The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1880-08-20

Lead Pencil Letters.
AT JOHN b. GoUeH's.
BY FRANCES f. WILLARD.

AT JOHN Il. COUGHS.
BY the kind invitation of Mary
Cough, in whom the great refor mer has
the noblest of allies, we visited mt "IIill-
side"
With rare discretion, this home is
located five miles out of town, Worces-
ter being the nearest railroad station.
Here we found Mr.. and Mrs. Cough,
aud their accomplished nieccs in a
roomy, rambling house, crowded full of
individuality. Surely, this word best
describes the delightful character OF
some houses with which the upholstery
has had enough to do for comfort, but
whose rarest charm no money could
buy, and no skill attain unto. The re-
flex of great, gifted, or bcneficent
personality alone makes any home me-
morable beyond the circle that sur
rounds its hearth. You enter Mr..
Coughs parlor, and wish there were
hours to spend over the souvenirs and
testimonials, albums, pictures, and ar
| ticles of vertu, by which he has enrich
ed it. You enter his library, and linger
over the rare volumes of engravings,
all carefully mounted by his own hands |;
the autograph letters of distinguished
persons, and presentations volumes from
authers honored and beloved. You sit
down at an appetizing, but rational
table in his dining-room. and reminis-
cence, pleasantly, and illustrations
| furnish a delightful mental repast dur
ing the leisurely tea hour, followed by
family prayers, in which the loving,
reverent spirit of the host crowns the
enjoyment of cred letter" day.
thought, while there, that we temper
ance people, so intent on showing the
rapid growth of bad habits, do not dwell
enough on the rapid growth of good
ones. Look at the penniless drunkard
in a Worcester street, upon whose
shoulder a Christians kind hand was
laid; then look upon the dignifed and
world-famed gentleman dispensing the
elegant inequalities of home like this,
and remember that, inch by inch, he
climbed the "Hill Difficulty" trusting
in Him who is "mighty to save"
EDISON THE INVENTOR.
BY stopping over train at Menlo
Park, N. j. (twenty-four miles from
New York;, l had the pleasure of meet
ing the great inventor. After going
through the shops and laboratory, full
of marvels, often described, we entered
the buildings where the inspiring genius
of the whole has his headquarters.
lie was sitting in his private office
busily engaged in conversation with
gentleman. AS Mr.. Upton (author of
the recent Scribner article) went to ask |
him if he could spare few minutes for
us, had the opportunity unknown to |
him) of distinctly seeing his face through
the glass partition which separates his |
office from the machine-shop, and l i
watched it narrowly, expecting to see a
shade of Impotence pass over it because
of the interruption. But mol His |
mild, full, smooth face retained its gen-
tie expression; he instantly rose, and
coming out into the shop, made slight
and very modest bow, and stood there |
awaiting developments.
lie is quite deaf, not hearing ordinary
conversation at all. | therefore took |
the Initiative, saying that was from the |
West, and that we claimed him as a
Western product, asking him if he did |
not count himself one OF us. lie smiled, |
nodded slightly and slowly, and re-
piled: Eyes, Pm from Ohio" i told |
him that in recent visit to Port Huron, |
Mich, had seen his brothers home. |
He said 81 was newsboy on the train I
between Port Huron and Detroit.v |
told him had always claimed him as |
a member of the total abstinence army,
and was now going to take the liberty,
in my character of Temperance reform
er, to ask him if was correct? Still
smiling (indeed this was the constant
character of his expression). not per-
vasive, but kind, reflective smile, he
said, with more interest and decision
than he had heretofore evinced: ooh,
no, never use anything that can cloud
my thoughts; never did, not even CT
der" l asked him if this was owing
to his early training, and he said no;
his father had even thought when he
was young that little would be good
for him. But he said: 81 never liked
it, and couldn't afford to be under its
influence" then asked him if he
slept well, and how many hours he
averaged in twenty-four the year a.
round. He said "Four and ahalf--some-
times much less, occasionally more,v
lie said: "Right here could lie down
and go to sleep, and 1 never dream. 1t
is because my sleep is so deep that lit
tie is enough" asked him when he
thought we should be able to utilize the
electric light in every house? and he
said: In about a year, generally, but
earlier, in New York" / spoke of The
philanthropies of the day, and told him
considered that he, being an inventor,
is, in the nature of the case, a philan.
thropist also. lie seemed to think it an
odd idea, and shook his head, saying:
"Oh, no, only attend to one thing"
After these observations, covering
but few minutes, told him that an
preciated his kindness in granting my
self and friends (three in number) this
interview, and considerably, but most
reluctantly, released the wizard of the
nineteenth century. ~ ~
In appearance Mr.. Edison is some
what older than the current photo
graphs. His close-cut dark-biown hair
is streaked with gray. He wore a little.
round silk cap, not unlike Ira ID. San.
Keys, whether for similar reason is
not apparent, though probably not.
Ills face is full and bcardlcss, its generI
al appearance reminding one Of an
well-to-do young Catholic
priest. Ills eyes are of medium size,
not at all prominent, and of grayish
color and quite expressive. lie wore
a loose, silk handkerchief around his
neck, and was dressed in dark suit
well worn. lina -ai sIllIasi-E rs .ala
Perhaps the most agreeable feature of
this world-renowned genius is his utter
simplicity and perfect modesty, resem-
bling that Of childhood, aud more
marked than In any other distinguished
person have ever met. Mr.. Edison
has a nice home, and sensible wife,
and three little chrildren, of whom the
bles him.