River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-01-29
EDISON'S
Sketch OF The Routine Labor OF the
Great Invenior--A Family Renowned
For Longevity.
New York Herald.

| son. And the interest is not without
| foundation when it is remembered that
although only in his thirty-secopd year
| he has made more inventions than any
man living. In the Patent Office at
Washington is department marked
Edison" where his numerous inven-
tons are placed side by side, forming
not the least of the curiosities of that
institution. Nearly two hundred and
fifty patents are placed to his credit,
making exceedingly Gprop0s the de-
scription given of him by late Commits
sioner of patents, who styled him "the
young American who made the Patent
Office hot with his steps," 1t is no
wonder, then, that the frequent excla-
nation is made by those who reflect on
! the tremendous amount of labor IN
volved in such record, "0h, Edison
can't last much longer; he is working
himself to DEATH" The prophecy is not
little strengthened, too, by tho inven-
tors well known disregard of many of
natures requirements. Napoleon, it is
related, did not average -four hours
sleep out of the twenty-four. His en-
ergy was untiring and his perseverance
|
| saddle and his recreation IN the battle
field. The same is true of Edison in
| his sphere of life. His only pleasure is
in his laboratory, where he can be
found day and night from one end of
the year to the other, with scarcely an
| intermlssion. He seldom seeks rest in
bed. A bench or cot among his chemi-
Gals and machinery form his couch SIX
nights out of the seven. Not thatthere
is any real necessity, perhaps, for such
self-inficted hardship, but "roughing it"
is his delight. Life in the MEMO Park
| laboratory partakes more of the char
acter of camp pitched near the battle
field than of anything else. An average
daily routine of the great scientist, be-
ginning at time when be has actually
| ceased work and is at home is rs fol.
| lows
THF DAILY ROUTINE.
At ten A. /. he starts for his Office,
where for about two hours lie is in
| tensely occupied in attending with his
private secretary to the mass Of core
spondence piling in upon him at the
rate of often times of over two hundred
letters day. After disposing of his
correspondence he devotes his time to
a perusal of the numerous papers,
pamphlets, documents and books, sci
entific and otherwise, that come to him
from all parts of the world. He reads
with great rapidity and yet with aston
ishing thoroughness, as days afterwards
he readily recalls what he has been
over. By two p NJ. he is in his labor
atory reviewing the results of the ex-
periments and work of his assistants
performed in his absence. Consulta-
tons with Mr.. Bachelor, his chief as
sistant, next occupy him for Il consid-
cradle time. After this is over he may
be said to be fairly in the midst of his
labor of love. A recital of the expert
ments he daily tries, the plans he de-
vises and the suggestions he offers
would seem exaggerated were it not
that hundreds of record books III his
laboratory bearing the marks of his
labor attest the same with unim peach
able accuracy. The majority of days
his meals are served him at his work.
The hard labor Of the inventor, how
ever, begins after dark. The work OF
the day is more of q preliminary char
acter-a getting ready for the herculean
efforts that one by one grow and devel-
OPP, until they reach as whole Il per
feet invention.
A MIDNIGHT REPAsT.
The midnight lunch is striking
feature of the laboratory life. At
twelve o'clock every night two men and
dog enter the laboratory laden down
with baskets of edibles from q neigh
boring caterer. The dog, huge New
| foundland, plays as important part in
the performance as his biped compan-
ions, for with II lighted lantern hanging
from his mouth he leads the way from
over the railroad track and across the
fields to the abode of the Wizard. He
also assists at times by having strapped
to his back basket or can containing
some of the lunch. The repast with
out the dog to participate would be
barren. He seems to know his stand
ing and he is always to DO found at his
post of duty.
Around the lunch table gather the in
ventor and his assistants, and as the
good things disappear they discuss the
days work, tell stories and gossip gener-
ally. A freer or gayer set could scarce
ly be found. The jovial good
nature Of the chief spreads to all, and
fun and fancy reign supreme. After
lunch once more begins the work of
science, and continues until, one by one,
the assistants drop otto sleep. A. few
retire to their homes; the larger num-
Der, however, follow the plan of the.
leader and utilize their benches for !.
beds. Edison himself gives in gener-:
ally about four A. NJ, selecting some
unoccupied spot, where, with his coat
for d pillow, he sleeps soundly some
times until ten O'Clock, other times un-
til six, for his time of rising varies.
This mode of life continually repeated
while calculated to wear out most men
seems to cause Edison to thrive. AT the
present time he is the picture of good
health. His height is five feet ten inches
and his weight 185 pounds.
A LONG LIVED FAMILY. 4
The ancestry of the great inventor
for generations back has been renown.,l
ed for remarkable longevity. His
father, Samuel Edison, is now seventy
five years of age and is as hale and |
hearty as The general average OF men |
of forty-hve. His hair and beard to be |
sure are snow white, but they are the /
only indications of old age. Erect as
soldier of the Queens Body Guard. |
he stands six feet one inch in his stock |
ing feet and can today run foot race
with all the vivacity of youth. When |
the news of his sons great invention of
the electric light spread to his home in
Fort Gratiot, Mich, he concluded to.
take little run to Menlo Park Just /
to see what it looked like" as he ex-
pressed himself. Two years ago he |
came to see the phonograph, and at
that time the inventor urgently re-
auested him to make Menlo Park his,
home, but the old gentleman could
not be persuaded to submit to lie of
His interests in the west,
he contended, demanded his return
and away he started. Before he left,
however, it is related, he became in
drgnant at suggestion made by some
one that he was getting along in years
and to disprove the imputatiou he
his son to a foot race from
the railroad track to the laboratory.
The challenge was accepted and Mr..
Edison, senior, came in ahead. But al
though seventy five years of age, Mr..
4 - a. 4 ~.fk 7