Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1897-10-29
MUkE EDISUN WONDERS,
The Great Inventor Sill Adding to
His Scientific Achievements
~ the Aid Of His Latest Invention He
LOOKS Through Two aud Half
Feet of solid Wood-An Iu-
dsfstlgable Worker.

With his Horoscope Thomas n. Edi-
son can now lnok through 2A feet OF
solid wood. Nothing better illustrates
the tremendous progress he has MADE
in his x-ray experiments.
When the announcement was first
r,ade that Mr.. Edison had perfected
an apparatus that enabled him 70 look
through eight inches of wood the whole
world marveled. Many persons doubted
the possibility Of it. Now eight inches
Of wood offer only a slight impeachment
70 the eye under the \ ray and there
have been times, when the conditions
were peculiarly favorable, that Mr.. Edi-
son has penetrated sheet of steel one
sixteenth of an inch in thickness.
Porous substances, like cork. for ex-
ample, practically offer no obstacle at
all to the microscope. Through three
feet of cork objects may be seen as dis
tinctly as though there was no oostruc-
ton at all, and there is reason to believe
that a cork wall of Il sufficient thickness
/, obscure the vision could not be set up.
"As matters are moving now" de-
clared one enthusiast, who was watch
ing Mr.. Edison nj work recently, The
will soon be able to look clear through
the earth into China" And this idea
must occur to everyone who sees the
wonders that are being perfected at
the wizards laboratory in Orange. AS
for Mr.. Edison himself, he says that he
only wants to perfect his vacuum tubes,
SO that they will stand "32 lamps'-that
is, the power used in SO incandescent
lights-and then one may see through
anything except the earth.
Mr.. Edison's enthusiasm and energy
continue unimpaired. The things he
las already accomplished. marvellous as
they are, have only whctted his appetite
fer more. He sticks at his experiments
day and night. lie does not seem to
know what fatigue is. For 4S hours at
n stretch he keeps going at times and
then he stops only long enough to
snatch four or five hours sleep, when
lie is up and ut it again.
He never leaves the laboratory now.
Mrs. Edison has gone on visit to out
cf-town friends, and this gives him per-
feet freedom to do as he likes. While
his wife was in Orange she compelled
him at times TO come home, going to
the laboratory after him and refusing
10 stir until he consented TO go with
lier to their house, across in Llewellyn
park. But he grudged the few hours
he had TO spend away from his expert
n,cnting-rooni, and though he is most
cffectionate husband it is doubtful il
he did not hail his wife's trip with en-
fhusiasm.
Not the least remarkable thing about
the wonder-wcrkcr is the manner i'll
which he manages TO infuse his own
enthusiasm into the people all around
him. His assistants are as earnestly
interested in the work on hand as he is
himself, and remain with him constant.
ly. "Quitting time" has been entirely
abolished at the big laboratory. From
the meancst laboIcr III the place TO the
chief assistant all hands stay with the
chief far into the n;ght.
The reporter left the place at mid
night, and there were then no more
signs of rest than there had been al
midday. Mr.. Ellison himself was as
lively as cricket. Between times a.
the "lamp," as lac calls his vacuum tube
he skipped and danced about the place
cracking JOKES, telling funny stories
and acting as frisky as a boy just out o.
school. Yet he had not closed an eye
IN "a hours.
'"rired?" he said, in a surprised tone
Certainly not. This isn't work. Thii
is fun, and lots of it. What do we want
TO get tired for? Wen keep at it unit
six or seven o'clock in the morning ant
then we'll go to sleep for little while
N " Journal