The New York herald., 1879-02-23
EDISON As A NEWSDOY.
HOW He Started a Paper and
Why 1t Suspended.
HIS PRODIGAL CUSTOMERS.
A Novel Way to Dispose of Old
Stock in Trade.

The following characteristic sketches of the early
days OF Edison are from the advance sheets of his
biography. now being written by Counsellor Edwin
NJ Fox OF this city. who for several years past has
been intimate friend of the great inventor--
About this time young Edison conceived the idea
of starting newspaper for circulation among the
train hands and passengers generally. A spicy sheet
telling OF the daily life OF the conductors. brakeen
and employees. giving the latest from the scene
war clipped from the Detroit papers, and
ing up the general gossip OF the stations along
the road was his conception OF what the
paper ought to be- His service of ten months
on the train newsboy his experience. and Il
dozen pounds of old type his capital stock. Soon
the paper made its appearance 1t bore the
dignihed title. i'll large block letters The Gyand Trunk
Herald Its salutatory told Of its fearlessness in
politics and its fairness ill everything. The editor
welcomed all contributions literary otherwise,
particularly otherwise According to the hopes held
out the hedging was to be the long felt want III the
world of journalism. 1t was to so overflow
with important news that even the least curious
of passengers would feel compelled to disgorge the
penny necessary for its purchase. In time cir
Guation to extend far beyond the limits of the
State OF Michigan. and thousands OF eager citizens
would daily await its appearance with feverish inn
patience. For the first few weeks the founding fell
rather tame on the unappreciative community. The
largest Of type seemed no inducemcnt to purchase.
People looked disdainfully at the dminutive sheet.
In vain the editor and sole proprietor yelled its
merits through the cars: The passengers were not
10 be cajoled or deceived.
After few weeks, however, there came a change.
terest and the demand for the paper began 10 in
crease. People talked about it and the coppers
flowed fast into the hands of the ambitious young
journalist. Some excited war news also at the
lime transpired. and The Grand Trunk Herald came
of papers generally. But. alas. there came
day when the paper was forced to sus-
pend. 1t not because of financial troubles
tor the expense attending it's publication only
nominal. young Edison wrote everything and set
up all the type himself. doing the work at odd hours
which he snatched from his regular duty as train
boy. The disaster rather inporious i'll its char
acter.
HOW IT CAME ABOUT.
1t came about through man named Bockus. Mr..
Bockus kept store i'll Port Huron, and pretty
we'll known in the place. In an unpuar,led moment
young Edison one day wrote something in his paper
that touched the dignity OF Mr.. Bockus. aud Mr..
Bockus vowed vengeance against the offender.
Edison little suspected the impending danger The
Ire of the angry Mr.. Il. was unknown to him. He
pursued the even course of his way in apparant
safety, chuckling ut the hit he had made Tie day
o; the disaster at last came: EDISON was standing
the depot waiting for the locomotive to steam
man stealthily walking up behind him. He did not
know at first whose was the heavy hand that alghted
on his shoulder. and whose the voice Of
thunder that shouted in his ear. 1--WE got
you now, you young rascal He had
time 10 apologize and ask questions. The river
flowed the spot, and toward it Mr. Bockus ruth
lessly dragged the frightened editor. A shout. a
short, sharp struggle. splash. and the editor and
sole proprietor of The Grund Trunk Herald was foun-
dering In the water. Fortunately for science the
young news lad was good swimmer, and soon he
was clamtering up the pier wetter but wiser boy
The Grand Trunk Herald never again appeared. From
that day forward Edison turned his back journal
ism. The duties OF the editorial chair were more
than he cared to bear
Not long after the nglorous downfall Of the short
lived paper there occurred an incident i'll the train
life OF young Edison that even to-day is recalled
with smiles by the old taiu hands. Among the pas
sengers ono summer afternoon, on the train IRON
Fort Huron to Detroit, were four young men, ap-
parently the of wealthy fathers travelling for
pleasure They laughed and told stories anu
Joyed themselves best they could. Evidently
they had plenty of loose cash. for two c.
casions in their hiarity they exhibited large rolls Of
bills. During OF their boiscrous paroxysms
young Edison happened to be passing through the
train with basket of oranges ON his arm. Here.
bub,' shouted one OF the young men, "what you
selling these oranges for?'
Three cents apiece. readily responded the boy
Lets what they good for" continued tho
6rst speaker, taking the basket his lap and
tinizng the oranges though about to pick out one
Young Edison at once began to expaate on the lus-
ciousness of the oranges and their remarkable cheap
ness. The boisterous young man. however, cut him
short by saying. what will you take for the whole
was jesting. but answered. dcfercntialiy, Well.
I've got forty-fve left. I'll sell 'em all for
ST." The words were scarcely uttered before
the customer had pitched basket and oranges
out OF the open window. Young Edison stared at
him i'll astonishmcnt, then his indignation began to
boil he contemplated his loss but before he could
speak his eccentric customer had slipped bill into
bis hands with the words. There's 81 for you-sl
for the oranges and 81 for the basket
Then looking at the still astonished train boy, he
said Aren't You satshcd?
glistcning he again looked at the bill and
certainty that it was genuine The incident over.
the young men resumed their hary and the train
boy wcnded his way back to the baggage car, evil
IDENTIFY in deep thought.
ANOTHER SALE.
few minutes later young Edison again in the
car that contained the eccentric customer. This
time he had his u basket of apples They
were not the largest apples in the market, neither
they altogether free from defects.
What are your apples worth. young felcr?"
shouted the old customer.
"Seven cents apiece replied Edison. proceeding
TO dilate the superiority of those particular ap-
pies above all Others in the market.
'How many have you got?" continued the
toner, taking the basket IN his hand and balancing
..sixty.two." said Edison. Just as the basket and
apples sped through the window into open field.
Here's your money, said the prodigal. handing
the train boy IS note.
Edison again returned to the baggage and once
more the hilarious quartet resumed their chatting
CORNER OLD
Five minutes later the train boy again appeared
This time his stock consisted of newspapers. Both
arms were filled. To appearances they the
lapers of the day. but the young agcut knew
that scvcn-cighths of them old. discarded
papers. which had been lying in his box for months.
How much for your papers, bubyi shouted the
"six dollars for the lot" said Edison. somewhat
tndiy. however, though fearful that the bonanza
might be drained.
Here they got" shouted the customer. snatching
thcm from his hands aud sending them, like their
predecessors, through the open window. Here's
your money. and the train boy pockctcd 50 addi-
tional.
once moro he left the car BY this time the pas
scngers were wrought up To high pitch of interest
at the unusual departure ia political economy which
they had witnessed. The lavish young men laughed
aloud at their course aud one of them heard 10
say, "Well, guess we VIC bought him out at last"
The prediction seemed 20 be true Fifteen minutes
passed away and the train boy did not make his APP
pearance.
But the prodigas did no.k know the boy with whom
they were dealing At the end of quarter OF an
hour they looked up to coming down the aisle Of
the car Edison and another boy. bearing between
them large box at which they tuegcd aud painted in
tier efforts 10 get IL to the seats OF the young
HE'LL What in thunder have you got hercg" snd
they rising TO look at the curiosity. Young Edison
wiped the perspiration from his brow as he said,
well you've bought out all my stock. and now I've
brought my store and fixtures along. Give $40
more and you can chuck them all out of the WIN
dow"
This too much for the capitalists They felt
that they had met their match. They declined to
make any further investment.