The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1920-02-12
THOMAS EDISON ON
ARI! OF GROWING OLD

This is the question that was put
to Thomas A. Edison. grand old man
lof American science, on the occasion
of his seventy third birthday. And
here is Thomas Edisons reply:
If man delighted in studying the
natural element in which he exists.
and IL he used this knowledge to pro-
ltect his body against the maliSra n t
actions of his environment, | think
that he would live at least twice as
long as now. with his mentality ur-
impaired at the end of life. AS man
learns Nore OF his environment and
us thus able 10 protect himself more
and more, there liz no reason that |
can see why his form of life should
not be as long as that OF the Sequoia
trees OF California, which is severa,
thousand years"
II was under unusual circumstance s
that the wizard Of electricity, who
+, makes II rule never 10 give out In
tervfews, consented TO talk for publ
cation. Several weeks ago national
campaign WAS instituted for the plac-
ing in every American home of the
/ two Edison biographies. THE Life and
Inventions of Thomas Edison" by
Dyer & Martin. and William n Mea-
dowcrofts THE Boys Life of Edi-
son" A representa- tive of Harper T.
inventors Office in the Orange, \. j.,
la boratories, and was introduced to
the old man" by Mr. Mead O wcroft,
who, in addition to being Mr. Edison
btorra phcr, is his business assistant
| so you're from Harpers, are YOU"
said the inventor, with kindly smile,
as he shook hands with the visitor.
You know. I'm not literary Some
] people can write long things orhand,
~ xvAt L1F 4
people and make smooth speeches, but
II can't understand how they do it.'
! He paused refectively. and shaking
/ his head. repeated. NO. I'm no,
/ literary"
The aged scientist whose hearing
Is poor. though his constitution is
otherwise robust. put his hand to his
ear for the reply Thank God for
that" said the publisher.
/ A smile started in a corner OF Mr..
/ Edison's mouth and grew in both
directions until it completely over
spread the imposingly handsome face
You want an interview. do you:' he
said. Write down your questions
and III see il can dictate the an
iswers for you
Three questions in addition to the
one given above were asked. The
questions and answers follow:
] DO you believe it is a good thing
for boy to map out his career veal
ahead, or just peg away"
mo, the boy. while being educated
should try many hobbies, changins
from one to another as many times
ias he desires, the more the better
Iuntil he finds one that delights him
one that he is sure he will succeed in
latter he leaves school--hecause he r.
happy while pursuing it after trying
many other hobbies. With this hobby
:, he can succeed, and with no other
because when n man is vitality inter.
ested in a thing his memory becomes
highly efficient in that pursuit, but
| IN all other lines normal. A good
memory means executive ability. and
with this comes DO 1t Now"
What in 2peH#~ opinion, -eenstittfte
success" was another question.
The above com bination means sue
cess. It never fails was Mr.. Edi-
sons reply.
ffteads whose confidence gave you en-
enlargement when you were strug-
Cling for foothold ?" brought forth
this characteristic reply:
II had no such friends. They were
not necessary. In fact, they are dis
advantageous. The hard path gives
one experience One loses this IL thew
are helped by friends 1t is like hav-
ing rich father"
For once. the spirit OF business that
hoyers over the laboratory in Orange
Thomas Edison is a hard taskmas-
Iter--seemed to have been dispelIed
Mr.. Meadowcroft 1.-The old mans
hiographer and assistant who has
worked side by side with him for many
years. neglected the heap OF papers
on his desk long enough to tell a tale
or Two from his store of "reminiscences
of his beloved chief
NY mind is so filled up with bust
ness matters that it is pretty hard to
get down to spinning yarns" declared
Mr.. Meadowcroft, rubbing his rrizzled
rnustache rehectively.
GU know, II was only out OF love
for the old man that took the time
TO write the Boys Life of Edison T
/ showed him the Life and Inventions
OF Thomas Edison with it's diaRrs ms
! and plates OF his inventions, when the
first copies were ready after two years
OF work. and he looked at the
volumes and said: Are folks really
going to read all OF that
! Even at the age OF seventy three -
continued Mr. Meadowcroft. MIR.
| Edison is as energetic as ever. and
there seems 10 be no diminution Of
his mental activity. He comes down
( to his laboratory every morning and
plunses right into the activities of
tho day with his accustomed vim.
/ While he does not work late into the
night at the laboratory as regula rlv
as he used to, he works every night
until II or IL O'Clock at home and
comes down to the laboratory primed
for the days work. frequently bring
ing lot of memora nda he has writ
ten 10 numerous officials and heads of
departments the night before. He ha.
an intimate knowledge of everything
that is going on in the entire pla nj
and is in the habit Of asking pointed
questions as To the progress OF mat
ters. showing that he is conversan,
with what has gone on the day before
The mental activity and intimate
knowledge of affairs frequently amazes
eur people whose efforts are along
certain definite lines while his knowl
edge covers the entire plant in all it's
varied activities
Besides this. when he comes down
in the mornings. he is fully posted on
The important news of the world and
the state OF the markets His knowI-
edge Of all these things il an actual
working knowledge, marvellous in it,
comprehensiveness
Sometimes he will 81 down and