Daily Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1882-1893, 1889-05-29
eplsoN's FIRST eAsk CHECK.
He Was veyy Much Afraid Of Being Held
Up aud Robbed Ia Wall Street

Up aud Robbed Ia Wall Street
The other day a smooth faced man,
wearing handsome clothes and dis
playing a soiled collar aud a necktie
all awry, and shoes that never expe-
rienced the skillful manipuiations OF a
bootblack, and finger nails that never
experienced a manicure. leaned his
elbow on a Washington counter and
talked in the io llest way 10 circle OF
newspaper fri 'Iids. he Looked like a
tramp. but he real Y isone OF the most
famous men IA the world, and his
name is known ia every part OF the
globe. OF course he IL an Ohio man.
His name is Thomas Alva Edison. and
he was once peanut boy and news
butcher on a jerkwater railroad in
the Buckeye State. During a little
luncheon Edison. between hearty
drinks OF beer. his favorite beverage,
told in his quaint way the story Of his
first acquaintance with any large sum
OF money. Ii was in the days when
he was struggling along with his early
inventions. and didn't have big capi-
talists 10 back him. In fact, he didn't
have any bank account himself, and
hardly knew what one was. Bank
cheeks were things he never had oc-
caslon 10 use, and had about as much
idea of their value as the man in the
moon
Edison had finally sold his patent
on the gold and stock indicator 10 the
Western Union Telegraph company
for S4O. 900, and was coming over TO
New York TO get his money.
He had heard Of Wall street and its
bulls and bears, and had been told
that il was full of sharks" who
would fleece a man very quick. So
be made up his mind that Wall
street was very dangerous place,
and that If ever be had occasion 10
60 there he would be luckily if he got
away without losing his overcoat and
umbrella.
AT that time Gen. Lefferts was
president Of the Western Union. One
morning Edison came into the COM
pany's general offices TO close up the
sale Of his patent After few pre-
liminaries he was gwen check for
$40. .0OO.
de looked at il curiously for a mo
ment or two, and appeared to be puz.
zled what 10 do with il He knew he
had sold patent 10 the Western Un-
ion company for $40, 900, but he did
not see any money. Observing his
perplexity, Gen. Lefferts told him
thai if he would go the Bank Of
America, in Wall street. he would
get the check cashed. 80 started p"
said Edison, after carefully folding
up the check, and went toward Wall
street SO uncertain was 1 in regard
TO that way OF doing business that i
thought while ON the way that II any
man should come up 10 me and otter
me two crisp thousand dollar bills for
that piece Of paper, lshould give him
up the cheek very quick
On arriving at the Bank OF Amer
lea be hesitated about entering, fear
ing still that something might bt
wrong. AT last, however, he mustered
up courage and determined 10 try it
He knew that Gen. Lefferts had told
him he would get his money here, sc
braced ahead and han tremblingly
showed his check out 10 the cashier,
The latter scrutinized il closely,
gave Edison a piercing glance. and
said something which Edison could
not understand, as he was hard oi
hearing.
That wasenough He was now more
than ever convinced that his check
wasn't worth $4,000, and again
thought as he rushed out Of the bank
with il that any man who would give
him 5000 could walk away with the
! check.
He hurried back 10 the Western Un.
ION and said he couldn't get any mon
ey. Gen. Detferts then sent a man
with him 10 identify him. he said
This man Is Mr.. Thomas A. Edison,
10 whose order the check is drawn"
why, certainly, Mr.. Edison, /" said
the cashier, very obsequiously; "how
would you like your ~. .00o-in whal
shapef'
oh, any way TO suit the bank, 4
doesn't make any difference TO mo x
long as | get my money" ~
Edison was given 10000 in larr,
bills After dividing the roll into tw<
wads OF $50. 900 each, he stuffed on
into each trousers pocket, buttoned N
his coat aS tightly as possible, and
made break W yet Out OF Wall slFes|
a. Quick as he could. The next dny
Edison began work on his first lAlor6