The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1920-02-17
NO NEED TO GROW
CD SAYS EDISON
Wizard of Electricity Celebrates
Seventy-third Birthday. Says Men
Would Live Longer if They Used
knowledge Of Environment to
Protect Body.

do YOU believe that there is really
any such thing as growing old?'
This is the question that was put to
Thomas A. Edison, grand old man of
American science, on the occasion of
his 73rd birthday. And here is
Thomas Edison's reply:
eff man delighted in studying the
natural element in which he exists,
and if he used this knowledge to pro-
tect his body against the malignant
actions of his environment, / think
that he would live at least twice as
long as now, with his mentality un-
impaired at the end of life. AS man
learns more of his environment and
is thus able to protect himself more
and more, there is no reason that l
can see why his form Of life should
not be as long as that of the Sequola
trees of California, which is several
thousand years"
How Edison Talked.
It was uder unusual circumstances
that the wizard of electricity, who
makes it rule never to give out in
terviews, consented to talk for publ
cation. Several weeks ago q 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 and Martin, and William h.
Meadowcroft's "The Boys Life Of
Edison" A representative of Har-
per & Bros, the publishers, called at
the inventors office in the Orange,
N. J., laboratories, and was introduc-
ed to ''the old man" by Mr.. Meadow
croft, who, in addition to being Mr..
Edison's biographer, is his business
assistant.
$50 you're from Harper, are you?'
said the inventor, with kindly smile,
as he shook hands with the visitor.
seYou know, I'm not literary. Some
people can write long things offhand
and get up before great crowd OF
people and make smooth speeches,
but I can't understand how they do
\
itr' He paused refectively, and,
shaking his head, repeated, 'tNo, Pm
not literary"
The aged scientist, whose hearing
is poor, though his constitution is
otherwise robust, put his hand to his
ear for the reply. SThank God for
thatv' said the publisher.
"A smile started in corner OF Mr..
Edison's mouth and grew in both dl-
rections until it completely over
spread the imposingly handsome face.
"You want an interview, do you?" ne
said. "Write down your questions,
and III see if I can dictate the
answers for YOU"
Three questions in addition to the
one given above were asked. The
questions and answers follow:
"Try Hobbies"
'Do you believe it IS good thing
for a boy to map out his career years
ahead, or just peg away?"
''No, the boy, while being educated,
should try many hobbies, changing
from one to another as many times
as he desires, the more the better,
until he finds one that delights him
one that he is sure he will succeed IN
after he leaves school-because ne is
happy while pursuing it after trying
MANY other hobbies. With this hob
by he can succeed, and with no other,
because when a man is vitally inter-
ested in a thing his memory becomes
highly efficient in that pursuit, but IN
all other lines normal. A good men,
ory means executive ability, and with
this comes DO it now.
"What, in your opinion, constitutes
success?' was another question.
,''The above combination means sue
cess. It never fails" was Mr.. Edl-
sons reply.
The question, "Who were the
friends whose confidence gave you
encouragement when you were stfug-
Cling for foothold?" brought forth
this characteristic reply:
81 had no such friends. They were
not necessary. In fact, they are dis
The hard path gives
one experience. One loses this If they
are helped by friends. 1t is like haV-
ing a rich father"
MIR. Meadowcroft Reminisces.
Eor onca the spirit of business