The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1917-05-17

restrained man from doing mischief to his fellow
citizens though it dimnshes the natural, increases
the civil liberty of mankind.
Laws when prudently framed are by no
submersive but rather nroductive of liberty;
for. Mr.. Locke has we'll observed, where there is
no law there is no freedom
So much for that phase of law What we
need to remember is that it is not the law we
should fear, but ourselves To be happy to achieve
success and remain at the top. we must be in con-
formty law. If we have trouble and suffer for it
by going prison. it is not because of the law; no
change Of law is necessary, should change our
ideas and actions. Laws made for the protection
of society and they harmless it is ourselves that
we should guard against and keep close watch of.
If things going wrong and against you some.
thing Is out of gear. Do not blame the law; look
your self and you will find the trouble and
how to overcome it. If you regard law as being
your enemy. that's your fault. Laws made for
your benefit we'll for the benefit of Others and
long you do your part in upholding and observ
ing the rights of your fellowman, you will enjoy the
protection, liberty and prosperity, that the lay be-
speaks for all members of society You outlaw your
self only by failing to adhere to the performance of
fulfilling your moral obligations
When l was a boy 1 was news agent on a
railway train l earned very little money and had
to work extremely hard for what did receive. My
hours were long, my meals irregular and l slept
almost any place." says Thomas Alva Edison in an
exchange. But these conditions, however, did not
discourage l had taken the agents work
because l needed the money, and it was the only
business at hand that could find Yet there was a
feeling of determination in my mind to be something
better than a news agent. l did not know at the
start what my future occupation would be. had
not the slightest idea what wanted to be. might
have renamed in that state of mind for years, as
many boys foolishy do. If l had not cultivated the
determination to find out quickly as possible what
l most fitted for. [ was at the bottom of the
ladder, but wished to go four five rounds higher,
at least, before my lfe's work ended. In such
reading | able to do in those days occa-
sionally articles the telegraph system
of the country, which then just beginning to
develop. For years.t the people had refused to
believe that Morse's discovery could be made
practical They regarded it as a very interesting
plaything, but that business men would ever need it.
never entered their heads
To me, however. telegraph instantly appealed
engaged in it, There was chance for active COM
petition. 1 decided, while still news agent, that
would make an effort to become master of
telegraphy. l might fail, but if did might try
something else. Anyway I was not going to give
up the thought of being teegrapher until had
given the new science honest and complete trial.
For various reasons it was impossible for me to
leave my railway work to study telegraphy in the
right way. Therefore. scraped together such money
as | could spare and gradually constructed in the
baggage car in which worke complete telegraph
line. Over short.circut in that car won my first
education as to how to send and receive messages.
At other spare moments fingered around railway
stations where l we'll known and on friendly
terms with the operator. By using my eyes and my
ears | was able to gain from them much valuable
information Eventually 1 left the railway service
and went to the telegraph keys
Not even telegraph operators at that time
thought of the possibilities in the of the power
of electricity. To the telegraph seemed only
like mask concealing the real subject electricity
with this thought once implanted in my mind 1t was
Impossible for me to be contented to remain mere
operator. did not really know it but was on the
road to become student of wonderful science.
l am yet student of that science no matter what
may have discovered how much I may have
benefited the world. My ambitions are even stronger
along the lines of my work than they were when |
sixteen.
l began experimenting quietly with electricity
in other fields than that of telegraphy. If could
transmit code messages wire connecting places
thousands of miles apart, why could it not be made
TO run locomotives-to operate busses-to bring
forth mechanical specific play music-to operate