The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1880-01-01
"a Night with Edison"

article in Scribner for November, en-.
titled "a Night with Edison:"
1t is at night that the great inventor
is to be seen in his most characteristic
aspect. He has the habit, acquired
through the necessity of gaining soil
tude. of doing then his most important
work 1t is not till midnight merely
that it continues; it goes on far into the
small hours of the morning. Then
more than ever does the business in
progress, the discussions entered upon,
the speculations, the news reported,
take an inspiring character that gives
the ordinary matters of life cast of
puerilty. 1t is question of planets, of
splendid forces, of essential essences.
One seems to be at a point where a
hand is placed upon lever connecting
with the very heart of things. The
writer has had the privilege of spending
one of these nights at Menlo Park and
cannot fail to look upon it as a unique
and memorable occasion. The combi-
nation which is certain t. come of the
three instruments-the TELEPHONE, to
transmit the message. the phonograph
to receive it, the aerophOne to proclaim
it aloud at any distant time or place-is
discussed. We talk about the micro
phone, which is to sound what the mi
croscope is to sight; about the combi-
nation proposed by DIR. Phipson Of the
photograph and kaleidoscope, by which
a photographic image IS to move and
seem to talk. The long building on
the hill is singular spot of energy in
the lonesome Country sunk in repose.
The crickets and tree-toads are chipping
in the thick darkness outside. Within,
the lamps burn steadily, raising the
temperature, and the machinery plods
on with patient rumble.
An apparatus in progress, of immense
impoi lance, a device for resolving
sound into its constituent elements, as
light is Analysed by prism-is brought
out. A gentleman of New York has
already found a pathological use for the
phonograph in proposing to preserve
with it Indian dialects, like those of the
Senecas and Tuscaroras, which are
ready to disappear with this generation.
But this sound-prism, to call it so, if it
can be perfected, opens way for phil
ology to reduce to few simple formu-
las speech of every variety, and would
render scheme of universal language
by no means chimerical. We sit down
and watch the action of carbon Their
mo pile thermometer, called the tasi-
meter, which detects one twentyfour-
thousandth of degree of Fahrenheit,
and is capable of yet greater delicacy.
The sensitiveness of the carbon, on
which it is based, was discovered by
accident while experimenting with it
for the telephone. Thus human pro-
gress avails itself of new discovery
like IL ladder. 1t mounts and draws up
its ladder after it and mounts again.
We go to where the preparation Of
these carbon buttons is in progress.
The material is taken from lamp chin
neys in which the wicks are trained to
smoke as much as possible. and is after
ward soliditied by powerful pressure.
The inventor, bending solicitously
among a dozen lurid lamps, ranged
upon n brick fire place overhung by
canopy, with the dark wreaths twisting
about his head. has for the moment
wizard-like air. One might imagine
him engaged in COMPUTATIONS, summon
ing occult powers to his aid. But for
the most part his air is as far from
wizard-like as possible. AS the night
goes on, his hair is more than ever tum-
bled over his eyes and his appearance
more nonchalant 1t is much after
midnight now. The machinery below
has ceased to rumble and the tired
hands have gone to their homes. A
hasty lunch has been sent up. We are
at the spectroscope. Suddenly tele
graph instrument begins to click. The
inventor strikes grotesque attitude, a
herring in one hand and biscuit in
the other, and with II voice little muf
fled with mouthful of both, translates
aloud slowly the sounds Ineligible to
him alone: London, May. News
of death of Lord John Russell prema-
ture. John-Blanchard -whose-fail
ure-was-announced-yesterday -has
-suicided- no. that was bad one,
succeeded in adjusting his affairs
and-will- -continue-in business"
A late moon has risen, and We pass
ont upon the balcony, to which a tele-
scope is fixed, and gaze-mo st inspiring
exercise of all--at its white vermicu-
lated surface and the full starry
heavens. 1t is after two in the morn
ing. The others show fatigue, but the
host is moro animated than ever. 1t is
at this time, in u feverish exaltation
arising from the long night vigils, that
some of his best inspirations come to
him.
A HIGHwAYMAN OUTwITTED.-A ri
der to a capital house in Waiting street,
being lately on journey, was attacked
a few miles beyond Winchester by .
single highwayman, who, taking him
by surprise, robbed him without resis-