The new era., 1911-05-04

IV and was Topping over his capacious
chest. 1t warm evening, and
~ he had removed his battered straw
@1 hat which he held in his hand The
size of the hat was No. 8. The man was Thomas
A. Edison N
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 million
incandescent bulbs were hid along the transverse
lines of the buildings. The current was turned
on and they simultaneously bloomed. Ensued a
spectacle for which a Caesar would have bar
tered province-a Joy that brought gasp OF
ecstacy from every one Of the millions who
It,
Edison, bare-headed, squinted his eyes. The
poetry missed him. The gallop of scenic history
over the verge of 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:
II could put every f1lament into that hat!"
Economics. observation-disclosures 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 gloryworking source Of that gigantic
spectacle could be replaced by about two pints
OF water-or quart of human brain.
Edison is man In his speech. of which
he is as careful Of his flaments he pulls the
core from field Of ideas and thrusts 1t at you
as If it were a poniard You think about what he
says for a week, month"; and in years you don't
forget 1t.
All of this is leading up to consideration of
what the wizard-sage said few weeks ago when
select audience sat in his studio and watched
the first performance of the kinetograph 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 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.
For some time Edison was silent. He is CRATE
full that he is deaf. Then he squinted from ono
to the other, and said:
Before long you'll be working that In aero
plane, for you'll be able to pack It into soap
bubble!"
soap-bubble! Rather a fragile packing.case.
Rather small compass in which to place q
grand opera. A curious comparison. Did Edison
mean what he said? Did he know what he was
talking about?
Ever since heard that Edison said that, I
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
kinetograph
IA know how. 1t is fragile. 1t is very alluring.
NAefects all colors, all forms. It appeals uni
vefsally to children Sages ponder over it. Poets
celebrate 1t. Artists reproduce 1t.
Conundrum.-Why is a moving picture like =
soap-bubble?
First, you find them everywhere
On the back streets of Reno l the pictures
of the bull fight at Guadalajara. Mexico. The
Guadalajarans 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
feet entering the harbor of Punta Arenas.
On island 1000 miles out in the Pacific
Ocean the exiled lepers of Mookai gather daily
before the hickering wonders Of a 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 lifelike pictures Of
l the country for which they bound. The beg
gars who line the pathways of the tourist implor-
Wng backsheesh give up their pennies to see the
living presentment of their prey bounding to
Them over the ocean
G In Iceland excited Eskimos applaud the hero
Dsm of a cowboy who rescues a captured maiden
Nrom the redskins Halfway round the world.
IN Northern Russia, fearful peasants sorrow over
/the pictured plight Of French lover.
The Bengalee moves down Mowringhee Road
and gives up two pennies to the funeral Of
King Edward-to 1t actually Tho
Moro in the alleys of Zamboanga goes without
an extra shirt that he may view the reception Of
Universal Freth.