The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1911-04-28

INAW suit of clothes, negligee shirt and
string tie that had come undone
W and was Topping over his capacous
chest. It was warm evening, and
" he had removed his battered straw
hat which he held in his hand. The
size Of the hat was No s. The man was Thomas
A. Edison.
Before us spread that dream In frozen music,
the buildings fronting the esplanade, mall and
plaza Of the exposition The twilight was done,
and the moment had arrived for the night birth
Of that dream into splendor. For the first time
In history architecture was to be made alive at
night more living than by day. Half q million
incandescent bulbs were hid along the transverse
lines Of the buildings The current was turned
and they simultaneously blo0med. Ensued a
spectacle for which Caesar would have bar
tered provincea Joy that brought gasp Of
ecstacy from every one, Of the millions who
saw It.
Edison, bare-headed squinted his eyes. The
poetry missed him. The gallop of scenic history
over the verge OF new era missed him. The
glory of the spectacle itself missed him. Instead,
he glanced shrewdly and carefully all around on
the enhancing wonder. then cautiously into his
battered straw hat and said:
Il could put every flament into that haiti"
Economics, mechanics-these obsessed him.
That brain, which required No hat for cover
Ing could think only of the compressed fact
that all the space occupied by the vibrating, en-
ergzing and glory working source Of that gigantic
spectacle could be replaced by about two pints
of water-o quart Of human brain.
Edison is a rare man.. In his speech, of which
he is as careful as of his 6laments. he pulls the
core from field of ideas and thrusts It at you
as If it were poniard You think about what he
says for week, month; and in years you don't
forget 1t.
All Of this is leading up to d consideration Of
what the wizard-sage said a few weeks ago when
select audience sat in his studio and watched
the first performance OF the photograph, that
fabulous instrument which is destined to repro
duce plays, operas. public spectacles with the
action, the color and the voice intact.
The great old inventor was gratihed once
again. Another thrill had come into his life His
latest adventure into the unknown had pros
pered. and his friends and associates clustered
about him with congratulations, with questions.
with assurances
full that he is deaf. Then he squinted from one
to the other. and said:
Before long you'll be working that In an aero
plane, for you'll be able to pack it into a soap
bubble!"
A soap-bubble. Rather fragile packing-case.
Rather small compass in which to place q
grand opera. curious comparison Did Edison
mean what he said? Did he know what he was
talking about?
Ever since heard that Edison said that,
have been thinking Of moving pictures in connec-
ton with soap-bubbles. And not always in the
way he meant bubbles In connection with the
photograph
A soapbubble Is cheap 1t is easy to make--if
you know how. It is fragile. It is very alluring
It reflects all colors. all forms. II appeals uni
versally to children Sages ponder over it. Poets
celebrate It. Artists reproduce 1t.
Conundrum Why is moving picture like q
soap-bubble?
First, you find them everywhere
On the back streets Of Reno saw the pictures
Of the bull fight at Guadalajara, Mexico. The
Guadalajarans now look on the moving pictures
OF the prize fight at Reno
At Punta Arenas. the southernmost port in the
world, saw Chileans applaud moving pictures
OF the Bowery and the New York water front
On the Bowery saw pictures of the battleship
neet entering the harbor of Punta Arenas
On an island 1000 miles out in the Pacific
Ocean the exiled lepers of Molokai gather daily
before the Pickering wonders of world which
before had been but vaguely in their dreams
The Sunday evening young peoples class of Eau
Claire Wisconsin looks in pity on the trans
planted and resurrected life Of Molokai which
passes before their eyes on the screen
group of travellers In the luxurious saloon
OF an ocean liner study the lifeIike pictures OF
the country for which they are bound The beg
gars who line the pathways of the tourist implor-
Ing backsheesh give up their pennies to see the
living presentment Of their prey bounding to
them over the ocean wave
In Iceland excited Eskimos applaud the hero
ism Of cowboy who rescues captured maiden
from the redskins. Halfway round the world
In Northern Russia. fearful peasants sorrow over
the pictured plight of "a French lover
The Bengalee moves down Mowringhee Road
and gives up two pennies to see the funeral OF
King Edward--to see It actually move The
Moro Ia the alleys OF zamboanga goes without
an extra shirt. that he may view the reception Of
Universal - Froth