The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1908-02-11
By FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

old son of a telegraph operator on the
Grand Trunk, who. as an act of gratitude,
offered 10 teach him telegraphy Edison
was an apt pupil and soon learned the
ART and also the why's and WherefOres OF
it. He had a father who did not think
much of his ability TO become A telegra-
pher and objected 10 his staying up later
than nine o'clock 20 study. But the
father was fond of reading and always
wanted Tom to bring a paper home. one
day an idea struck the young genius.
He and young chum rugged up line
between their houses with "A clothes wire
and some Mason fruit jars. 1t worked.
The boys then agreed that the chum
should take the papers home. When
Tommy got home his father promptly
inquired for his paper. but was informed
that his chum had taken them home.
Tommy then suggested that he would get
the chum to send the important items
over his telegraph wire. His father
agreed and soon had the news coming %
him tn tabloid form, Tommy handing
1t TO him Il slip AT "a time This was kept
up for some nights until the father be-
came interested in the boys work, and
after that young Edison was allowed to
study as late as he wished while his
father read the paper he brought home.
The germ of Edison's phonograph was
evolved by him in his Geographic work
at Indianapolis He was working On
plug circuit with another boy. the
regular operator having been a frequent
imbiber in the cup that cheers. They
would each take a turn thus being able
to keep up with the operator at the
other end of the line. Then Edison found
two old Morse registers The one would
receive the copy from the other end at
the rate Of forty words a minute. making
the dots and dashes on the paper. The
other would take Ii OFF Of the tape thus
made at the rate of speed desired by the
operators This went well for a long
time and the copy those boys turned
out was the admiration and despair of
other telegraphers and the delight of the
newspaper Offices. Finally came Presi-
Dental election night stuff came in so
constantly at the rate of forty words a
minute that their twenty-five pace
put them an hour and "A half behind in
short order There was howl from the
newspaper Offices and an investigation.
The new invention did not score very well
then. but it did lay the foundation for the
photograph.
That peace as well as war has its vic
tories is a true saving, and to-day the
people of the United States can look upon
Edison as one of the greatest Of the gen
erals of the army of peace. There are
half a billion Edison lights burning
throughout the United States to-day, and
as his incandescent lights shine among
men. so the light of his genius IS shining
into the dark places that beset the path
ways of those who would add something
to the things which promote the material
WeIl-bcing and comfort Of their fellow
men. The great inventions ne has given
the world constitute a principal chapter
in the book Of American progress But
he conident, pFs5icts that the past has
given us less Han the future has in
store; tina. "a Htors now have better
bases from aaich to begin their work of
new explorations in the hsld of invention.
He thinks that each step OF progress
makes the next one easier.
Summed up and boiled down, Thomas
A. Edison represents the spirit OF stick
TO It and do it," He stands to the Ameri-
can youth as the foremost example Of
what things may be accomplished by am
invincible determination coupled with
right purpose. He typfes the ideal
American citizen who lives and prospers
by doing something that Will not only
bring success and prosperity to himself,
but that will extend its benefits TO thou
sands Of others.
! nu.rnrs--Iho IinrnH..