The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-01-30
JOKE WAS SURELY ON EDISON
NEW OFFICE BOY REFUSED TO
ADMIT HIM.
Instructions Were Positive and He
obeyed Them-story of Unfortu-
nate Tobacco Chewing Exploit.

Not long since a new boy was en-
ployed in the Edison laboratory in Or
ange, N. !, who forced Thomas a.
Edison TO give an account of himself
1t happened in this way: The boy was
first told all about the man for whom
he was to work. Then he was told of
the traditions of the establishment. He
was told that the main building con-
tanned a piece Of every known sub
stance on earth, and that if he
could name any substance not in the
building he would be awarded a prize
OF $3.50. He was also told that his
special duty would be to guard the
room in which Mr.. Edison worked, il
being important that the inventor be
not disturbed by curiosity seekers or
schemers who often try to reach him.
Then the boy was placed on guard, full
to the brim of the Importance of his
position. But one serious omission had
been made by his instructor. He had
not told him what Mr.. Edison looked
like So when, soon after he took up
his post, the boy was approached by q
portly. shabbily dressed man who at
tempted to push past him, he grabbed
that man in such q way that the man
stopped and sasped in astonishment.
What is the matter with you, boy?'
demanded the man Indignantly.
you can't so in there" retorted the
boy with Just as much spirit.
"Why nOt?" said the man.
Because no one can go in there with
out written permission or when Mr..
Edison sends out for him
"Ohl l see" said the man, and then
he turned on his slippered heel and
walked off. while the boy looked after
the dirty yellow buster which the man
wore. ana said several things to him
self not at all complimentary OF "blokes
wot would try TO bluff past him. But
the boy was surprised about five min
utes afterward to see the man in the
yellow buster coming back accom-
panied by the instructor" who looked
very. very, serious, and who said:
Boy. don't you know who this gen
tleman is?'
mo said the boy. But he didn't
have any pass and Mr.. Edison wasn't
with him"
why. this is Mr.. Edison" gasped the
instructor.
The boy collapsed.
'.Can | 90 in?" asked the inventor
with q twinkle in his eye. But the boy
hung his head, while the instructor
started in TO berate him for his mis-
take. Then Mr.. Edison turned around
and stopped that instructor on the
eDot. while he at the same time COM
mended the boy for his vigilance. It
was the fault OF the teacher, not of the
bov. he said. Nevertheless, the effect
of the incident on the boy was such
that he never could enter the same room
where the inventor worked without q
visible tremble. Mr.. Edison, who is
fond of joke sought to reassure him
by winking at him tremendously every
time he came in. but that did not seem
10 mend matters. One day he was very
sick. and an investigation showed that
he had been chewing tobacco. 1t nearly
killed him. and he resigned his posi-
ton in consequence.
THAT boy" said the inventor after
ward. reminded me of the first chew
of tobacco l ever took. ] was about
as big as he Is, and with two other
little fellows had saved up a lot of
SCRAP iron and tin and zinc which we
meant to sell when the holidays came
around There was q large boy in the
neighborhood q think he must have
become a bunco steerer afterward) who