New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-17
EDISON AT THREE SCORE
To Rest by Taking Up Nes0 Form
of York for Good Of Men.

Thomas A Edison was sixty years old last
Monday, but instead Of taking chioro:oru1. &C.
cordiug 10 the so-called Oslerian theory that
mans life ends al threescore years, the famous
Inventor announced that he was going TO start
af-esh In 2 new ield Of scientific endeavor. For
the last forty years 2Ir. Edison has devoted his
energies almost wholly to the perfection Of In
ventions which he believed could be made to
nav and which IN some instances have met
with such success that they have revolutionized
may phases Of modern life. have brought the
inventor fame and riches and have added so
greatly to the wealth OF the whole world that
~ the present time there are two hundred and
fifty thousand persons in various countries ern-
ployed In industries which he has founded.
In the future Mr.. Edison plans to work un-
tranrneIled by commercial letters. He hopes 70
solve many a scientific problem vitality associ-
a1ed with human life. even though his discov~
cry may not be a money making scheme.
For many years l have longed TO take up
purely scientific investigation" said Mr.. Ed
son, in talking with some friends on his sixtieth
birthday but there have been many things
TO engross my attention that have had to defer
this kind Of work For years. however. l have
been making preparations for this task nave
kept notes Of curious things which / have Cd
served in my various experiments. but winch
at the time only side issues. when q man
is In a laboratory working on problem he
comes across all kinds Of phenomena. and ne
can't take the time to trace these manlfesta-
tons to their source. because that would inter-
fsrs with the task he is wrestling with. He Is
compelled TO put these things aside. for If he IS
striving for tho commercial end Of the business
he must abandon the ideal unless that, too' VIII
aid him IA attaining the commercial goal.
These SIDE vistzs into the realms OF science
how ever have so charmed that now / in
telo TO retracs my steps and strike out IN search
OF the truths that know must lie somewhere
beyond my former horizon. By means Of IN
vesngations based on the data Of my note books
and scrap book hope to throw light on many
subjects which now appear TO me es dark mys-
teries."
THE SECRET OF LIFE.
In the course Of Mr. Edison's experiments,
from which he has evolved so many practical
devices to broader, brighten and quicken life.
he has frequently been startled by what would
seem & glimpse az the secret Of life itself At
the same tins that he has been perfecting in
struments TO enlarge mans material resources.
as, for example. his telegraph and telephone ap
planes in universal use. the photograph.
the fncandescent lamp and the kinetoscope. he
has often stopped to study the mystery OF man.
But his pauses were briet. As soon as he real
lied that he was da1ly1ng along the way which
he had marked out toward some certain com
rnercial goal" as he has himself expressed II, he
would drop these wayside Investigations and
hurry on again
Although the problem OF human life has baf-
fed all who have tried to approach IT, neverthe-
less, the man who has succeeded In so many
other places where his fellows have failed is
now said to be contemplating this most stu
pendous Of all intellectual undertakings. In
deed. he has already studied into the subject
far as TO say that man Is an aggregation Of
nervous influences" and that behind man there
IS q power which some call God" and others a
Supreme Intelligence" and whose existence he
hopes to prove as oonclusively as by a mathe-
uatieal demonstration.
"a resembles 6 municipality like New
York City" said Mr.. Edison not long ago. in
speaking Of this most profound of all problems.
New York City Is nothing but an aggregation
OF almost infinite number OF influences or
energies. When combined they make New York.
II is great giant individual. go TO speak. So
& man is an aggregation Of cells analogous TO
those material and tmmatertal influences which
go TO make up great ctty-an aggregation of
cells. each playing it's part the economy of
lie.
Il also believe firmly IN what is called the
doctrine OF evolution The law Of the survival
OF the httest which may seem cruel. governs
mankind notwithstanding. II will ultimately
develop the perfect man. master Of all the forces
OF nature"
When the inventor was asked II HE theories
Of evolution and cellular adjustment made him
e disbeliever In God he replied:
Not al all No person can be brought into
close contact with the mysteries OF nature or
make a study OF chemistry OF the laws OF
growth without being convinced that behind II
all there is q supreme intelligence. do not
mean 70 say a supreme law for that implies no
consciousness but g supreme mind operating
through uncha gea bic laws. am convinced OK
that, and I think that ] couid-perhaps I may
some time-demonstrato the existence Of such
intelligence through the operation of these
mysterious laws with the Certainty Of a demon
Etration IN mathematics &"
ELECTRICTTY'S FUTURE WONDERS.