River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1905-04-06
INFORMATION FOR EDISON.
Smart Factory Hand Tries to En-
Tighten Unknown Visitor on
Electricity.

In one of the great machine manu-
featuring plants devoted to electrical
appliances. visitors are constantly be-
ing received from all quarters of the
globe The guides who take these Wis
itors through the works have all kinds
of experiences, says the New York
Sun.
1t often happens that the visitor who
knows the least about electrical mat
tiers will ask the stiffest questions and
make the most disconcerting remarks.
1t is rather staggering, for instance,
after you have made your clearest and
most concise explanation of the phe-
nomenon of the now of electricity
through wire. as you understand it,
to be met with the comforting remark:
After all, Mr.. -, you do not real
ly know what electricity isl"
The average working electrician
worries no more about the nature of
the force he handles than he does
about the doctrines of Confucius. One
of the hnemen demonstrates the idea
by the recital of past experience:
when | worked on third rail at
Hartford, the boss says: 'Youse fell
lows don't care where the juice comes
from or where it goes to; all you care
about it is where to get it and where
not to get it. So you, Hinnissey, keep
yer crowbar often that third rail or
you'll hev a beautiful short circuit and
a pirate-technical display thet'll make
We SO blind yell not tell bad whisky
from ice water for six MONTHS
One engineer at the factory, who
may be called Steve, because his name
is something else, is frequently de-
tailed to take visitors about on ac-
count of his fund of information and
his clear, lucid manner of explanation.
On one occasion he escorted a guest
from the west-a light-halred little
gentleman who seemed duly impressed
with all he saw, but made no comment.
He was apparently drinking in and
criticising every word which young
Steve uttered, and that usually conf
dent young gentleman grew nervous
and suspicious.
"This fellow" he thought, must be
some smart electrician, and he is just
taking all my statements with huge
grain of salt.
At last. when they arrived back at
the Office and Steve was feeling tired
and limp, the little gentleman held out
his hand and said:
I'm exceeding obliged to you
don't know much about the electrical
trade. I'm barber. If you ever come
to Chicago, look me UP"
Steve had recovered from this and
was beginning to look and feel like
himself once more when he was again
detailed to escort visitor through the
works. This was a silent and I'M
demonstrative man who paid consid-
cradle attention to rather inst ,gnifcant
machines and details. Consequently
Steve rather hastily concluded that ne
had another barber to amuse.
Moreover, as this quiet visitor
showed lite or no surprise at or ap-
probation of the many really remark
able machines and operations, Steve
was aggrieved, and for the honor of
enthusiasm out of him. So he proceed
ed to load him up with many wonder
full stories.
He pointed out dynamo so power
full that it never had been and never
could be run up to full capacity. it be-
ing utterly impossible to control the
current. He gave a dissertation on
inn
facture, asserting that it's discovery
was due to the accidental observation
of lightning flash playing on a two
pronged fork in pickle bottle. Wax
ing eloquent, he rose on his toes,
stretched out his right arm and ex-
claimed:
"And SO, that inestimable boon to
mankind, the incandescent lamp. was
born!'
At this moment his visitor stepped
up to a workman who was winding
coils, slapped him on the back and
said:
Hello, DAM"
The man started, looked up. and his
face flushed with surprise and pleas
tlIo Dis lie SIdSp0u Tue OuLSLroCcnod
hand
God bless my soul! It's my old
boss he exclaimed, "Mr. Edison him
self"
Steve staggered back and sat down
on a casting. He tried to think it over.
to recall some of the stuff he'd been
telling-but his mind was a blurr.
One thing only stood out distinctly:
he had told the Wizard of Menlo Park
the inventor of the incandescent lamp
that it was the evolution of pickle
bottle and two-pronged fork! Then
he disappeared.
A week or two later he received from
Mr.. Edison a book on electrical won
ders, written for juveniles, on the fly
leaf of which was pen drawing of
fork in pickle bottle, and below the
inscription:
And so that inestimable boon to
mankind, the .incandescent lamp. was
born!"
Some time in the future. perhaps.
that little book may fetch round sum
of money At present, no money could
buy it.