Evening star., 1928-10-31
Belated HOnOrs for Edison
Turn Light on His Triumphs

/ A life of amazing achievements is re-
viewed once more as Thomas A. Edison,
after years devoted to inventions which
have revo!utionized modern conditions,
receives the gold medal of Congress for
his contributions to progress. Wonder
is expressed at the delay in honoring
the Wizard" of the field Of invention,
while other nations have already be-
slowed their tokens of appreciation.
"He ranks as one of the five or six
greatest servants to common humanity
of all time," AYERS the Wheeling In
telligencer, which holds that "only a
very few have deserved the superlative
honor that is his, and which he has
happily lived to enjoy. Newton, Pasteur'
Watt, Archimedes and perhaps one OF
two of the very greatest experimenters.
continues that paper. "can stand with
him. This brain, like theirs, made an
incalculable contribution to human
service, comfort and happiness"
The Worcester Telegram suggests that
cit is when we try to imagine ourselves
without these comforts and conveniences
which we enjoy as direct consequence
of. Mr.. Edison's patient and unhagging
work that we begin to have an appre-
citation of his achievements in behalf OF
all of U.s."
"The thanks of Congress, which the
medal carries with it," declares the
st. Louis Globe Democrat. ''are only a
| formal expression of the immeaSurable
gratitude which the electrical age In
| the worlds history owes to its foremost
| figure, and which 1t has often acknoWl-
edged most sincerely and generously
The st. Louis paper also observes that
"the truth of the tribute President Cool
idge quoted, that electricity has no
modern appliance or process for which
he has not served as a pioneer, II not
dfscoyerer. was realized so fully that he
was long ago called the Wizard.
II X X y
Neither Mr.. Edison nor any one
else" according to the Toledo Blade
will ever list the wonderful things
which electric lights have done for hu-
manity. Lives have been saved in the
operating room by improved illumina-
ton. Educational efficiency has been
| increased. Homes have been made
pleasanter. The world owes great
| debt to Mr.. Edison, and 1t is in ac-
knowledgment of that debt that these
| few lines are written. OF course, the
Congressional Medal made for the In
ventor is a very inadequate symbol OF
| Americas appreciation"
"He never has been an unhonored
prophet in his native land" states the
| Minneapolis Tribune. IF this great
| formal award has long been withheld
at least Mr.. Edison has been honored
over a long period of years with the re-
spect, the affection and the admiration
of the Nation which he has served and
to which he has given n signal prestige
The man has been loved for his mod
esty. his kindlineSS, his unttring zeal
his gentle, good-natured outlook on life
He has been respected because he has
/ lived above sham or pretenSe, because
he has never been poSeur, because his
brilliant career has seemed to embody
the simple elements Of honest work and
ceaseless endeavor."
| Referring to the museum which Henry
Ford is building near Dearborn as a
monument to Mr. Edison, the Belling-
ham Herald says that mo doubt 1t will
become one of the shrines of the Ma
tion," and pays the tribute: "At 81 the
grand old man of invention still labors
! day and night, and he has said he
would work so long as breath remained
The world hopes that he may be spared
to continue his work for many years
Meanwhile 1t wants him to know that IL
i appreciates what he already has done.
/ X \ 4 X
Thomas A. Edison receives the Con-
! presSional Medal for services In the
Nation and to the world" says the