Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-03-29

by any means. There are few subjects in
the line of physical science or invention
which he has not studied, and he is ac-
quainted with the work of many inventors
in other subjects. He plays the piano
fairly well, having studied under a ma ster
for several years of his childhood. He is
an all-round athlete. He speaks several
| languages. Now, man does not have to
be all of these things in order to be a sue
ceSsful inventor of wireless biography. He
is them because he is a great man in more
ways than one.
The fact is, Marconi really wants to be
sociable toward every one, but his scientific
side does not allow him to carry out his
inclinations.
Il should like to go away from all the
work and worry and stay among pleasant
people for a month or so" he said one day.
but | know that l should no sooner be
away from my work than l would begin to
think that l ought to be back at it and that
| was wasting my time. That's why l cam
not take rest. l even work as hard on an
ocean voyage as | do when I'm at one of
my experimental stations. But l guess
have as much fun out of my work as most
people do out of their social diversions
Marconi likes American women. and
judging from the scores of invitations
which he has received since his return to
this country from leading society women
of New York and other cities, American
women like him.
He is essentially a man of simple habits.
He is an aristocrat of the common people
and, although he has always had more
money than he cared to spend, he has never
changed his style of living. He lives well.
enjoys a good dinner, drinks a little wine
and occasionally smokes a cigarette. The
most important thing in the world to him
is his work; the greatest affection he has
for any person is for his mother If he had
mis- own way he would live a quiet life in
some country place where he could work
| undisturbed by newspaper reporters or lion
hunters. The glare of publicity has been
on him so long that it is little wonder that
he wearies Of the attention, matter how
kindly meant it may all be.
To strangers, Marconi is a curious mix
ture of reserve, modeSty, diffidence and in
difference, If such mixture of terms may
be taken at one breath. He cares little for
the praise of men, for the sake of the
honeyed words themselves. He does care for
the good opinions of the men who really
understand his work and for the recogni-
ton Of the leading men of the world.
He was asked one day what his outlook
on life and his work was, and he replied:
II feel that I must do the work that /
am in, and that nothing shall stop me-
When the work wins the commentator of
those who understand it / am pleased The
one thing l do like about the success which
l have attained is that 1t has brought me
into close touch with the greatest living
men of the world. That is worth some
thing"
Ir that remark Marconi revealed all of
the social ambition he has. He wants to
know the leading men Of the world, AMI
for a man not yet twenty-eight years of age
one must admit he has made good begin
ming. He is intimately acquainted with the
King and Queen of Italy, with King Ed
ward VII of England and with many of
the royal family. The King of the Belgians
is an acquaintance, and scores of princes,
dukes, counts, lords and knights are proud
to claim this young man as their friend.
Lord Kelvin, one of England's most distn-
gushed scientists, takes the highest inter-
est in Marconis work 1t was Lord Kelvin
the inventor of the system by which cabl
messages are sent across the ocean, who
sent the first paid message by wireless
telegraphy about three years ago. In our
own country, Edison speaks of the young
Italian as a worker" HE Is in my
class" wrote Edison to a body Of elecrri-
clans who were giving Marconi a dinner.
Among the social set the young man is IN
great demand. When he attended the opera
recently with Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt
flaring headlines of sensational newspa-
per proclaimed that the four hundred had
adopted Marconi. 1t is safe to say that
the four hundred would not have an oppor-
tunity to adopt him.