Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-11
Edison ArOuses Skepticism
In Search for Young Genius

Thomas A. Edson's method Of at
tempting TO select young genius who
shall be his successor is received by
marked SkepticiSm on the part of the
public. His proposal to give free edu-
cation to the youth who may be chosen
by him with the aid Of the several State
executives Of the country is looked upon
as an excellent opportunity for the
fortunate young man, but most writer's
feel that the real successor of the
Wizard of Invention will not be dis
covered by rule Of thumb, or Slide-rule,
either.
newspapers to look hopefully on Mr..
Edison's plan. Although readings from
the lives of Edison himself and Of many
great men, it says, say that disap-
pointments. poverty and hardShips in
youth developed their minds and formed
their characters, still numbers Of the old
judgments based on the worldly ex-
perience of past eras are being modified
or set aside. We have known hopeless
cases of self-apprOval developed with
less encouragement: but in Edison's
genius being spoiled by too much sue
cess too young may be taken for granted.
Invention contains imaginative appeal
to youth. AS an Offset to most of the
competitions which seem chiefly to
stimulate the ardor Of boys, this one
stands out as conspicuouSly good. 1t Is
we'll worth having and Watching"
Inventive genius" warns the Provi-
dence Journal, does not always show
on school report cards. It is just as
likely to have its principal outlet dur
ing adolescence in extra curriculum
activities that teachers know nothing
q N lie
that they know too much about. And
q QUESTIONABLE proposed by so famous
a person as the worlds greatest inventor
might completely bewilder a boy pos
seSSing a remarkable faculty for doing
things and no felicity in answering
questions. But, although there may be
doubts as to the undiluted merit Of Mr..
Edison'S scheme there is none at all as
to the deSirability of and need for find
ing by some means those boys and
Young men who, by reason of their
latent genius, are capable of carrying on
the kind OF work that has engaged the
mind and heart Of the Menlo Park
wizard for SO many years"
1T Is to be doubted" declares the st.
Louis Globe-Democrat that such a
selection will give to the world Of
science q figure that can in any way
compare with this man now in the eve
ming of life who has done so much for
the comfort Of man. No better method
OF selection. however. is advanced;
probably there is no better method.
The point is that genius is not selected
by rule and averages and grades.
Mr.. Edison probably would not have
been selected for crown-prince honorS
by the then scientific genius when he
was of high-School age. Selection prob
ably would have missed him entirely.
This plan no doubt will re-
suit in an excellent technical educa-
ton for some worthy young man who
will make his mark in the scientific
world. But some unheralded young
genius. through his own efforts, will
outpoint him IN the end"
We fear that Mr.. Edison is on a
fruttlesS quest" says the Flint Daily
Journal. There is no brightest boy
In America, and certainly the queS-
tionnaire method will not reveal him.
And surely Mr. Edison cannot pass
the torch of his genius to any one
else. The man who may revo-
lutionize the whole theory of electrical
energy, the one who may draw energy
from the earth on which we live. the
one who may perform seeming miracles.
may be some obscure youth who might
never come in contact with this queS-
tionnaire OF Mr. Edison Perhaps he
is not considered of more than ordinary
brightness by his teachers; perhaps he
is considered to be below the average
1t is said that Carusos first teacher
declared 1t was a waste of time to
teach him to sing, as he never would
become a singer"
Diminishing the whole thing as i'm
possible. the Admission Star remarks
that lit is not believed that there is
another man like Edison; that there
probably has not been another like him