the boss - Tom asked. Mill
ken smiled and said he was manager. Tom
then introduced himself and asked when
they wanted him H. 90 10 work. Millkcn
stared 1t him As though lie couldn't believe
his ears, and said, At half past five" 1t
vas then well along IN the afternoon Tom
began 10 look around the office for a clock,
and Millikcn said. Young man. YOU have
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