The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-10-20
Wednesday Services to Be
Private; Cities to Be
Dark as Tribute.
BY DELOS SMITH,
United Press staff Correspondent

WEST ORANGE, N. j., Oct. TO-
The well-worn path to the labora-
tory of Thomas Alva Edison became
more worn today, as thousands
visited the room where the body Of
the inventor lies in state.
The lines that Showered more
than 10000 cables and kilograms Of
coincidence on the Edison family,
also were heavily burdened with or
ders on local florists for flowers.
1t was estimated that the value OF
flowers already received would ex-
coed $4,000.
When the library doors were
opened at 7:30 a. M, thousands of
people were waiting. Before they
had passed the casket, hundreds
more had arrived to start the
stream that was to flow through the
room.
Widow Attends Service
Mrs. Nina Miller Edison, the
widow, accompanied by her sister,
Mrs. Haber Hitchcock of Pittsburgh,
and her son Theodore, visited the
library to witness a memorial serv-
ice of the West Orange American
legion post over the caSket. An
American flag was draped over the
bier during the brief ceremony.
Edison's body will lie in state
until IL p. m.
The doors then will be closed and
the casket will be carried to the
Llewellyn park mansion, a mile
away, where Edison died cay IN
day. There funeral services will be
held at 2:30 Wednesday afternoon,
with only members of the family
and his close personal friends, in
Guiding Henry Ford and Harvey
FireStone, present.
The Rev. DR.. Stephen j. Her
ben methodist EpiscopaD will con-
duct the services.
At the foot of Edison's bier today,
heavily draped in mourning, were
the invalid chair, the crutch, and
the cane of John OFT, 81, who had
worked with Edison for more than
fifty years.
OFT died early Monday from the
shock of his masters death. He had
been an invalid for five years.
Memorial Is Urged
The Edison family has received
hundreds of suggestions for an Edi-
son memorial which eventually
would be the permanent burial
place for the inventor, a spokesman
revealed today.
These suggestions include every
form of a shrine from a marble
monument in Washington to bea-
con ON Eagle Rock, the highest
point in north New Jersey, which
would rise over mausoleum and
have at its apex ball of electric
light, Symbolizing Edison's most IA
nous invention.
Il is understood that Edison's
burial in RoSedale cemetery
Wednesday will be only temporary,
with permanent burial later at a
national shrine.
Cities to Be Darkened
The world, to whose progress,
comfort and efficiency Edison's in
ventive genius contributed, today
sought tribute commensurate with
his services.
Plans were made to switch off
every light in the state of New Jer-
Sey for one minute Wednesday
night in. memory of their inventor.
In New York, Mayor James J..
Walker was expected to call for a
similar MISUNDERSTANDING mil
lions of bulbs on gay Broadway, as
well as other city lights, for sixty
seconds.
Detroit planned to stop all street
cars and buses and municipal &C
tivities for a minute, and Washing
ton street cars will cease running
for two minutes.
Flags throughout New Jersey and
in New York were flown at half
staff today.
They will remain lowered until
after the funeral Wednesday.