Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-19


At 8 o'clock the library doors we're
opened and the assembled employees
moved slowly into the room in single
flle. There were men and women OF
all ages. some il their best clothes and
others, who were shortly due to begin
their days labor. in the rough garments
OF the Workingman. Some of the en-
ployes had even brought their children
with them ana carried them in the
slow line that led past the bronze
casket with its glass lid.
The casket was placed close to the
old roll-top desk at which the inventor
used to work and directly under big
bronze wall clock which, by strange
coincidence, had stopped at 1927 yes
terday morning, just three minutes
after Edison died. Its hands were left
idle today. fixed at the point where
they had halted.
Employees Serve as Guard.
At each corner of the casket stood an
Edison employe with folded arms. This
guard of honor was changed every Is
minutes.
The library was lit with the soft
radiance of amber bulbs, and the room
was otherwise frightened by scattered
vases of flowers from the Edison gar
den and few punches of Autumn
leaves.
The general public was admitted to
the library at o'clock, and a consta mt
stream Of men and women filed through
the quiet room
Arthur L. Walsh. vice president Of
Thomas A. Edison Industries. Inc, re-
vesled that death mask was made of
the inventor Yesterday by George
Fraser of New York.
President Hoover hopes to be able
to come from Washington Wednesday
30 stand at Mr.. Edisons bier. both as
a personal friend and as head of
Borrowing Nation.
Meanwhile. Henry Ford and Harvey
Firestone. the inventors two "old
cronies," fastened to West Orange
Mr.. Edison slipped quietly from a
deep coma into a lasting sleep Sunday
morning. Holding his hand was Mrs.
Edison, for IS years his constant COM
psnion. At the bedside were his st1
children.
Life Work Completed.
After his death, DR.. Hubert S. Howe
disclosed that Mr.. Edison, on learning
recovery was improbable, did not desire
to live. His life's work done, he did
not wish to place an invalid's burden
on his family. he said.
The funeral Wednesday will be on
the f1fty-second anniversary Of Mr.. Edi-
sons perfection of the incandescent
light. Although his famous Menlo
Park demonstration did not take place
until December 81, 1879, he perfected
the light on october 81 of that year.
His electrical inventions were consid-
cred by the snowy-haired genius as the
greatest of his 300-odd patents, whose
value to mankind has been set at
$4,000, 900 900.
Mr.. Edison's death ended an IL
week illness, which began with sud
den collapse August l. Saturday after
noon his children. grandchildren and
servants filed through his room.
Silently each looked for moment
at the figure sleeping peacefully on
white bed, at the head of which was
Mrs. Edison.
Throughout the evening and into the
mornings early hours DR.. Howe and
the family maintained their vigil. Police
waited in the garage, transformed into
press headquarters.
Aide Announces Death.
The news of the inventors passing
was carried to the reporters by Mr..
Walsh.
Mr.. Edison is dead" he said simply.
He appeared pale and visibly shaken.
Then he read DR.. Howes formal
bulletin: Thomas Alva Edison quietly
passed away at "a minutes after am,
October ID, 1881"
Telegraph instruments clicked. Tele-
phones buzzed. In an instant the mes
sage was circling the world. Mr.. Edi-
sons own invention played a part in
its transmission.
Questions about Mr.. Edisons religious
beliefs brought an answer by the family
shortly after his death.
He never was an atheist" said a
statement by Mr.. Walsh. Though he
subscribed to no orthodox creed, no
one who knew him could have doubted
his belief in a reverence for supreme
intelligence and his whole life, in which
the ideal Of honest, loving service 10
his fellow man was predominant, in
dicated how faithfully he followed those
two commandments wherein lie all the
law and the prophets"
Appended was biblical reference to
the two commandments: Thou shalt
love the Lord thy God with all tiny
heart. and with all thy soul, and with
all thy mind Thou shalt love thy
neighbor as myself
After his collapse in August, Mr.. Edl-
sons remarkable stamina enabled him
to rally. His old alertness. however,
was dimmed; in fact, associates traced
his illness back to an attack OF pneu-
nlonia more than two years ago
Diabetes. gastric ulcers, Brights dis
ease and urenic poisoning combined to
wear down the inventors resistance.
For the last six days he had been una
BILE to take any nouriShment.
Mrs. Edison remained in attendance;
she felt her husbands dependence on
her. She was the last person he recog-
nized, smiling Wanly a week before his
death when she shouted into his ear,
"Dearie. how are you?"
AS Mr.. Edison passed away DR..
Howe said, Mrs. Edison was holding
his hand and patting his forehead
"She averaged between two and three
hours sleep daily for the last IA days
and stood up remarkably we'll under the
strain and shock OF death. She is not
i'll now"
Messages of sympathy and of tribute
to Mr. EdiSon'S memory were received
at the rambling red house from all
parts of the world-From President
Hoover, from the Pope XXI and from
other rulers, diplomats and business
associates.
At Cambridge. Mass, two college boys
lauded his generosity. They were Will
bur B. Huston of Seattle, Wash, and
Arthur o. Williams of East Providence,
r. l., to whom Mr.. Edison gave scholar
ships at the Massachusetts, Institute of
Technology as winners of Nation wide
contests.
Prepared for Death.
When Mr. Edison knew that the end
was near, he prepared himself fearlcssly
for death.
DR.. Howe revealed this in a story
written especially for the Associated
Press.
He told his family his work was fin
ished" DR.. Howe wrote, land assured
them he would rather leave the world
than keep the burden and disabilities
of age and illness on his devoted wife
and children"
DR.. Howe said the immediate cause
of death was uremic poisoning brought
on by complications of nephritis and
diabetes Mr. Edison constantly studied