Year: 1879

=


The laboratory of Mr.. Edison at Mcnlo Park was
brilliantly illuminated last night with the new elec
tric light. the occasion being visit OF number OF
the inventors personal friends. Forty lamps in all
were burning from six o'clock until after ten. The
various parts Of the system were explained by the
inventor at length. AS practical illustration OF his
method of subdividins the electric current he had
two copper wires OF about eighth of an inch
in thickness leading to the generating machines
placed side by side ceats along tables nearly the
entire length of the laboratory. 10 these he con-
nected lamp after lamp by merely fastening little
wires each OF the parallel supply wires and then
attaching them to the lamps. The illumination
extinguishment made not the slightest perceptble
difference in the strength of the current.
twenty electric lamps burned with exactly the
same brilliancy did one whom the other nineteen
disconnected. The light given Of the brill
fancy of the best gas jet. perhaps tre brill
liant. The effect OF the light on the eyes much
superior to gs in sofness and excited tho admira-
ton of all who it.


A new feature, shown by tho inventor for the
time. was tho method OF regulating the strength
OF the to be used at the stations BY
moving little wheel tho assistant in charge this
branch of tho system enabled to readily vary
strength of the electric lights from the merest
glimmer to q dazzling incandescence. When the





sented tho appearance of beautiful globo of fire.
The method of obtaining the vacuum in the little
| glass bulbs Of the lamps also explained and
| proved highly interesting.


Some OF the questions put to the inventor furnish
sample of the character Of those constantly being
showered on him by persons whose scientific knowl-
edge is considerably below par. Said one spectator
he curiously examined the little bulb in process
of being exhausted. but. Mr.. Edison. how do you
extract the vacuum?


| The general laugh that followed put a quietus on
| further lNterrOgBtOrleS
Another spectator solemnly observed thai the
| inventor ought TO devise some way to close UP the
pores Of the glass he seemed at sea when it was
| explained to him that glass was homogene-
GUS. All sorts Of suggestions. and Of tho
most ridiculous character, from wOuld-be
scientists are among the infections which
the completion Of the electric light has brought
upon Mr.. Edison. Letters pouring III upon
him from oil over the country suggesting every
l modification for the horseshoe flament. from
paper is. however. the ravorite. About sixty
persons have already urged its substitution
conductor electricity. The little motor for run
! ning sewing machines and doing other light work
electricity consumed for the operation OF sewing
| machine is equal TO that required to give out
illumination of the brilancy of ordinary gas jet.
The effect OF the exhibition to convince those
| present who before were sceptica that Mr.. Edison
had reality produced the electric light for house.


No day is yet set for the general public exhibition
but it is quite probable that inside OF week every
thing will be in readiness to bo seen by all who de-
| sire to visit Menlo Park.


| AN ESTIMATE OF EDISON BY ONE WHO WORKED
SIDE BY SIDE WITH HlM.


While some scientific men affect to at tho in
| ventons of Edison. and perhaps from q spirit Of
jealousy derde the genius OF the inventor there are
| others by large majority who candidiy admit his
achievements i'll the domain Of electrical science
to be among the foremost acquisitions of the age.
Among these is Dr. George NJ. Beard the electr-





appreciate Edsons peculiar and marvellous abili-
ties. HERALD reporter had yesterday the sub
| Joined conversation with DR.. Beard on Edison and
| the electric Light


| "what do you think of tho practicabiity of the
| electric light?"


electrical science is not in o condition to
know beforehand whether it is possible not to so
subdivide and arrange the electric light to
1t sufficiently cheap and convenient to supersode
| and oil. The question is ono that can be only
swered by experiment. Solving the problem OF the
electric light for families is like voyage of discov
| cry across Central Africa. Distinctions to be
overcome at every step. 1t is Q matter of infinite
detail. To assert. some have. that it is impos-
sble make OF the electric light for houses is
| unscientific, because we do not know it."
| "Can the light be made uniform in dwellings?
1--WE know of no reason why it should not be.
| That also was purely question Of experiment.
This like many OF the problems connected with tho
electric light cannot be solved by theoretical
| ing"


Would you regard successful exhibition. say
at Menlo Park. as proof that this problem was alb
| solutely solvedr'


| 81 should not. The question Of time comes in
We must not only have a good electrical light but
one that will last for months and years. at least
for months. before the problem is solved. This
not solved by reasoning. 1t is purely
| experimental. light might DO perfect for time
yet not stand the test OF years of wear and


"In view OF all tho difficulties in the matter on
which do you think the probabilities rest. for
or against the solution of this problcmY"


ultimate solution OF this question. 1t may be this
year it may be later. 1t may be along the line
| which they are now working or 1t may be through
| inventions not now dreamed OF.
| .From what you know OF Edison do you consider
| him the most likely to solve this problemY


'Ir any i'll this generation is able to solve 1t
certainly he should be- Even IL he should fail i'll the
special experiments he Is now making should still
have great degree or faith that Inc might perhaps
succeed i'll some other way. He has mind Of
extraordinary resources in tho presence Of failure
i have worked with him side by side. night after
night, experimenting in some difficult problems OF
electricity and became moro interested in the
psychological analysis OF Edison's mind than in
the electrical problems. Sometimes when we
were utterly foiled in all attempts
to overcome some difficulty a half dozen
possible solutions would instantaneousiy present
thems elves to his mind, and when these all proved
futile hc was ready with others. Even II he should
fail entirely and absolutely in making the electric
light practicable for families 1t is none the less true
that his experiments and inventions in the attempt
to gain this end. and his previous inventions and
discoveries. entitle him to be regarded OF tho
most remarkable inventors Of any age.


"a SCIENTIFIC DIsCovEREn."


'Hc is more than inventor. 1t does not take
very remarkable intellect to invent. He Is SCION
tinc discovercr. His inventions are discoveries.


How do you regard the structures that have been
lately passed upon his character an inventorf'


''rhose that have seen are not worthy OF any at
tcnt.on Among the scientific men OF Europe, GER
tainiy of England. Edison stands very much higher
than he does here. Long before lie was popularly
known here, before tho invention of the pho
nograph. ho quoted with admiration as scien-
tdc uscovcrer iii England by the best authorities
on electricity. This year I had some CONVEX.