The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1889-01-30
A WIZARDS EARLY DAYS,
HOW EDISON, THE GREAT IN
vENToR, CAME EAST.
He Cut a Funny Figure, But As
tonished the Opcrators-Dispoa-
ing OF His Telegraph Inventions.

uOuL InlOk, Sdlu lIltuu VI
Thomas A. Edison some days ago to a
group seated in the rear room of one of
the most comfortable hostelries Of
Orange, "that you ever heard the 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 offices until the reputation Of
his wonderful swiftness as an operator
got him into the central olce of a
Western city. From there he was
ordered to report to Boston to fill va
Cancy. 1t was warm weather for the
season when he started East, and he
donned linen trousers and duster. By
the time he had reached Hoston the
weather had got cold, raw and stormy.
lie didn't care, and reported just as he
was. Linen trousers and custer, topped
by a slouchy, broad -brimmed hat, weren't
the fashion in Boston in the best of
weather, and on a raw day a man with a
limp, wet duster on and wet linen trous-
ers sticking to his legs was something to
provoke a smile. He walked into the
superintendcnt's room and said
&c Here am
"The superintendent eyed him from
head to foot and said:
"'Who are your
"'Tom Edison
"'Who the deuce is Tom EdisonP
"The 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 merriment, and the
operators guyed him loud enough for
him to hear them. He didn't care,
though. Several hours later New York
sender noted for his swiftness called the
Office and there was no one to take him.
"'Well, let the new fellow try him,
anyway said the superintendent
Young Edison sat dewn, and for four
hours and a half wrote out messages in
clear round hand, stuck date and num-
Der on them and throw them on the floor
for the Office boy to pick up. The time
he took in numbering and dating were
the only moments he was not writing out
transmitted words. Faster and faster
ticked the instrument, and faster
and faster Edison's 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:
"Hellon
"Hello yourself, licked back Edison.
"'Who the dickens are youP ratified
into the Office
"'Tom 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.'
''Mr Edison had been experimenting
and studying and improving telegraphy
ever since he was nineteen years old.
He patented some of his inventions. He
left the Boston Office to try and sell his
multiplex system to the Western Union.
He was careless looking young fellow
when he walked into the Office one day
in New Yosk and asked them if they
wanted to buy patent.
"'What is itP they asked.
"'Why, a means of sending two mes
sages over the same wire in different
directions at the same time said the
young inventor.
1.-The Western Union officials lay back
in their chairs and shouted in merri-
ment.
HDon't bother US with such nonsense
as that, said one at last.
"AIr. Edison tried to sell it to one of
the rival companies that existed at the
time. They also laughed to scorn the
idea of doing such feat.
WELL" remarked the inventor, as
he tuFncd carelessly away, If you ever
anything the matter with your
plant that you can't straighten out your.
selves, send round for me-.
"He took little office and announced
himself an electrical and te!egraphic ex-
pert. Some time afterward 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 a
forlorn hope they sent for young Edison.
"'How long will you give meP he
asked
"The manager laughed.
"'Six hoursP asked Edison.
"The manager laughed louder and
told him he d need longer time than that.
Edison sat down at the instrument, es-
tablished communication with Albany
by way of Pittsburgh, told the Albany
Office to put their best man at the instru-
ment, and began a careful and rapid
series of tests with all currents of all in
iensities. 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 telegraphed the
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 he
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 gay
ly between New York and Albany.
The company made him their superin-
tendent Immediately. Now he was in q
position TO command repeet and atten.
tion. He induced the companies to test
his patents, and sold them rapidly. He
much improved his multipleX system,
and sold that to the Western Union al
ten times what he would have taken fol
it at the time they laughed at his
first proposition. He simply informs