The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1906-08-03
OPTIMISTIC Mr.. EDISON.


In the August number of Parsons
Thomas A. Edison gives expression to
some optimistic views that are inn
portant not only in themselves. but in
the identity of their author. The noted
inventor believes that everything is
working toward the uplift of the la
boring man and that we are cropping
on the verge of another great epoch
of the worlds history. He cannot IN
derstand why anyone in the United
States should think the poor mans
chance for success is less than it
used to be. In his opinion, the situa-
ton is just the contrary.
81 would rather begin now as a
poor boy" he says, ''than to start again
in the conditions which surrounded
my early life. The opportunities for a
poor boy or a poor man are greater
today than they were then; make no
mistake about that"
1t is on "the cry for brains" that
Mr.. Edison dwells most. On this sub
ject he has this to say:
Great organizing minds have
massed capital, systematized bust
ness, eliminated waste of material
and labor, and concentrated the
forces of production along lines that
grow more intelligent and humane
year by year.
''The world is crying for men of
intelligence. 1t is searching for them
everywhere. The door of opportunity
is open, as it has never been before,
for men who have minds even a frac-
ton above what is necessary for a
routine, muscular task. 1t doesn't
matter whether a man be poor or
rich, or what his color or creed or
origin, he has a better chance now
than if he lived generation ago
that is, if he can bring intelligence
to his work.
"This is the golden age for men of
brains, even a little brains, and I'd
rather, much rather, take my chances
now, without a friend or a dollar in
my pocket, than to go back even
twenty years.
"The world is growing better and
stronger all the time, and the invita-
ton to think is becoming almost IT.
resistible in every branch of human
effort. That is raising the race higher
and higher.
AS science is applied to industry
more and more the rewards of intelli-
gence grow greater, and today there
are in thousands of factories 'sugges-
ton boxes into which workmen are
urged to drop any ideas that may oc-
cur to them-so hungry are those who
direct business to advance men capa-
BILE of advancement"
In these days, when priggish mil
lionaires, who inherited their millions,
are filling the newspapers with their
socialistic theories, all the while lux
uriating in their capital, or are talk
ing about the terrible sufferings of
the workingman, all the while clutch
ing on to their heritage of gold; when
idlers preach pessimism in lieu of
helping their fortunes by working and
producing for themselves the wealth
they envy in others-in these days it
is refreshing to hear such words from
man who rose from obscurity and
poverty to his present eminence and
affiuence by dint of work, grit and
brains. He did not shirk and croak.
And for those who are willing to fore
go mounting and idleness and to ap-
ply their energies and wits to the
tasks which the world lays before
them, he sees greater opportunities
than either he or anyone else has
ever known before.-Courier-Jo Journal.
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