The Cairo bulletin., 1908-03-28
THOMAS A. EDISON.

to be forgotten. His other great In
ventions in the field of electrical sci
ence the duplex and quadrupex sys-
tenn of biography, the photograph,
the stock quotation ticker-in them
selves cntitle him to foremost place
among the greatest OF the worlds
creative geniuses. More than any
man among the living or those who
have passed away he has led the
way in discovering methods by whica
the subtle electric fluid which per-
meates the atmosphere has been con-
trolled and applied TO the needs and
conveniences of humanity.
The secret OF Edison's marvellous
success is no doabt his great natural
gifts but the results nc has attained
( have depended In a large degree up.
on his inordinate capacity for hard
work. Born and brought up in pow
erty, he was compelled to earn his
own living and educate himself at
the same time The world was his
school, and a hard one ne found 1t
In those early years This habit of
hard work acquired In his boyhood
has stuck TO him through life, and Is
responsible in great degree not
only for the measure of his accom-
plishments but also for characteris-
ties which make him one of the
most interesting personalities.
Asked at one time why il was that
he insisted upon making a hermit of
himself by working night and day,
now that he had succeeded in getting
both fame and fortune for himself,
the inventor though fully replied:
81 don't know, | Ike my work
and am not happy unless | am al
ways at II. Like the old cart horse.
am irritable unless | can feel the
shafts"
1t was in 1870 that Mr. Edison
achieved his greatest triumph by
presenting to the world tho mean
descent electric lamp. 1t is said that
he worked for days and nights with
out taking either food or rest from
the time The idea came TO him UNI
I'll he mad perfected 1t. Congratula-
lions were shoWered upon him from
every part OF the world For mon
tbs public attention was focused up
on him. Success RS great as HIS
would have turned the head of most
men. Not SO with the recluse at
Menlo Park. His modcsty aud humi-
Il IA In
moment of his greatest triumph.
Asked by friend if he did not in
tend to lie back upon his oars ara
take a much needed rest aftep ac-
complishing SO much, he chVerfully
replied:
"Oh. yes; am going to tackle
another kind of work. That is the
kind of rest | need
Probably because he consistently
disobeys the generally accepted laws
OF nature in the matter Of the
amount of food he eats and the sleep
he takes, Mr. Edison has peculiar
ideas upon both subjects Replying
to a friend who criticised him for
allowing his work 70 interfere with
his taking a nee1ful amount OF rest,
ne said
Most people sleep too much.
Sleep is simply bad habit contracted
by our ancestors. The ant. the most
intelligent of insects, does not sleep
at all. | sleep only when | am tired
out, and when ! do it Is the perfect
sleep OF sheer exhaustion. Five
hours out of twenty-four is enough
for any man.
Visited one day by an admiring
friend who brought his young son
to see the great inventor. Mr.. Edison
was asked to give the boy word of
advice that he might remember in
after life without a moments hesi-
tation. he placed mis- hand in q kind
" manner upon the boys head and
SAID:
My boy, when you want to accom-
plish anything. don't look at the
Gle X. New York Tribune.