Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-18
FORUM TALK TELLS
OF STUDY OF RAYS
Abbot Discusses Smithsonian
Work, Crittenden Edison'S
Inventions.
Continued From Sixth Page.)

niversary of Mr.. Edison's invention of
the lamp.
In thus honoring Mr.. Edison and
giving special recognition to this one
of his many great inventions, the Gov
eminent set an example which is being
followed throughout the country. Spe-
cial celebrations of the invention of the
Edison electric lamp began st Atlantic
City in May, when that citys immense
new auditorium was formally opeEed
with q brilliant display Ct lighting.
Such celebrations are being continued
in various forms in hundreds of towns
and cities, and will reach climax on
October 81, the actual anniversary OF
the production of the first successful
lamp In EdiSon's laboratory.
On that day will be dedicated a
permanent and living memorial in the
form Of museum and a technical
school which Mr.. Henry Ford is Great
ing at Dearborn. In this dedication
Mr.. Edison himself will take a large
part. Detroit will be che center Of in
tereSt, not only because of Mr.. Edison's
presence, but also because Mr. Ford has
transported there the actual laboratory
and the original machinery and appa-
ratus, with which Edison worked so
years ago. Against the background Of
the old surroundings and among the
friends who have shared his labors, Mr..
Edison viii show again how his lirst
practical lamp was made. The story
of this dramatic scene will be broadcast
to the whole world, and the occasion
viii be marked by festivities in c!L:es
beyond the seas from Amsterdam to
Toxic, as well as throughout the breadth
II our own land.
Greatest American.
Edison wiz be acclaimed as the
Neatest living American and the lamp
aS the greatest of his inventions. But
after the lights are dilnmed, the music
OF the bands has died away and Ehe
radio sets are turned of, the more
thoughtful viii ponder the real meaning
of this occasion. Is Mr.. Edison a wiz
ard who conjures out Of thin air strange
inventions and new devices? Is he a
solitary creator who walks by himself
alone and despiSes the knowledge OF
our physical world which men lave
slowly gained through years of labor?
And why is this one invention, the in
candeScent lamp, singled out for such
CONSPICUOUS attention? Is all this en-
thusiasm aroused simply because on this
day so years ago single lamp was
made which lasted As hours before
burning out?
# the occasion to be commemorated
were merely one successful stroke OF
genius, the celebration would seem to
be overdone. In fact, other men before
Edison invented electric lamps not
greatly different from his. For In
stance, our friends in Great Britain
celebrated last year the f1ftieth ami
versary Of the invention of successful
incandescent lamp by Joseph Swan.
And in our own country Charles F.
Brush, born, like Mr.. Edison, in Ohio,
had already devised q formidable rival
OF the incandescent lamp in his arc
lamp system, which was put into prac-
tical form in 1873 and was widely used
In street lighting for many years.
Gives WeIsbach Credit.
Furthermore, Mr.. Edison's bulb with
its carbon fllament made from cotton
thread seems fer removed from the
lamps Of today. Into the development
which lies between the two have gone
the brains and the labors of thousands
of men. AS one example, the modern
metal hlament lamp owes its existence
in considerable part to the brilliant re-
carried out by Auer Won WelSbach, who
was also the father OF the incandescent
gas mantle, once also rival Of the
electric incandescent lamp.
II this jubilee of electric light we're
only celebration of the one invention,
the honors should perhaps be divided.
But it is more than that. It is mo-
ment's pause In the rapid march Of
human progress to pay honor to the
man who more than any other has
Quickened that progress and enlarged
the possibilities Of mankind by putting
power at his command, power flexible,
adaptable, and economical. For Edi-
sons invention was not limited to the
lamp. It was g. system Of distributing