The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-01-08
EpIs0N,s a0Rsg.sM9R 1Ianr. .
Tho Lang -fssSas.sea nlnasfaatsaa OF Memo
N,om lhe Ns.g York atar. Dc. zs.

L . y q
| --
From Gte Nss0 York Sloy, Dec. zs.
The little village of ssenlo Park, N. j.,
was illuminated with Prof. Thomas A.
EdlsOn'g electric light last evening.
Oniy four outdoor lamps wers Ia opera
| ton, but the electric burners 10 the num-
Der of twenty-eight we're distributed la q
dozen houses, and the new light was pro-
nounced perfect success. There were
not more than 800 people at the Park TO
witness the illumination, as Prof Edison
and his associates had kept the matter as
quiet as possible, and no invitations to
attend had been cent out. When asked
why. the public had not been advised Of
the intended lighting Of the village, Su-
Perintendent Bachelor, who is the great
lnventors general manager at Menlo
Park, said: "My friend, we do not wish
to get crowd of people down here, rs
we have no accommodation for multi
tude. This place, as you see, Is G. very
OF more than 200 or 300 people at time,
would not be very pleasant, ss you can
strangers at any one time going through
=
most Of people will meddle with and
and by having only few persons here
that no damage is DONE"
When the reporter arrived at Menlo
Park yesterday It was late in the after.
noon. A misty, foggy atmosphere per-
vadcd the locality, witch, together with
the clouded sky and lowering weather,
made twilight come much earlier than
would otherwise have been the case. In
fact, it was not later than 4:30 o'clock
when the illumination began. The con-
nection between tho enormous electric
generators and several of the houses, in
Guiding the residence of Superintendent
Bachelor, we're only just completed in
.::::e &c: les. s=ening's display. The vii
lage presented much the appearance Of q
patriotic celebration or an illumination
in honor OF some great event. The peo.
pie present could easily imagine that the
importance of the occasion was not at
tached to the light itself. but that the
people were celebrating for some other
reason.
Climbing up q staircase in the l9bofa-
tory building, tho reporter found himself
in the presence of Professor Edison. The
Professor, who wore plain suit Of me-
chanlc'e clothing, and had check hand
kerchief tied about his neck TO prevent
bis taking cold, was In e taikativo mood.
Although he was evidently much re-
joiced at the success Of his invention, Z he
preserved che self. possessed unassuming
department for which he Is noted.
"Does your. new light meet With tho
success you anticipated ?o asked the re-
porter Of the Professor.
Mr. Edison, who Is somewhat deaf, did
not understand the question at frat, but
when it had been repeated In @ louder
tone of voice he replied, 10, yes 1t Ia C
complete SUCCESS. 1t 10 carbonized paper
that is the last link in this discovery"
SWELL, you have made great discov-
er:," remarked the reporter, sand you
deserve credit fox it,"
"Of course remarked Mr.. Edison,
'fthe success of this light is owing in q
great measure to study and scientific re-
search, but it can also be attributed to
some extent to chance.v
"Do yon mean TO say that you made
this discovery by chance.n :
"Not exactly that, but-let me think O
moment how to express myself SO Us to
give you the correct idea" (Here Nj.
Edison placed his foreHn9Dr on his fore
head and was for o mo.uent in q brown
study.) "Well, you car, best Judge what
I mean when tell you Il was something
like throwing double-six at dice. Yea
know You might throw hundred times
and not get o double six. Several condi-
| tions were requisite TO the success of my
light, the want of any one of which
would have made the thing o failure.
But was lucky enough TO throw o dou-
bio six in this instance, you see."
The Professor then opened O drawer in
one of the work benches at his side, and
produced Q very thin strip of black car
boaized paper The strip was not much
~. Ia lGh ielrnesa than 66araa sewing
needle. It was about two inches long
and bent in the shape OK q horse-sHoe.
This, he explained, had sufficient reten-
tive properties to hold sparks of electric
ity long en9ngh TO give o clear, steady
light. TIIi5 electric current strikes cue
!. end of thio cafbonized slip and passes of
| at the other end. The slip is placed In a
small glass globe from which che air ilaa
been exhausted, aud then. all that Is
necessary se to turn on the electricity and
the light 10 produced,
ltwas demonstrated by last evenings
tttut9thtltloLt t-lS SlkO Aft IA IA NRttu Ottut
so-cailed burners was fully equal e TIM!
produced by an ordinary gas jet In 3
HLrEaL lamp nr u G0eiiiaE aense. iiniy
two electric generators were in use yes,
teraay to. supply the twenty-eight burn,
era which were in operation; but With
l additional or moro powerful generator
/ the inteneity OF the light, Hr. Edison
said, could be increased many fold. A
third generator ,waa nearly completed
aad IL readiness for operation last even.
Ing. It VIII bb finished within q day oil
two, and then dozen or mora additional
hu.r5.s 1ill be set going.
After tho visitoRs had witnessed the
effect of the illumination from the lsHps
and from the outside of the houses, they
were permitted to enter several of ihe
private Feaidences and judge OF the utiii.
Ev of the ney LIGHT for household M :.
poses. One gentleman had an electric
1 light in use 10 oile OF the sleeping rooms
OF hiA HOUSE,. Ha said thai the only
1 fault he found with the lisAt vas that 4
| was too bright. Said he; az must either
/ allow ik TO remain on full head or turn II
sff entirely. There is no intermediate
point; but preaume fsr. Ediaon viii
make s0dle small lamps fhat will give
] ] stzAale linhta. Tor aiaaniRw ronuna.
There was d marked difference betYeOl
l The iig rs uf tho car -papor burners al
l AIkfilo Park and tho inteEsa dazzfinr
light gwen by the electric lamps whicf
have .or soEie siria past been used il
New York and other office. The painfn
aetnti lation tbs stters caused by thi