The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-05

thousand trunks, more or less. His
wife, who is one of the loveliest and
most patient of women, entitled as
Eugene Field said of his wife ITO enter
Paradise. because she was the wife of
such a man." packs his trunk and tells
him that his baggage is ready.
The Wizard carries with him
great mysterious chests of wire and
battery and stored electricity He
takes along instruments which he
knows he cannot find in a strange coun-
try, and small machines upon which
he has worked for years. These are so
carefully packed that you would sup
pose them to be the most delicately
spun glass. They are all incased in
great chests marked fragile" and
several attendants go along to see that
they are right side up
A WIZARD ABOARD.
On an ocean voyage the Edison bag
gage occupies not only a great place
in the hold. but an entire state room,
lot IL IS too precious to risk being wet
or Knocked about. In case of a storm
II IS said that the attendants in charge
SIT up night and day with that bag
gage to make sure that it is not dashed
against the side of the boat. No frail
Tea cups are SO carefully carried as
they; no blue china is more tenderIy
cared for.
In compact steamer trunks are
countless pages of manuscript, all writ
ten by the Wizard" in his own neat
mandy writing, or carefully copied upon
MS typewriting machines. At the cor
l OF this copy are the words, "Dic-
lated IN the photograph These de-
scrlbe the works of the different ma
chimes and serve as specifications for
manufacture The most elaborate
drawings are rolled up, ready to be
spread out and explained and there
are plans for building such machines
as are fitted for sale.
In his travelling tours and in his
own nome factory, WIZARD Edison
IS intensely practical. He goes upon
the simple principle of giving people
what they want and making them pay
for it. No one ever knew him to make
more than one mistake in an invention
and corporations have never boosted
that theygot anything for nothing from
Edison.
He does not ask exorbitant sums
but he asks a reasonable price and
gets it in advance.
His one mistake was the inven-
ton of a wonderful machine which alb
solutely prevents the "stuffing'' of bal
lot boxes. The story is that he took
1t to politician, but when the latter
had examined it and seen it work he
laughed and said, THAT is very pref
ty, but why don't you bring me some
thing that I want?"
THE CzAR'S RECEPTION.
The manner in which the Gear will
receive his distinguished guest differs
O44Ay HI QGSI66 from the way ne re-
ceives the crowned heads of Europe.
Russia is intensely formal and the Gar
himself adds to its formality by the re-
spect in which he holds the great men
of the world. They are heroes to him,
and in this category he includes inven-
tors, great stage people, artists of the
brush and other men, very high in their
professions. The Cars etiquette would
scarcely differ in receiving the Arch
bishop Of Canterbury and the Queen of
England, except in the added respect
he would pay the latter as an old wom-
an.
If Wizard Edison enters Russia in
the daytime he will be astonished to
find waiting for him at the train, the
Cars guard of honor, who will con-
duct him to the palace set aside for