Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-09-01

forty-eight hours al about his wedding, his
bride and the lapse of time at some work In
his laboratory.
[ knew the first Mrs. Thomas A Edison,
and have often heard her express her indig-
nation about those silly stories, and because
there never was a tenderer, sweeter story
than just that courtship and marriage l viii
tell it.
Mary Stillwen was her maiden name, and
she lived with her parents and went to school,
and was Ii years and months old the day
she met her husband She and three other
girls were going home from school, and q
terrible storm came up suddenly, and they
all took refuge in the portico of Edison's la
bcratory, where he manufactured the gold
stock tickers 3 gentleman who was inside,
and who knew one of the girls, invited them
all to come in out of the rain and, to pass the
time while the storm lasted, introduced them
to Mr.. Edison, who, she thought, was sort
of foreman, as he was pretty oily and dirty
as to clothes and hands
Mr.. Edison kept by her very closely, and
when the STERN did not stop took down his
overcoat and umbrella and took her home,
going in almost unlimited and remaining
quit. late, talking to her mother. He asked
accorded it, not knowing who Mr. Edison
was, supposing him lonely young man who
felt the Influences OF a home. Hecalled there
every other evening for Ave months, and then
went to Mr. Stillwell and asked permission to
"court Mamie, who was still going to school,
though unusually large Of her age
Mr. Stillwel was aStonished and Edison
said:
l.. 7 Ill -, L.
I viii be good to her, and ! am able to take
care Of her, and l mean to have her for my
wife"
The father was surprised, but asked few
days to think about il.
Come down to my factory and go through
the books, If You think | can't provide for
her, and then make any inquiries you Ike
anywhere l viii come next Saturday for
my answer"
This was the first knowledge the family
had that this quiet young fellow was the
owner of all that business. A week later
Mr. StilIwen laid Mamie's hand in that of
Thomas a. Edison.
''TIl be good to her till one of us dies he
said and he kept his word as few men do.
His wife almost wOrshiped him.
I'VE viii Do married tomorrow he said.
'Oh / can't" said Mamie.
"Why not"
al haven't any clothes ready, nor any
thing" she answered, beginning to cry.
Wei, then, we'll wait Till Tuesday That
viii be time enough, won't it, motherf" he
said TO Mrs StiiiwelI, and she consented, and
the wedding was on Tuesday morning, Miss
Lucy Hamilton Warner being her bridesmaid.
They left on the Albany boat, all three, for
Niagara Falls that same evening and re-
manned away a week or 50, and it is safe to
say that Edison never forgot that good and
beautiful wife ona minute OF her existence
then nor thereafter. Everything that money
could buy or affection devise ne laid at her
feet. 1t was his delight TO see her decl1ed in
the jewels and fine raiment that became her
so well
She bore him three lovely children, Dottie,
a living image Of herself, and two little boys,
and then, after about fourteen years of hap
piness as his wife she died suddenly in the
rich fruition Of her womanhood by an acci-
dental overdose Of morphine
There are many little tender things that I
could tell Of their courtship and marriage,
but I feel that they are too sacred IT the
public eye But their comtship WAS not of
days growth nor did she work for him, nor
did he even for one moment forget her.