Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1889-02-01
"A WIZARDS EARLY DAYS.
HOW EDISON. THE GREAT IN
vENToR, CAME EAST.
He Cut n Fanny Figure, But As
tonished the observation-disclosures
ing of His telegraph Inventions.

group seated in the rear room of one of
the most comfortable hosteries of
Orange, THAT you ever heard tho story
of how the Wizard first came East. He
was only young man, careless, gener-
Gus, jovial and totally ignorant of the
value of dollar. He had been knocking
round in Western towns in various small
telegraph o Ices until tho reputation of
his wonderful swiftness ms MI operator
got him into the central o CO of n
Western city. From there lie was
ordered to report to Boston to fill va
cancy. 1t was warm weather for the
season when he started East, aud nc
donned linen trousers and a buster. BY
the time he had reached Eoston the
weather had got cold, raw and stormy.
He didn't care, and reported just rs he
was. Linen trousers and dustcr, topped
by n slouchy, broad brimmcd hat, weren't
tho fashion in Poston in the lest of
weather, and on raw day man with n
limp, wet duster on and wet linen trons-
ers sticking to his legs was something to
provoke IL smile. lie walked into the
supcrintendcnt's room and said:
80 Here am
"The superintendent eyed him from
head to foot and said;
"'Who arc your
"'Tom Edison
"'Who the deuce is Tom Edson2'
"Thc young operator explained that he
had been ordered TO report for duty. and
the superintendent told him TO sit down
in the operating room. Ills advent
here created much mcrrmcnt, and the
operators guycd him loud enough for
him to hear them. He didn't care,
though. &c. eral hours latcra New York
sender noted for his swiftncss called the
office and there was no one to take him.
well, let the new fellow try Inn,
anyway sad the superintendent
Young Edison sat dcwn, and for four
hours and half wrote out messages in Il
clear round hand, stuck date aud num-
Der on them aud threw them on the lloor
for the o.i.cc boy topick up. The time
he took in numbering and dating were
the only moments he was not writing out
transmitted words. Faster and fustcr
licked the instrument, and faster
and fnster Edisons fingers, till the
rapidity with which the messages came
tumblng out and on the floor attracted
the attention of other operators, who.
when their work was done, gathered
around to witness the spectacle. At the
close of four hours and half and the
New York business, there flashed from
New York the salutation:
"'lIello'
"'llcllo yourself, licked back Edison.
'Who the dickens are you:' ratified
into the &C.
"'l'om Edison, was licked back.
Shake, Tom Edison, came over the
wires.
"'With all my heart was the reply.
"'You are the first man in the coun-.
try said the instrument, that could
ever take me at my fastest, and the only
one who could ever sit at the other end
of my wire for more than two hours and
half. I'm proud to know you
"AIr Edison had been experimenting
and studying and improving telegraphy
ever since he was nineteen years old.
He patented some Of his inventions. lie
left the Boston Office to try and sell his
multiplcx system to the Western Union.
lie was q careless looking young fellow
when he walked into the dice one day
i'll New Yosk and asked them if they
wanted to buy patent.
"'What is itp they asked.
why, II means of sending two mes
sages over the same wire in different
directions ut the same time said the
young inventor.
"Thc Western Union officials lay back
in their chairs and shouted in merri-
ment.
>Don't bother lis with such nonsense
as that, sud one at last
'AIr. Edison tried to sell it to one of
the rival companies that existed mt the
time. They also laughed TO scorn tho
idea Of doing such feat.
"'Well," remarked the inventor. as
he turned carelessly away, If you over
get anything. the matter with yonr
plant that you can't straighten out your.
selves, send round for me-
He took little office and announced
himself an electrical and Geographic en-
pert. Some time aftcrward the company
had trouble with its Albany wire. The
wire wasn't broken, but wouldn't work,
and several days of investigation on the
part of the company's electricians only
served to puzzle them the more. AS Il
forlorn hope they sent for young Edison.
"'How long will you give mc2' lie
asked
"rhc manager laughed.
"'SiX hoursP asked Ed son.
"'rhe manager laughed louder and
told him he'd need longer time than that.
Edison sat down at tho instrument, es.
tablshcd communication with ALBANY
by way of Pittsburgh. told the Albany
office to put their best man at the instr,i.
ment, and began careful and rapid
series of tests with all currents OF all IN
tensites He had his Pittsburgh circuit
instrument by his side and directed the
Albany operator in each movement from
his end. The steps were simultaneous.
and the Albany man tc'cgraphed tho
results of each test. Edison compared
them, made calculations, and in two
hours and half told the officials that
the trouble existed at certain point lie
named on the line, and told them what
it was. The officials telegraphed the
office nearest this point, and an hour
later messages were tripping CAV
~ between New York and ALBANY.
The company made him their superin-
tendent Immediately. Now he was in n
position to command repect and atten-
ton. He induced the companies to test
his patents, and sold them rapidly. He
much improved his multiplcx system
and sold that to the Western Union mt
ten times what he would hnve totar e.,