Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-17
EDISON IS HONORED
ON SD BIRTHDAY
Financier and Civic Leader
ShoWered With Flowers
and Congratulations.

Brought back to health by a COM
| bination of surgical skill and in
domitable vitality, John Joy Edison,
revered flnancier and civic leader, was
showered with congratulations and
flowers today, on the occasion of his
SD birthday anniversary.
1t was a birthday that his legion Of
friends and his attending physicians
not so long ago feared he would never
celebrate.
Struck down by an automobile In
front of his Office on May IL of last
year, he lowered between life and death
for weeks before beginning marvellous
recovery. &c
Today, seated at his desk in the
-bedecked presidents office Of the
Equitable Cooperative Building ASSo-
citation, Mr.. Edison was living testi-
monial to the comeback" powers of
constitution that would not be
downed.
Loves to Live and Work.
The venerable philanthropist is alive
today because he loves to live and work.
1t is this love of life and work that
has kept him at his desk, day after day.
these many years. Not many months
before his accident he had said:
LAS long as I am physically able to
get about will not forsake public serv-
ice nor leave my desk here in my office.
love work, for have found 1t to be
life's greatest pleasure. I hope the day
never may come when am helpless to
pursue my labors."
His friends reflected sadly upon these
words last year as they waited anxiously
for bulletins from his bedside at the
hospital. Even when his recovery
seemed assured their minds were
haunted with memories OF the hope he
had expressed III the final sentence.
Now Well and Active.
Mr.. Edson's prayers have been an
swered. With the exception of a slight
nervousness resultant from the shock
of his injuries he Is as well and as ac-
tive today as he was before the acct
dent. He was at his Office this morn
ing at 10 o'clock. as usual. and he plan
ned to remain there until O'Clock, also
as usual.
When he arrived at his office today,
he found his desk and his tables banked
with gorgeous Spring blossoms. They
came from business associates and
friends all over the city. One large
basket was from the National Press
Club, in the erection Of whose new
building he played an important part
There were many messages of felicia
ton by mail and telephone in addition.
I'm glad to be well again and back
on the job" MIR. Edison told reporter.
II give the credit to my doctors, but
they tell me had a good constitution.
intend to go right on working as long
as 1 am able, which will be long time,
hope"
Thinks Civilization Improving.
A supreme optimist in all things, Mr..
Edison had a thing or two to say about
the world in which he loves to live.
He Is not one who believes the world Is
getting worse. On the contrary, he
thinks our civilization is improving
Comparing the present generation with
many that have gone before, he finds
nothing to wall about.
THE young people OF today are not
going to the dogs, as some critics are
won't to say. think that, on the whole
they are working harder than some of
their elders did at their age. There Is
lot of talk about crime. but you must
remember there are more laws today
than there used to be. That means
more opportunities for law violation. /
don't think the people are any worse by
nature.
las long as the young men and wom-
en- keep working there will be no need
to worry about them. And in work they
will find happiness-as l have"