Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1907-03-13
Thomas A. Edison, the Inventor
TWENTIETH CENTURY
I'd OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY

you," said the boyish-looking young man
with the large head who was near the ma
chine.
We'll, then. please do IT," said the man
ager in an appealing manner.
In five minutes young Edison had the
month on the spot 10 take charge of the
ticker service. In relating the story after
wards he said the amount almost stunned
him.
MAKES HIS FIRST INVENTIONS.
Immediately he began to carry out plans
for the betterment of the service and in
vented several contrivancies which the COM
pany adopted almost at once. When the
day of settlement arrived and young Edison
was called into the Office of the president
Of the company he began TO wonder what
thought that 1t wouldn't be less than $5,-
my heart was futtering,v said Mr.. Ed-
son in telling the story, and l was afraid
that If mentioned $4,000 I wouldn't get
anything at all. When was asked what 1
wanted I said: Suppose you make me an
when / was told that the company
would pay me $4,000 | nearly fell of the
chair, but replied as calmly as could
that / guessed that would be all right"
few days later the young man signed
tine contract without reading It, he says,
and received the check for $4,000, III be-
neving that he was being swindled by a
Wall Street skin game" He neglected
to indorse the check when he presented 1t
at the bank and the cashier shSyed it back
at him, shouting out something which he
did not understand. Young Edison handed
In the check a second time, only to be
repulsed in the same way.
BELIEVED HE WAS "JoBBED."
This time he went away with a sinking
swlndled. He went to the brother OF the
manager Of the company and told his ex-
perience. OF course, his story met with
roars of laughter, and the company sent a
REPRESENTATIVES, w
trick was played on him there when
he was paid In small bills. He stuffed
and even then hem didn't have quite lite enough
room. Mr.. Edison wonders now that he
was not robbed.
1t wasn't long after that when he in
vented the quadruplex telegraph and other
coneomitants which were taken up and
used by the Western Union Company. Mr..
the same amount he got from the Gold &
Stock Company, or $4,000; but he replied
as he did before when asked what he
wanted for his inventions: Suppose you
make me an Offer"
He was told that the telegraph company
was willing to pay him 100000.
For the second time nearly fell of my
chair" said Mr.. Edison. my $4,000 had
taken wings in the experiments l had
made. and SO ] told them that l would
in seventeen yearly installments. This the
company agreed to do, and l was thus fur
nished with working capital and could
euiry uh NY cApcIimcutS WITHOUT
drance."
STARTS TO WORK IN EARNEST.
/ 1t was then that Mr.. Edison fitted up a
complete laboratory and started to work
In earnest. While he had not quite yet
startled the world with his quadruplex
he had become extremely we'll known.
In very short time Mr.. Edison became
a tremendous power in the world of science.
His wonders followed one another in rapid
succession after he once started his never
firing, and his almost never-sleeping cam
paign. The tiny electric light enclosed In
the glass bulb which fills us with wonder
world to throw Its light even into the half
civilized parts of the globe. Each time we
! look upon this tiny light we are filed
with awe and wonder. 1t Is but natural
for us to say 10 ourselves: Would the
world still be without the electric light
Ii Edison had not yet been bornr' Who
can answer such a question? We only know
that the world was old--very old--when
Edison came into 1t and brilliant brains
listed with the oil lamp and the pine knot
because they were unable TO invent any
thing to take their places.
One after the other the amazing scien-
tifc feats OF this amazing individual were
brought to the attention of the world. He
upset sciehtifie principles, he cast to the
winds the theories OF ages and he ousted
from his reckoning the ancient ideas which
for thousands of years had held the world
In state of thralldom.
ELEcTRIcITY TO DIsPLAcE STEAM.
Through the power Of his marvellous
brain the electric railroad has been devel-
oped until today 1t Is strong competitor
Of the steam roads and, II Is believed. cleo