Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-10-06
Written and illustrated by HARRY FURNISS

IN leaving Harrow years ago, two
English boys despatched by their
father a tour in the New World by way
of imparting finishing touch to their education.
Among the various letters of introduction with
which they furnished to Mr. Edison,
who extended to the two young touristsa hosptable
invitation to luncheon The elder of the twain
had received paternal njunctions to the
scientific sphinx to speech, possible, by PROFOUND
ing to him question or two. The meal having
been disposed Of the conversation rapidly be-
coming very one-sided, when surreptitious kick
under the table from the junior guest impeled the
elder brother to ask the scientist:
"Ah Mr.. Edison, may I-al-nquire what your
plans for the future are?"
The pleasant face of the great man broke out
into momentary smile then it became serious
again. I'LL you, my boy, said he,
after pause. Il mean to utilize the force of tides
That years ago, and Mr. Edison, am
informed, had at time entertained this project.
He smiled when told him this little story and although
the incident had passed from his recollection he
particularly interested to learn that the youth who had
the audacity to put to him such leading and conpre
hensve question remained in the United States for
less than seventeen years. utilizing the current of events
He took his chance with the changing tides of fortune
and returning to the land of his birth, became
of the popular and delightful authors, whose books
dealing with his life in the States have charmed wide
circle of readers on both sides of the Atlantic.
Mr.. Edison is practical man. his own countrymen
would expressively phrase it, "frst, last and all the
time brief preliminary conversation made him
that had come with the fell intent of sketcing
him. and was fortunate enough to have less per-
son than his own president, Frank L. Dyer, to pro-
pound Heading questions while l was busy analyzing
his great chief who is farniar,y known in the city of
Edison, with its five thousand workers. "the old
man." And grand old man he s.
As in the case of another grand old man he late Mr.
Gladstone, to witt had preconceived an absolutely
erroneous opinion of the great about to en-
counter. When | was asked to meet Mr.. Gladstone, |
imagined that should find myself face face with the
profound politician speaking in measured periods, or
Queen Victoria put it, "as if he addressing public
meeting On the contrary, is pleasant record that
the great idol of Liberalism proved himself the most de-
lghfuy unconventional conversationalist it had ever
been good fortune to He full of theories
on every conceivable subject and these he propounded
IN way that was at once terSe and fascinating Mr.
Gladstones one drawback perhaps. that he pos
scssei no sense of humor: it the solitary weak
spot in the composition of wonderful character.
The great Edison, the contrary is bubbling over
with humor. This. | must candidy confess, in the
nature of revelation me, particularly view of the
little anecdoe concerning the two old Harrovians For
my benefit, my ntroducer managed to "draw his chief
by methods too subtle for me to fathon and as drew
INN with my pencil was able and then note in
the margin OF my sketch some pregnant utterance of
Mr.. Edison but exactly how his biographer Mr. Over
led up to the subjects in question unable to reco-
ect, owing to the attention had necessarily to devote
to the artistic aspect OF the interview. Remembrance
tails me- for instance as to how the topic of Shakespeare
happened to crop up but in my marginal notes find
dead matter yet gets ideas from him. Therefore,
extract something vital from something defunct