Los Angeles herald., 1891-12-15
THOMAS A. EDISON.

his life, as he has frequently told them to
his friends, not even 1.-THE Innocents
Abroad" has had larger sale than such
biographical novel would secure. Some
of the anecdotes OF Edison's earlier expe-
riences are humorous to the highest de-
gree, and have q charm which most humor
does not because these stories are true.
Some OF his experiences were pathetic,
some Of them dramatic and many Of them
exciting, and in the hands OF a skillful
novelist could be centered upon plot and
counterplot so as to make most graphic,
instructive and delightful tale.
The novel which Edison is understood to
be writing is a story of electricity, but his
pen thus far drags heavily, and while he
knows that he has the story In his head, it
does not come out on paper as he would
like to have it. He talks himself but little
about it, and all that is known about his
work is CLEANED from hints which his
friends are spreading abroad
Edison regards the writings of Tyndall.
the lectures of Faraday. and above all the
prose poems of Ruskin upon art as per-
haps the highest achievements of the sci
entists and specialists, and he has long had
a secret yearning to do some literary work
which would compare with that of these
writers. But literary effort, that required
for n single magazine article even, entails
toll upon Edison even greater than that
which he has given to some of his inven-
tions.
He can command the highest price for
magazine work. Not long ago an offer
was made to him that he name his own
price for series Of articles descriptive of
his work as scientist, and he was obliged
TO decline it, although his friends knew
perfectly well that it would have given him
the greatest delight to have furnished such
q series provided he felt that he could do 1t
and gain thereby literary reputation. The
money that would have been paid to him
would have been the least of considera-
tions.
II Edison would write story of a few
Thousand words, telling his experiences in
the telegraph Office in Boston before he was
famous, and telling them exactly as he mar
rated them to Congressman Cummings
and Professor Barker and party of friends
few years ago. the story would become
immortal. Edison's delineations of char
acter, his description Of his encounter with
a rapid telegraph operator who was trying
70 break him-that is, to send faster than
Edison could receive, his description of the
machine which he invented to wake him
up when he was catching catnaps during
the dreary hours of the night; his delicious
ly funny experiences with the reaches
which infested the Office at night, and
which he by an electrical device extermi-
mated, are as amusing as any of the crea-
tions OF Mark Twain, or even the hum0r
of John Phoenix.
Mr.. Edison Is one Of the most cordial Of
men In his relations with others, and there
was time when he had rather be imposed
upon than break with one whom he called
friend. But there is. one writer upon
scientific subjects with whom Edison's re-
1ations are not cordial, and while it would
not be proper to speak Of purely private
breach Of friendship, yet it is known that
Mr.. Edison and Park Benjamin do not
have the same friendly relations which at
one time characterized them.
Benjamin is one of the most delightful
and accomplished writer's on scientific sub
jects of the present generation. He has
the ability to take a technical matter of
science, and especially Of applied science,
and treat ID with great literary charm, SO
that his writings have for many the fas-
sinstion almost Of romance. To the gen.
eral public his name is not 80 familiar as is
that Of some other writers, but in the sci
entifc world he stands at the head of
writers upon such subjects. As an Ameri-
can he has Joined science and literature
with such happy results as Tyndall and
Faraday attained in Great Britain.
Those who are friends both of Mr.. Ben
jamin and Mr.. Edison are surprised that
there should not be harmony between
these two men, and most amusing are the
stories which are told Of the cause of the
rupture. 1t is sufficient to say that this
cause Is generally ascribed to the sensitive
ness of Edison regarding his literary ca
pacity, spd the rupture itself is looked
upon by the friends Of both as the strong
est. although an incidental, indication Of
Edison's honorable desire to gain literary
repute. K. ]. EDWARDS.
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