CHAPTERXXV
THELABORATORYATORANGEANDTHESTAFF
ALIVINGinterrogation-pointandaborninvestigatorfromchildhood，Edisonhasneverbeenwithoutalaboratoryofsomekindforupwardofhalfacentury。
Inyouthfulyears，asalreadydescribedinthisbook，hebecameardentlyinterestedinchemistry，andevenattheearlyageoftwelvefeltthenecessityforaspecialnookofhisown，wherehecouldsatisfyhisunconvincedmindofthecorrectnessorinaccuracyofstatementsandexperimentscontainedinthefewtechnicalbooksthenathiscommand。
Ordinarilyhewaslikeothernormalladsofhisage——fullofboyish，heartyenjoyments——butwithalpossessedofanunquenchablespiritofinquiryandaninsatiabledesireforknowledge。Beingblessedwithawiseanddiscerningmother，hisaspirationswereencouraged；andhewasallowedacornerinhercellar。Itisfairtooffertributeheretoherbraveryaswellastoherwisdom，forattimesshewasinmortalterrorlesttheprecociousexperimenterbelowshould，inhisinexperience，makesomeawfulcombinationthatwouldexplodeandbringdownthehouseinruinsonhimselfandtherestofthefamily。
Fortunatelynosuchcatastrophehappened，butyoungEdisonworkedawayinhisembryoniclaboratory，satisfyinghissoulandincidentallydepletinghislimitedpocket-moneytothevanishing-point。Itwas，indeed，owingtothislattercircumstancethatinayearortwohisaspirationsnecessitatedanincreaseofrevenue；andaconsequentdeterminationtoearnsomemoneyforhimselfledtohisfirstrealcommercialenterpriseas“candybutcher“ontheGrandTrunkRailroad，alreadymentionedinapreviouschapter。
Ithasalsobeenrelatedhowhispreciouslaboratorywastransferredtothetrain；howheanditweresubsequentlyexpelled；andhowitwasre-establishedinhishome，wherehecontinuedstudiesandexperimentsuntilthebeginningofhiscareerasatelegraphoperator。
Thenomadiclifeofthenextfewyearsdidnotlessenhisdevotiontostudy；butitstoodseriouslyinthewayofsatisfyingtheever-presentcravingforalaboratory。Thelackofsuchaplaceneverpreventedexperimentation，however，aslongashehadadollarinhispocketandsomeavailable“holeinthewall。“Withtheturningofthetideoffortunethatsuddenlycarriedhim，inNewYorkin1869，frompovertytotheopulenceof$300amonth，hedrewnearertoarealizationofhischerishedambitioninhavingmoney，place，andsometimestolenfromsleepformoreseriousexperimenting。Thusmatterscontinueduntil，atabouttheageoftwenty-two，Edison\'sinventionshadbroughthimarelativelylargesumofmoney，andhebecameaverybusymanufacturer，andlesseeofalargeshopinNewark，NewJersey。
Now，forthefirsttimesinceleavingthatboyishlaboratoryintheoldhomeatPortHuron，Edisonhadaplaceofhisowntoworkin，tothinkin；butnooneinanywayacquaintedwithNewarkasaswarmingcentreofmiscellaneousandmultitudinousindustrieswouldrecommenditasacloisteredretreatforbroodingreverieandintrospection，favorabletocreativeeffort。Somepeoplerevelinsurroundingsofhustleandbustle，andfindthereinnohindrancetogreataccomplishment。TheelectricalgeniusofNewarkisEdwardWeston，whohasthrivenamiditsturmoilandtherehasdevelopedhisbeautifulinstrumentsofprecision；justasBrushworkedouthisarc-lightingsysteminCleveland；orevenasFaraday，surroundedbythedinandroarofLondon，laidtheintellectualfoundationsofthewholemodernscienceofdynamicelectricity。ButEdison，thoughdeaf，couldnotmaketoohurriedaretreatfromNewarktoMenloPark，where，asiftojustifyhischangeofbase，vitalinventionssooncamethickandfast，yearafteryear。ThestoryofMenlohasbeentoldinanotherchapter，butthepointwasnotemphasizedthatEdisonthen，aslater，triedhardtodropmanufacturing。Hewouldinfinitelyratherbephilosopherthanproducer；butsomehowthenecessityofmanufacturingisconstantlythrustbackuponhimbyaprofound——perhapsfinical——senseofdissatisfactionwithwhatotherpeoplemakeforhim。Theworldneversawamanmoredeeplyanddesperatelyconvincedthatnothinginitapproachesperfection。Edisonisthedoctrineofevolutionincarnate，appliedtomechanics。AstotheremovalfromNewark，hemaybeallowedtotellhisownstory：“IhadashopatNewarkinwhichImanufacturedstocktickersandsuchthings。WhenImovedtoMenloParkItookoutonlythemachinerythatwouldbenecessaryforexperimentalpurposesandleftthemanufacturingmachineryintheplace。Itconsistedofmanymillingmachinesandothertoolsforduplicating。Irentedthistoamanwhohadformerlybeenmybookkeeper，andwhothoughthecouldmakemoneyoutofmanufacturing。Therewasabout$10，000worthofmachinery。Hewastopayme$2000ayearfortherentofthemachineryandkeepitingoodorder。
AfterImovedtoMenloPark，Iwasverybusywiththetelephoneandphonograph，andIpaidnoattentiontothislittlearrangement。Aboutthreeyearsafterward，itoccurredtomethatIhadnotheardatallfromthemanwhohadrentedthismachinery，soIthoughtIwouldgoovertoNewarkandseehowthingsweregoing。WhenIgotthere，Ifoundthatinsteadofbeingamachineshopitwasahotel！I
havesincebeenutterlyunabletofindoutwhatbecameofthemanorthemachinery。“SuchincidentstendtojustifyEdisoninhisrathercynicalremarkthathehasalwaysbeenabletoimprovemachinerymuchquickerthanmen。Allthewayuphehashaddiscouragingexperiences。“OnedaywhileIwascarryingonmyworkinNewark，aWallStreetbrokercamefromthecityandsaidhewastiredofthe`Street，\'andwantedtogointosomethingreal。Hesaidhehadplentyofmoney。HewantedsomekindofajobtokeephismindoffWallStreet。Sowegavehimajobasa`mucker\'inchemicalexperiments。
Thesecondnighthewastherehecouldnotstandthelonghoursandfellasleeponasofa。Oneoftheboystookabottleofbromineandopeneditunderthesofa。Itfloatedupandproducedaviolenteffectonthemucousmembrane。Thebrokerwastakenwithsuchafitofcoughingheburstablood-vessel，andthemanwholetthebromineoutgotawayandnevercameback。Isupposehethoughttherewasgoingtobeadeath。Butthebrokerlived，andleftthenextday；andIhaveneverseenhimsince，either。“
Edisontellsalsoofanotherfoolhardylaboratorytrickofthesamekind：“Someofmyassistantsinthosedayswereverygreeninthebusiness，asIdidnotcarewhethertheyhadhadanyexperienceornot。Igenerallytriedtoturnthemloose。OnedayIgotanewman，andtoldhimtoconductacertainexperiment。Hegotaquartofetherandstartedtoboilitoveranakedflame。Ofcourseitcaughtfire。
Theflamewasaboutfourfeetindiameterandelevenfeethigh。Wehadtocalloutthefiredepartment；
andtheycamedownandputastreamthroughthewindow。Thatletallthefumesandchemicalsoutandovercamethefiremen；andtherewasthedeviltopay。Anothertimeweexperimentedwithatubfullofsoapywater，andputhydrogenintoittomakelargebubbles。Oneoftheboys，whowaswashingbottlesintheplace，hadreadinsomebookthathydrogenwasexplosive，soheproceededtoblowthetubup。Therewasaboutfourinchesofsoapinthebottomofthetub，fourteenincheshigh；andhefilleditwithsoapbubblesuptothebrim。Thenhetookabamboofish-pole，putapieceofpaperattheend，andtoucheditoff。Itbleweverywindowoutoftheplace。“
Alwaysashrewd，observant，andkindlycriticofcharacter，EdisontellsmanyanecdotesofthemenwhogatheredaroundhiminvariouscapacitiesatthatquietcornerofNewJersey——MenloPark——andlateratOrange，intheLlewellynParklaboratory；
andtheseservetosupplementthemainnarrativebythrowingvividside-lightsonthewholescene。Here，forexample，isapicturedrawnbyEdisonofalaboratoryinterlude——justabitRabelaisian：“WhenexperimentingatMenloParkwehadallthewayfromfortytofiftymen。Theyworkedallthetime。Eachmanwasallowedfromfourtosixhours\'sleep。Wehadamanwhokepttally，andwhenthetimecameforonetosleep，hewasnotified。Atmidnightwehadlunchbroughtinandservedatalongtableatwhichtheexperimenterssatdown。IalsohadanorganwhichIprocuredfromHilbourneRoosevelt——
uncleoftheex-President——andwehadamanplaythisorganwhileweateourlunch。Duringthesummer-
time，afterwehadmadesomethingwhichwassuccessful，Iusedtoengageabrick-sloopatPerthAmboyandtakethewholecrowddowntothefishing-
banksontheAtlanticfortwodays。OnoneoccasionwegotoutsideSandyHookonthebanksandanchored。
Abreezecameup，theseabecamerough，andalargenumberofthemenweresick。Therewasstrawinthebottomoftheboat，whichweallslepton。Mostofthemenadjournedtothisstrawverysick。Thosewhowerenotgotapieceofrancidsaltporkfromtheskipper，andcutalarge，thicksliceoutofit。Thiswasputontheendofafish-hookanddrawnacrossthemen\'sfaces。Thesmellwasterrific，andtheeffectaddedtothehilarityoftheexcursion。
“IwentdownoncewithmyfatherandtwoassistantsforalittlefishinginsideSandyHook。Forsomereasonorotherthefishingwasverypoor。Weanchored，andIstartedintofish。Afterfishingforseveralhourstherewasnotasinglebite。Theotherswantedtopullupanchor，butIfishedtwodaysandtwonightswithoutabite，untiltheypulledupanchorandwentaway。Iwouldnotgiveup。Iwasgoingtocatchthatfishifittookaweek。“
Thisisgeneral。LetusquoteoneortwopiquantpersonalobservationsofamorespecificnatureastotheoddcharactersEdisondrewaroundhiminhisexperimenting。“DownatMenloParkamancameinonedayandwantedajob。Hewasasailor。I
hadn\'tanyparticularworktogivehim，butIhadanumberofsmallinductioncoils，andtogivehimsomethingtodoItoldhimtofixthemupandsellthemamonghissailorfriends。Theywerefixedup，andhewentovertoNewYorkandsoldthemall。
Hewasanextraordinaryfellow。HisnamewasAdams。OnedayIaskedhimhowlongitwassincehehadbeentosea，andherepliedtwoorthreeyears。
Iaskedhimhowhehadmadealivinginthemeantime，beforehecametoMenloPark。Hesaidhemadeaprettygoodlivingbygoingaroundtodifferentclinicsandgetting$10ateachclinic，becauseofhavingtheworstcaseofheart-diseaseonrecord。I
toldhimifthatwasthecasehewouldhavetobeverycarefularoundthelaboratory。Ihadhimtheretohelpinexperimenting，andtheheart-diseasedidnotseemtobotherhimatall。
“Itappearedthathehadoncebeenaslaver；andaltogetherhewasatoughcharacter。HavingnoothermanIcouldspareatthattime，IsenthimoverwithmycarbontransmittertelephonetoexhibititinEngland。ItwasexhibitedbeforethePost-Officeauthorities。ProfessorHughesspentanafternooninexaminingtheapparatus，andinaboutamonthcameoutwithhismicrophone，whichwasabsolutelynothingmorenorlessthanmyexactinvention。Butnomentionwasmadeofthefactthat，justpreviously，hehadseenthewholeofmyapparatus。AdamsstayedoverinEuropeconnectedwiththetelephoneforseveralyears，andfinallydiedoftoomuchwhiskey——butnotofheart-disease。Thisshowshowwhiskeyisthemoredangerousofthetwo。
“Adamssaidthatatonetimehewasaboardacoffee-shipintheharborofSantos，Brazil。Hefelldownahatchwayandbrokehisarm。Theytookhimuptothehospital——aPortugueseone——wherehecouldnotspeakthelanguage，andtheydidnotunderstandEnglish。Theytreatedhimfortwoweeksforyellowfever！Hewascertainlythemostprofanemanweeverhadaroundthelaboratory。Hestoodhighinhisclass。“
Andtherewereothersofadifferentstripe。“WehadamanwithusatMenlocalledSegredor。Hewasaqueerkindoffellow。Themengotinthehabitofplaguinghim；and，finally，onedayhesaidtotheassembledexperimentersinthetoproomofthelaboratory：`Thenextmanthatdoesit，Iwillkillhim。\'Theypaidnoattentiontothis，andnextdayoneofthemmadesomesarcasticremarktohim。
Segredormadeastartforhisboarding-house，andwhentheysawhimcomingbackupthehillwithagun，theyknewtherewouldbetrouble，sotheyallmadeforthewoods。Oneofthemenwentbackandmollifiedhim。Hereturnedtohiswork；buthewasnotteasedanymore。Atlast，whenIsentmenouthuntingforbamboo，IdispatchedSegredortoCuba。
HearrivedinHavanaonTuesday，andontheFridayfollowinghewasburied，havingdiedoftheblackvomit。Onthereceiptofthenewsofhisdeath，halfadozenofthemenwantedhisjob，butmysearcherintheAstorLibraryreportedthatthechancesoffindingtherightkindofbambooforlampsinCubawereverysmall；soIdidnotsendasubstitute。“
Anotherthumb-nailsketchmadeofoneofhisassociatesisthis：“Whenexperimentingwithvacuum-
pumpstoexhausttheincandescentlamps，Irequiredsomeverydelicateandclosemanipulationofglass，andhiredaGermanglass-blowerwhowassaidtobethemostexpertmanofhiskindintheUnitedStates。
Hewastheonlyonewhocouldmakeclinicalthermometers。
HewasthemostextraordinarilyconceitedmanIhaveevercomeacross。Hisconceitwassoenormous，lifewasmadeaburdentohimbyalltheboysaroundthelaboratory。Heoncesaidthathewaseducatedinauniversitywhereallthestudentsbelongedtofamiliesofthearistocracy；andthehighestclassintheuniversityallworelittleredcaps。
HesaidHEworeone。“
Ofsomewhatdifferentcaliberwas“honest“JohnKruesi，whofirstmadehismarkatMenloPark，andofwhomEdisonsays：“OneoftheworkmenIhadatMenloParkwasJohnKruesi，whoafterwardbecame，fromhisexperience，engineerofthelightingstation，andsubsequentlyengineeroftheEdisonGeneralElectricWorksatSchenectady。Kruesiwasveryexactinhisexpressions。Atthetimewewerepromotingandputtingupelectric-lightstationsinPennsylvania，NewYork，andNewEngland，therewouldbedelegationsofdifferentpeoplewhoproposedtopayforthesestations。TheywouldcometoourofficeinNewYork，at`65，\'totalkoverthespecifications，thecost，andotherthings。Atfirst，Mr。Kruesiwasbroughtin，butwheneverastatementwasmadewhichhecouldnotunderstandordidnotbelievecouldbesubstantiated，hewouldblurtrightoutamongtheseprospectsthathedidn\'tbelieveit。Finallyitdisturbedthesecommitteessomuch，andraisedsomanydoubtsintheirminds，thatoneofmychiefassociatessaid：`Here，Kruesi，wedon\'twantyoutocometothesemeetingsanylonger。Youaretoopainfullyhonest。\'Isaidtohim：`Wealwaystellthetruth。Itmaybedeferredtruth，butitisthetruth。\'
Hecouldnotunderstandthat。“
VariousreasonsconspiredtocausethedeparturefromMenloParkmidwayintheeighties。ForEdison，inspiteoftheachievementwithwhichitsnamewillforeverbeconnected，ithadlostallitsattractionsandallitspossibilities。Ithadbeenoutgrowninmanyways，andstrangeastheremarkmayseem，itwasnotuntilhehadleftitbehindandhadsettledinOrange，NewJersey，thathecanbesaidtohavegivendefiniteshapetohislife。Hewasonlyfortyin1887，andallthathehaddoneuptothattime，tremendousasmuchofitwas，hadwornahaphazard，Bohemianair，withalltheinconsequentialfreedomandcrudenesssomehowattachingtopioneerlife。
ThedevelopmentofthenewlaboratoryinWestOrange，justatthefootofLlewellynPark，ontheOrangeMountains，notonlymarkedthehappybeginningofaperiodofperfectdomesticandfamilylife，butsawintheplanningandequipmentofamodellaboratoryplanttheconsummationofyouthfuldreams，andofthekeendesiretoenjoyresourcesadequateatanymomenttowhateverstrainthefiercefervorofresearchmightputuponthem。Curiouslyenough，whilehithertoEdisonhadsoughttodissociatehisexperimentingfromhismanufacturing，herehedeterminedtodevelopalargeindustrytowhichathoroughlypracticallaboratorywouldbeacentralfeature，andeverasourceofsuggestionandinspiration。Edison\'sstandpointto-dayisthataneviltobedreadedinmanufactureisthatofover-
standardization，andthatassoonasanarticleisperfectthatisthetimetobeginimprovingit。Buthewhowouldimprovemustexperiment。
TheOrangelaboratory，asoriginallyplanned，consistedofamainbuildingtwohundredandfiftyfeetlongandthreestoriesinheight，togetherwithfourotherstructures，eachonehundredbytwenty-fivefeet，andonlyonestoryinheight。Alltheseweresubstantiallybuiltofbrick。Themainbuildingwasdividedintofivechiefdivisions——thelibrary，office，machineshops，experimentalandchemicalrooms，andstock-room。Theuseofthesmallerbuildingswillbepresentlyindicated。
SurroundingthewholewaserectedahighpicketfencewithagateplacedonValleyRoad。Atthispointagate-housewasprovidedandputinchargeofakeeper，forthen，asatthepresenttime，Edisonwasgreatlysoughtafter；and，inordertoaccomplishanyworkatall，hewasobligedtodenyhimselftoallbutthemostimportantcallers。Thekeeperofthegatewasusuallychosenwithreferencetohiscapacityforstony-heartedimplacabilityandadherencetoinstructions；andthischoicewasadmirablymadeinoneinstancewhenanewgateman，notyetthoroughlyinitiated，refusedadmittancetoEdisonhimself。Itwasofnousetotryandexplain。TothegatemanEVERYONEwaspersonanongratawithoutpropercredentials，andEdisonhadtowaitoutsideuntilhecouldgetsomeonetoidentifyhim。
Onenteringthemainbuildingthefirstdoorwayfromtheamplepassageleadsthevisitorintoahandsomelibraryfinishedthroughoutinyellowpine，occupyingtheentirewidthofthebuilding，andalmostasbroadaslong。Thecentreofthisspaciousroomisanopenrectangularspaceaboutfortybytwenty-fivefeet，risingclearaboutfortyfeetfromthemainfloortoapanelledceiling。Aroundthesidesoftheroom，boundingthisopenspace，runtwotiersofgallery，divided，asisthemainfloorbeneaththem；intoalcovesofliberaldimensions。Thesealcovesareformedbyracksextendingfromfloortoceiling，fittedwithshelves，exceptontwosidesofbothgalleries，wheretheyareformedbyaseriesofglass-
frontedcabinetscontainingextensivecollectionsofcuriousandbeautifulmineralogicalandgeologicalspecimens，amongwhichisthenotableTiffany-KunzcollectionofmineralsacquiredbyEdisonsomeyearsago。Hereandthereinthesecabinetsmayalsobefoundafewmodelswhichhehasusedattimesinhisstudiesofanatomyandphysiology。
Theshelvesontheremainderoftheuppergalleryandpartofthoseonthefirstgalleryarefilledwithcountlessthousandsofspecimensoforesandmineralsofeveryconceivablekindgatheredfromallpartsoftheworld，andalltaggedandnumbered。TheremainingshelvesofthefirstgalleryarefilledwithcurrentnumbersandsomebacknumbersofthenumerousperiodicalstowhichEdisonsubscribes。Heremaybefoundthepopularmagazines，togetherwiththoseofatechnicalnaturerelatingtoelectricity，chemistry，engineering，mechanics，building，cement，buildingmaterials，drugs，waterandgas，power，automobiles，railroads，aeronautics，philosophy，hygiene，physics，telegraphy，mining，metallurgy，metals，music，andothers；alsotheatricalweeklies，aswellastheproceedingsandtransactionsofvariouslearnedandtechnicalsocieties。
Thefirstimpressionreceivedasoneentersonthemainfloorofthelibraryandlooksaroundisthatofnobleproportionsandsymmetryasawhole。Theopencentralspaceofliberaldimensionsandheight，flankedbythegalleriesandrelievedbyfourhandsomeelectric-lightingfixturessuspendedfromtheceilingbylongchains，conveysanideaofloftyspaciousness；whilethehugeopenfireplace，surmountedbyagreatclockbuiltintothewall，atoneendoftheroom，thelargerugs，thearm-chairsscatteredaround，thetablesandchairsinthealcoves，giveageneralairofcomfortcombinedwithutility。
Inoneofthelargeralcoves，atthesunnyendofthemainhall，isEdison\'sowndesk，wherehemayusuallybeseenforawhileintheearlymorninghourslookingoverhismailorotherwisebusilyworkingonmattersrequiringhisattention。
Attheoppositeendoftheroom，notfarfromtheopenfireplace，isalongtablesurroundedbyswiveldesk-chairs。Itisherethatdirectors\'meetingsaresometimesheld，andalsowhereweightymattersareoftendiscussedbyEdisonatconferencewithhiscloserassociates。Ithasbeentheprivilegeofthewriterstobepresentatsomeoftheseconferences，notonlyasparticipants，butinsomecasesaslookers-
onwhileawaitingtheirturn。OnsuchoccasionsaninterestingopportunityisofferedtostudyEdisoninhisintenseandconstructivemoods。Apparentlyoblivioustoeverythingelse，hewilllistenwithconcentratedmindandcloseattention，andthenpourforthaperfecttorrentofideasandplans，and，iftheoccasioncallsforit，willturnaroundtothetable，seizeawriting-padandmakesketchaftersketchwithlightning-likerapidity，tearingoffeachsheetasfilledandtossingitasidetothefloor。Itisanordinaryindicationthattherehasbeenaninterestingmeetingwhenthecaretakeraboutfillsawaste-basketwiththesediscardedsketches。
DirectlyoppositethemaindoorisabeautifulmarblestatuepurchasedbyEdisonattheParisExpositionin1889，ontheoccasionofhisvisitthere。
Thestatue，mountedonabasethreefeethigh，isanallegoricalrepresentationofthesupremacyofelectriclightoverallotherformsofillumination，carriedoutbythelife-sizefigureofayouthwithhalf-spreadwingsseatedupontheruinsofastreetgas-lamp，holdingtriumphantlyhighabovehisheadanelectricincandescentlamp。Groupedabouthisfeetareagear-wheel，voltaicpile，telegraphkey，andtelephone。
ThisworkofartwasexecutedbyA。Bordiga，ofRome，heldaprominentplaceinthedepartmentdevotedtoItalianartattheParisExposition，andnaturallyappealedtoEdisonassoonashesawit。
Inthemiddledistance，betweentheentrancedoorandthisstatue，haslongstoodamagnificentpalm，butatthepresentwritingithasbeensetasidetogiveplacetoafinemodelofthefirsttypeoftheEdisonpouredcementhouse，whichstandsinaminiatureartificiallawnuponaspecialtablepreparedforit；whileontheflooratthefootofthetablearespecimensofthefull-sizemoldsinwhichthehousewillbecast。
Thebalustradesofthegalleriesandallotheravailableplacesarefilledwithportraitsofgreatscientistsandmenofachievement，aswellaswithpicturesofhistoricandscientificinterest。OverthefireplacehangsalargephotographshowingtheEdisoncementplantinitsentirelength，flankedononeendofthemantelbyabustofHumboldt，andontheotherbyastatuetteofSandow，thelatterhavingbeenpresentedtoEdisonbythecelebratedathleteafterthevisithemadetoOrangetoposeforthemotionpicturesintheearliestdaysoftheirdevelopment。Onlookingupunderthesecondgalleryatthisendisseenagreatrollrestinginsocketsplacedoneachsideoftheroom。
Thisisahugescreenorcurtainwhichmaybedrawndowntothefloortoprovideameansofprojectionforlanternslidesormotionpictures，fortheentertainmentorinstructionofEdisonandhisguests。
Inoneofthelargeralcovesisalargeterrestrialglobepivotedinitsspecialstand，togetherwithareliefmapoftheUnitedStates；andhereandtherearehandsomelymountedspecimensofundergroundconductorsandelectricweldsthatweremadeattheEdisonMachineWorksatSchenectadybeforeitwasmergedintotheGeneralElectricCompany。Ontwopedestalsstand，respectively，twoothermementoesoftheworks，oneafifteen-lightdynamooftheEdisontype，andtheotheranelaborateelectricfan——bothofthemgiftsfromassociatesoremployees。
Innotingthesevariousobjectsofinterestonemustnotlosesightofthefactthatthispartofthebuildingisprimarilyalibrary，ifindeedthatfactdidnotatonceimpressitselfbyaglanceatthewell-
filledunglazedbook-shelvesinthealcovesofthemainfloor。HereEdison\'scatholictasteinreadingbecomesapparentasonescansthetitlesofthousandsofvolumesrangedupontheshelves，fortheyincludeastronomy，botany，chemistry，dynamics，electricity，engineering，forestry，geology，geography，mechanics，mining，medicine，metallurgy，magnetism，philosophy，psychology，physics，steam，steam-engines，telegraphy，telephony，andmanyothers。Besidesthesetherearethejournalsandproceedingsofnumeroustechnicalsocieties；
encyclopaediasofvariouskinds；boundseriesofimportanttechnicalmagazines；acollectionofUnitedStatesandforeignpatents，embracingsomehundredsofvolumes，togetherwithanextensiveassortmentofmiscellaneousbooksofspecialandgeneralinterest。
Thereisanotherbiglibraryupinthehouseonthehill——infact，therearebooksuponbooksalloverthehome。Andwherevertheyare，thosebooksareread。
Asoneisabouttopassoutofthelibraryattentionisarrestedbyanincongruityintheformofacot，whichstandsinanalcovenearthedoor。HereEdison，throwinghimselfdown，sometimesseeksashortrestduringspeciallylongworkingtours。Sleepispracticallyinstantaneousandprofound，andheawakesinimmediateandfullpossessionofhisfaculties，arisingfromthecotandgoingdirectly“backtothejob“withoutamoment\'shesitation，justasapersonwideawakewouldarisefromachairandproceedtoattendtosomethingpreviouslydeterminedupon。
Immediatelyoutsidethelibraryisthefamousstock-room，aboutwhichmuchhasbeenwrittenandinvented。ItsfamearosefromthefactthatEdisonplannedittobearepositoryofsomequantity，greatorsmall，ofeveryknownandpossiblyusefulsubstancenotreadilyperishable，togetherwiththemostcompleteassortmentofchemicalsanddrugsthatexperienceandknowledgecouldsuggest。Alwaysstrenuousinhisexperimentation，andthelivingembodimentofthespiritofthesong，IWantWhatI
WantWhenIWantIt，Edisonhadknownforyearswhatitwastobeobligedtowait，andsometimeslack，forsomesubstanceorchemicalthathethoughtnecessarytothesuccessofanexperiment。Naturallyimpatientatanydelaywhichinterposedinhisinsistentandsearchingmethods，andrealizingthenecessityofmaintainingtheinspirationattendinghisworkatanytime，hedeterminedtohavewithinhisimmediatereachthenaturalresourcesoftheworld。
Henceitisnotsurprisingtofindthestock-roomnotonlyamuseum，butasample-roomofnature，aswellasasupplydepartment。Toacasualvisitorthefirstviewofthisheterogeneouscollectionisquitebewildering，butonmorematureexaminationitresolvesitselfintoanaturalclassification——as，forinstance，objectspertainingtovariousanimals，birds，andfishes，suchasskins，hides，hair，fur，feathers，wool，quills，down，bristles，teeth，bones，hoofs，horns，tusks，shells；naturalproducts，suchaswoods，barks，roots，leaves，nuts，seeds，herbs，gums，grains，flours，meals，bran；alsomineralsingreatassortment；
mineralandvegetableoils，clay，mica，ozokerite，etc。Inthelineoftextiles，cottonandsilkthreadsingreatvariety，withwovengoodsofallkindsfromcheese-clothtosilkplush。Asforpaper，thereiseverythinginwhiteandcolored，fromthinnesttissueuptotheheaviestasbestos，evenafewnewspapersbeingalwaysonhand。Twinesofallsizes，inks，waxes，cork，tar，resin，pitch，turpentine，asphalt，plumbago，glassinsheetsandtubes；andahostofmiscellaneousarticlesrevealedonlookingaroundtheshelves，aswellasaninterminablecol-
lectionofchemicals，includingacids，alkalies，salts，reagents，everyconceivableessentialoilandallthethinkableextracts。ItmayberemarkedthatthiscollectionincludestheeighteenhundredormorefluorescentsaltsmadebyEdisonduringhisexperimentalsearchforthebestmaterialforafluoroscopeintheinitialX-rayperiod。Allknownmetalsinformofsheet，rodandtube，andofgreatvarietyinthickness，areherefoundalso，togetherwithamostcompleteassortmentoftoolsandaccessoriesformachineshopandlaboratorywork。
Thelistisconfinedtothemerestgeneralmentionofthescopeofthisremarkableandinterestingcollection，asspecificdetailswouldstretchoutintoacatalogueofnosmallproportions。Whenitisstated，however，thatastockclerkiskeptexceedinglybusyalldayansweringthenumerousandvariousdemandsuponhim，thereaderwillappreciatethatthiscomprehensiveassortmentisnotmerelyafadofEdison\'s，butstandsratherasasubstantialtributetohiswide-angledviewofpossiblerequirementsashisvariousinvestigationstakehimfarafield。
Ithasnocounterpartintheworld！
Beyondthestock-room，andoccupyingabouthalfthebuildingonthesamefloor，lieamachineshop，engine-room，andboiler-room。Thismachineshopiswellequipped，andinitisconstantlyemployedalargeforceofmechanicswhosetimeisoccupiedinconstructingtheheavierclassofmodelsandmechanicaldevicescalledforbythevariedexperimentsandinventionsalwaysgoingon。
Immediatelyabove，onthesecondfloor，isfoundanothermachineshopinwhichismaintainedacorpsofexpertmechanicswhoarecalledupontodoworkofgreaterprecisionandfineness，intheconstructionoftoolsandexperimentalmodels。ThisistherealmpresidedoverlovinglybyJohnF。Ott，whohasbeenEdison\'sdesignerofmechanicaldevicesforoverfortyyears。Hestillcontinuestoplyhiscraftwithunabatedskillandoverseestheworkofthemechanicsashisproductionsarewroughtintoconcreteshape。
Inoneofthemanyexperimental-roomsliningthesidesofthesecondfloormayusuallybeseenhisyoungerbrother，FredOtt，whoseskillasadexterousmanipulatorandingeniousmechanichasfoundamplescopeforexerciseduringthethirty-twoyearsofhisservicewithEdison，notonlyattheregularlaboratories，butalsoatthatconnectedwiththeinventor\'swinterhomeinFlorida。StillanotheroftheOttfamily，thesonofJohnF。，forsomeyearspasthasbeenontheexperimentalstaffoftheOrangelaboratory。Althoughpossessinginnosmalldegreethemechanicalandmanipulativeskillofthefamily，hehaschosenchemistryashisspecialdomain，andmaybefoundwiththeotherchemistsinoneofthechemical-rooms。
Onthissameflooristhevacuum-pumproomwithaglass-blowers\'roomadjoining，bothofthemhistoricbyreasonofthestrenuousworkdoneonincandescentlampsandX-raytubeswithintheirwalls。
Thetoolsandappliancesarekeptintact，forEdisoncallsoccasionallyfortheiruseinsomeofhislaterexperiments，andthereisasuspicionamongthelaboratorystaffthatsomedayhemayresumeworkonincandescentlamps。Adjacenttotheseroomsareseveralothersdevotedtophysicalandmechanicalexperiments，togetherwithadraughting-room。
Lasttobementioned，butthefirstinorderasoneleavestheheadofthestairsleadinguptothisfloor，isNo。12，Edison\'sfavoriteroom，wherehewillfrequentlybefound。Plainofaspect，beingmerelyaspaceboardedoffwithtongued-and-groovedplanks——asalltheotherroomsare——withoutornamentorfloorcovering，andcontainingonlyafewarticlesofcheapfurniture，thisroomseemstoexerciseanamelesscharmforhim。Thedoorisalwaysopen，andoftenhecanbeseenseatedataplaintableinthecentreoftheroom，deeplyintentonsomeofthenumerousproblemsinwhichheisinterested。
Thetableisusuallyprettywellfilledwithspecimensordataofexperimentalresultswhichhavebeenputthereforhisexamination。Atthetimeofthiswritingthesespecimensconsistlargelyofsectionsofpositiveelementsofthestoragebattery，togetherwithmanysamplesofnickelhydrate，towhichEdisondevotesdeepstudy。Closeathandisamicroscopewhichisinfrequentusebyhimintheseinvestigations。
Aroundtheroom，onshelves，arehundredsofbottleseachcontainingasmallquantityofnickelhydratemadeinasmanydifferentways，eachlabelledcorrespondingly。Alwaysathandwillbefoundoneortwoofthelaboratorynote-books，withfrequententriesorcommentsinthehandwritingwhichonceseenisneverforgotten。
No。12isattimesachemical，aphysical，oramechanicalroom——occasionallyacombinationofall，whilesometimesitmightbecalledaconsultation-
roomorclinic——foroftenEdisonmaybeseenthereinanimatedconferencewithagroupofhisassistants；
butitschiefdistinctionliesinitsbeingoneofhisfavoritehaunts，andinthefactthatwithinitswallshavebeensettledmanyoftheperplexingproblemsandmomentousquestionsthathavebroughtaboutgreatchangesinelectricalandengineeringartsduringthetwenty-oddyearsthathaveelapsedsincetheOrangelaboratorywasbuilt。
Passingnowtothetopfloorthevisitorfindshimselfattheheadofabroadhallrunningalmosttheentirelengthofthebuilding，andlinedmostlywithglass-frontedcabinetscontainingamultitudeofexperimentalincandescentlampsandanimmensevarietyofmodelsofphonographs，motors，telegraphandtelephoneapparatus，meters，andahostofotherinventionsuponwhichEdison\'senergieshaveatonetimeandanotherbeenbent。Herealsoareothercabinetscontainingoldpapersandrecords，whilefurtheralongthewallarepiledupboxesofhistoricalmodelsandinstruments。Infact，thishallway，withitsconglomeratecontents，maywellbeconsideredascientificattic。ItistobehopedthatatnodistantdaytheseEdisonianawillbeassembledandarrangedinafireproofmuseumforthebenefitofposterity。
Inthefrontendofthebuilding，andextendingoverthelibrary，isalargeroomintendedoriginallyandusedforatimeasthephonographmusic-hallforrecord-making，butnowusedonlyasanexperimental-
roomforphonographwork，asthegrowthoftheindustryhasnecessitatedaverymuchlargerandmorecentralplacewhererecordscanbemadeonacommercialscale。Eventheexperimentalworkimposesnoslightburdenonit。Oneachsideofthehallwayabovementioned，roomsarepartitionedoffandusedforexperimentalworkofvariouskinds，mostlyphonographic，althoughonthisfloorarealsolocatedthestorage-batterytesting-room，achemicalandphysicalroomandEdison\'sprivateoffice，whereallhispersonalcorrespondenceandbusinessaffairsareconductedbyhispersonalsecretary，Mr。H。F。
Miller。Avisitortothisupperfloorofthelaboratorybuildingcannotbutbeimpressedwithaconsciousnessoftheincessanteffortsthatarebeingmadetoimprovethereproducingqualitiesofthephonograph，ashehearsfromallsidesthesoundsofvocalandinstrumentalmusicconstantlyvaryinginvolumeandtimbre，duetochangesintheexperimentaldevicesundertrial。
Thetraditionsofthelaboratoryincludecotsplacedinmanyoftheroomsoftheseupperfloors，butthatwasintheearlieryearswhenthestrenuousscenesofMenloParkwererepeatedinthenewquarters。
Edisonandhisclosestassociateswereaccustomedtocarrytheirlaborsfarintotheweesma\'hours，andwhenphysicalnaturedemandedarespitefromwork，ashortrestwouldbeobtainedbygoingtobedonacot。Onewouldnaturallythinkthatthewearandtearofthisintenseapplication，dayafterdayandnightafternight，wouldhavetendedtoinduceaheavinessandgravityofdemeanorinthesebusymen；butonthecontrary，theoldspiritofgood-
humorandprankishnesswaseverpresent，asitsfre-
quentoutburstsmanifestedfromtimetotime。Oneinstancewillserveasanillustration。Onemorning，about2。30，thelateCharlesBatchelorannouncedthathewastiredandwouldgotobed。LeavingEdisonandtheothersbusilyworking，hewentoutandreturnedquietlyinslipperedfeet，withhisnightgownon，thehandleofafeatherdusterstuckdownhisbackwiththefeatherswavingoverhishead，andhisfacemarked。Withunearthlyhowlsandshrieks，al\'Indien，heprancedabouttheroom，incidentallygivingEdisonascarethatmadehimjumpupfromhiswork。Hesawthejokequickly，however，andjoinedinthegeneralmerrimentcausedbythisprank。
Leavingthemainbuildingwithitscorpsofbusyexperimenters，andcomingoutintothespaciousyard，onenotesthefourlongsingle-storybrickstructuresmentionedabove。TheonenearesttheValleyRoadiscalledthegalvanometer-room，andwasoriginallyintendedbyEdisontobeusedforthemostdelicateandminuteelectricalmeasurements。Inordertoproviderigidresting-placesforthenumerousandelaborateinstrumentshehadpurchasedforthispurpose，thebuildingwasequippedalongthree-
quartersofitslengthwithsolidpillars，ortables，ofbricksetdeepintheearth。Thesewerebuiltuptoaheightofabouttwoandahalffeet，andeachwassurmountedwithasingleheavyslabofblackmarble。
Acementfloorwaslaid，andeveryprecautionwastakentorenderthebuildingfreefromallmagneticinfluences，sothatitwouldbesuitableforelectricalworkoftheutmostaccuracyandprecision。Hence，ironandsteelwereentirelyeliminatedinitscon-
struction，copperbeingusedforfixturesforsteamandwaterpiping，and，indeed，forallotherpurposeswheremetalwasemployed。
ThisroomwasformanyyearstheheadquartersofEdison\'sableassistant，Dr。A。E。Kennelly，nowprofessorofelectricalengineeringinHarvardUniversitytowhoseenergeticandcapablemanagementwereintrustedmanyscientificinvestigationsduringhislongsojournatthelaboratory。Unfortunately，however，forthecontinuedsuccessofEdison\'selaborateplans，hehadnotbeenmanyyearsestablishedinthelaboratorybeforeatrolleyroadthroughWestOrangewasprojectedandbuilt，thelinepassinginfrontoftheplantandwithinseventy-fivefeetofthegalvanometer-
room，thusmakingitpracticallyimpossibletouseitforthedelicatepurposesforwhichitwasoriginallyintended。
Forsometimepastithasbeenusedforphotographyandsomespecialexperimentsonmotionpicturesaswellasfordemonstrationsconnectedwithphysicalresearch；butsomeremindersofitsold-timeglorystillremaininevidence。Inloftyandcapaciousglass-enclosedcabinets，incompanywithnumerousmodelsofEdison\'sinventions，reposemanyofthecostlyandelaborateinstrumentsrendereduselessbytheubiquitoustrolley。Instrumentsareallabout，onwalls，tables，andshelves，thephotometeriscoveredup；inductioncoilsofvariouscapacities，withotherelectricalparaphernalia，liearound，almostasiftheexperimenterwereabsentforafewdaysbutwouldsoonreturnandresumehiswork。
Innumberingthegroupofbuildings，thegalva-
nometer-roomisNo。1，whiletheothersingle-storystructuresarenumberedrespectively2，3，and4。
OnpassingoutofNo。1andproceedingtothesucceedingbuildingisnoticed，betweenthetwo，agarageofampledimensionsandasmallerstructure，atthedoorofwhichstandsaconcrete-mixer。InthissmallbuildingEdisonhasmadesomeofhismostimportantexperimentsintheprocessofworkingouthisplansforthepouredhouse。Itisinthislittleplacethattherewasdevelopedtheremarkablemixturewhichistoplaysovitalapartinthesuccessfulconstructionoftheseeverlastinghomesforlivingmillions。
DrawingneartobuildingNo。2，olfactoryevidencepresentsitselfoftheimmediatevicinityofachemicallaboratory。Thisisconfirmedasoneentersthedoorandfindsthattheentirebuildingisdevotedtochemistry。Longrowsofshelvesandcabinetsfilledwithchemicalslinetheroom；aprofusionofretorts，alembics，filters，andotherchemicalapparatusonnumeroustablesandstands，greettheeye，whileacorpsofexperimentersmaybeseenbusyinthepreparationofvariouscombinations，someofwhichareboilingorotherwisecookingundertheirdexterousmanipulation。
Itwouldnotrequiremanyvisitstodiscoverthatinthisroom，also，Edisonhasafavoritenook。Downatthefarendinacornerareaplainlittletableandchair，andhereheisoftentobefounddeeplyimmersedinastudyofthemanyexperimentsthatarebeingconducted。Notinfrequentlyheisactivelyengagedinthemanipulationofsomecompoundofspecialintricacy，whoseresultsmightbeilluminativeofobscurefactsnotpatenttoothersthanhimself。
Here，too，isaselectlittlelibraryofchemicalliterature。
Thenextbuilding，No。3，hasadoublemission——
thefartherhalfbeingpartitionedoffforapattern-
makingshop，whiletheotherhalfisusedasastore-
roomforchemicalsinquantityandforchemicalapparatusandutensils。Agrimlyhumorousincident，asrelatedbyoneofthelaboratorystaff，attachestoNo。3。Itseemsthatsometimeagooneofthehelpersinthechemicaldepartment，anexcitableforeigner，becamedissatisfiedwithhiswages，andaftermakinganunsuccessfulapplicationforanincrease，rushedindesperationtoEdison，andsaid“EefInotgetmoremoneyIgototakezecyanidepotassia。“Edisongavehimonequick，searchingglanceand，detectingabluff，repliedinanoffhandmanner：“There\'safive-poundbottleinNo。3，“andturnedtohisworkagain。Theforeignerdidnotgotogetthecyanide，butgaveuphisjob。
Thelastoftheseoriginalbuildings，No。4，wasusedformanyyearsinEdison\'sore-concentratingexperiments，andalsoforrough-and-readyoperationsofotherkinds，suchasfurnaceworkandthelike。Atthepresentwritingitisusedasageneralstock-room。
Intheforegoingdetails，thereaderhasbeenaffordedbutapassingglanceatthegreatpracticalworkingequipmentwhichconstitutesthetheatreofEdison\'sactivities，for，intakingageneralviewofsuchauniqueandcomprehensivelaboratoryplant，itssalientfeaturesonlycanbetouchedupontoadvantage。
Itwouldbebutrepetitiontoenumerateherethepracticalresultsofthelaboratoryworkduringthepasttwodecades，astheyappearonotherpagesofthiswork。
NorcanoneassumeforamomentthatthehistoryofEdison\'slaboratoryisaclosedbook。Onthecontrary，itsterritorialboundarieshavebeenincreasingstepbystepwiththeenlargementofitslabors，untilnowithasbeenobligedtogooutsideitsownproperdomainstooccupysomespaceinandaboutthegreatEdisonindustrialbuildingsandspaceimmediatelyadjacent。Itmustbeborneinmindthatthelaboratoryisonlythecoreofagroupofbuildingsdevotedtoproductiononahugescalebyhundredsofartisans。
IncidentalmentionhasalreadybeenmadeofthelaboratoryatEdison\'swinterresidenceinFlorida，wherehegoesannuallytospendamonthorsixweeks。ThisisaminiaturecopyoftheOrangelaboratory，withitsmachineshop，chemical-room，andgeneralexperimentaldepartment。Whileitisonlyinuseduringhissojournthere，andcarriesnoextensivecorpsofassistants，theworkdoneinitisnotofaperfunctorynature，butisacontinuationofhisregularactivities，andservestokeephimintouchwiththeprogressofexperimentsatOrange，andenableshimtogiveinstructionsfortheirvariationandcontinuanceastheirscopeisexpandedbyhisowninvestigationsmadewhileenjoyingwhathecalls“vacation。“WhatEdisoninFloridaspeaksofas“loafing“wouldbeformostofusextremeandhealthyactivityinthecoolerFarNorth。
Awordortwomaybedevotedtothevisitorsreceivedatthelaboratory，andtothecorrespondence。
Itmightbeinjudicioustogaugethegreatnessofamanbythenumberofhiscallersorhisletters；buttheyareatleastanindicationofthedegreetowhichheintereststheworld。Inbothrespects，forthesefortyyears，Edisonhasbeenastrikingexampleofthemannerinwhichthesentimentofhero-worshipcanmanifestitself，andofthedeepdesireofcuriositytogetsatisfactionbypersonalobservationorcontact。
Edison\'smail，likethatofmostwell-knownmen，isextremelylarge，butcomposedinnosmalldegreeofletters——thousandsofthemyearly——thatconcernonlythewriters，andmightwellgotothewaste-paperbasketwithoutprolongedconsideration。
Theseriousandimportantpartofthemail，somepersonalandsomebusiness，occupiestheattentionofseveralmen；allsuchlettersfindingtheirwaypromptlyintotheproperchannels，oftenwithapithyendorsementbyEdisonscribbledonthemargin。Whattodowithahostofothersitisoftendifficulttodecide，evenwhenwrittenby“cranks，“whoimaginethemselvessubjecttostrangeelectricalailmentsfromwhichEdisonalonecanrelievethem。Manypeoplewriteaskinghisopinionastoacertaininvention，orofferinghimaninterestinitifhewillworkitout。
Otherpeopleabroadaskhelpinlocatinglostrelatives；andmanywantadviceastowhattheyshalldowiththeirsons，frequentlybuddinggeniuseswhoseabilitytowireabellhasdemonstratedunusualqualities。Agreatmanypersonswantautographs，andsomewouldlikephotographs。Theamazingthingaboutitallisthatthisfloodofmiscellaneouslettersflowsoninonesteady，uninterruptedstream，yearinandyearout；alwaysacuriouspsychologicalstudyinitsvarietyandvolume；andeveraproofofthefactthatonceamanhasbecomeestablishedasapersonalityinthepubliceyeandmind，nothingcanstopthetideofcorrespondencethatwilldelugehim。
Itisgenerally，inthenatureofthings，easiertowritealetterthantomakeacall；andthesemi-
retirementofEdisonatadistanceofanhourbytrainfromNewYorkstandsasameansofprotectiontohimagainstthosewhowouldcertainlypresenttheirrespectsinperson，ifhecouldbegotatwithouttrouble。ButitmaybeseriouslyquestionedwhetherintheaggregateEdison\'svisitorsarelessnumerousorlesstime-consumingthanhisepistolarybesiegers。
Itisthecommonexperienceofanyvisitortothelaboratorythatthereareusuallyseveralpersonsaheadofhim，nomatterwhatthehouroftheday，andsomewhosebusinesshasbeensufficientlyvitaltogettheminsidetheporter\'sgate，orevenintothebiglibraryandlounging-room。Celebritiesofallkindsanddistinguishedforeignersarenumerous——princes，noblemen，ambassadors，artists，litterateurs，scientists，financiers，women。Averylargepartofthevisitingisdonebyscientificbodiesandsocieties；andthenthewholeplacewillbeturnedovertohundredsofeager，well-dressedmenandwomen，anxioustoseeeverythingandtobephotographedinthebigcourtyardaroundthecentralhero。Norarethesegroupsanddelegationslimitedtothiscountry，forevenlargepartiesofEnglish，Dutch，Italian，orJapanesevisitorscomefromtimetotime，andaregreetedwiththesamereadyhospitality，althoughEdison，itiseasytosee，istornbetweentheconflictingemotionsofadesiretobecourteous，andananxietytoguardtheprecioushoursofwork，orwatchthecriticalstageofanewexperiment。
Onedistinctgroupofvisitorshasalwaysbeenconstitutedbythe“newspapermen。“HardlyadaygoesbythatthejournalsdonotcontainsomereferencetoEdison\'sworkorremarks；andtheitemsaregenerallybasedonaninterview。Thereportersareneverawayfromthelaboratoryverylong；foriftheyhavenoactualmissionofinquiry，thereisalwaysthechanceofagoodstorybeingsecuredoffhand；andtheeasy，inveterategood-natureofEdisontowardreportersisproverbialinthecraft。Indeed，itmustbestatedherethatonceinawhilethisconfidencehasbeenabused；thatstorieshavebeenpublishedutterlywithoutfoundation；thatinterviewshavebeenprintedwhichnevertookplace；thatarticleswithEdison\'snameasauthorhavebeenwidelycirculated，althoughheneversawthem；andthatinsuchwayshehassuffereddirectly。ButsuchoccasionalincidentstendinnowisetolessenEdison\'swarmadmirationofthepressorhisreadinesstoavailhimselfofitwheneverarepresentativegoesovertoOrangetogetthetruthortherealfactsinregardtoanymatterofpublicimportance。Asforthenewspaperclippingscontainingsucharticles，orothersinwhichEdison\'snameappears——theyareliterallylikesandsofthesea-shorefornumber；andthearchivesofthelaboratorythatpreserveonlyaveryminutepercentageofthemareafurtherdemonstrationofwhatpublicitymeans，whereafigurelikeEdisonisconcerned。
CHAPTERXXVI
EDISONINCOMMERCEANDMANUFACTURE
ANapplicantformembershipintheEngineers\'
ClubofPhiladelphiaisrequiredtogiveabriefstatementoftheprofessionalworkhehasdone。
Someyearsagoacertainapplicationwasmade，andcontainedthefollowingterseandmodestsentence：
“Ihavedesignedaconcentratingplantandbuiltamachineshop，etc。，etc。THOMASA。EDISON。“
Althoughintheforegoingpagesthereaderhasbeenmadeacquaintedwiththetremendousimportoftheactualitieslyingbehindthose“etc。，etc。，“thenarrativeuptothispointhasrevealedEdisonchieflyinthelightofinventor，experimenter，andinvestigator。
Therehavebeensomesideglimpsesoftheindustrieshehassetonfoot，andoftheirfinancialaspects，andalaterchapterwillendeavortosumuptheintrinsicvalueofEdison\'sworktotheworld。ButtherearesomeotherinterestingpointsthatmaybetouchedonnowinregardtoafewofEdison\'sfinancialandcommercialventuresnotgenerallyknownorappreciated。
Itisapopularideafoundedonexperiencethataninventorisnotusuallyabusinessman。OneoftheexceptionsprovingtherulemayperhapsbemetinEdison，thoughalldependsonthepointofview。
Allhislifehehashadagreatdealtodowithfinanceandcommerce，andasonelooksatthemagnitudeofthevastindustrieshehashelpedtocreate，itwouldnotbeatallunreasonabletoexpecthimtobeamongthemulti-millionaires。Thatheisnotisduetotheabsenceofcertainqualities，thelackofwhichEdisonishimselfthefirsttoadmit。Thosequalitiesmaynotbeamiable，butgreatwealthishardlyeveraccumulatedwithoutthem。Ifhehadnotbeensointentoninventinghewouldhavemademoreofhisgreatopportunitiesforgettingrich。Ifthisutterdetachmentfromanyloveofmoneyforitsownsakehasnotalreadybeenillustratedinsomeoftheincidentsnarrated，oneortwostoriesareavailabletoemphasizethepoint。Theydonotinvolveanywantofthehigherbusinessacumenthatgoestotheproperconductofaffairs。ItwassaidofGladstonethathewasthegreatestChancelloroftheExchequerEnglandeversaw，butthatasaretailmerchanthewouldsoonhaveruinedhimselfbyhisbookkeeping。
Edisonconfessesthathehasnevermadeacentoutofhispatentsinelectriclightandpower——infact，thattheyhavebeenanexpensetohim，andthusafreegifttotheworld。[18]ThiswastrueoftheEuro-
peanpatentsaswellastheAmerican。“IendeavoredtosellmylightingpatentsindifferentcountriesofEurope，andmadeacontractwithacoupleofmen。Onaccountoftheirpoorbusinesscapacityandlackofpracticality，theyconveyedunderthepatentsallrightstodifferentcorporationsbutinsuchawayandwithsuchconfusedwordingofthecontractsthatInevergotacent。OneofthecompaniesstartedwastheGermanEdison，nowthegreatAllgemeineElektricitaetsGesellschaft。TheEnglishcompanyInevergotanythingfor，becausealawyerhadoriginallyadvisedDrexel，Morgan&Co。
astothesigningofacertaindocument，andsaiditwasallrightformetosign。Isigned，andInevergotacentbecausetherewasaclauseinitwhichpreventedmefromevergettinganything。“Acertaineasy-goingbeliefinhumannature，andevenacertaincarelessnessofattitudetowardbusinessaffairs，arehererevealed。WehavealreadypointedouttwoinstanceswhereinhisdealingswiththeWesternUnionCompanyhestipulatedthatpaymentsof$6000peryearforseventeenyearsweretobemadeinsteadof$100，000incash，evidentlyforgetfulofthefactthattheannualsumsoreceivedwasnothingmorethanlegalinterest，whichcouldhavebeenearnedindefinitelyifthecapitalhadbeenonlyinsistedupon。InlaterlifeEdisonhasbeenmorecircumspect，butthroughouthisearlycareerhewasconstantlygettingintosomekindofscrape。Ofoneexperiencehesays：
[18]Edisonreceivedsomestockfromtheparentlightingcompany，butasthecapitalstockofthatcompanywasincreasedfromtimetotime，hisproportiongrewsmaller，andheultimatelyusedittoobtainreadymoneywithwhichtocreateandfinancethevarious“shops“inwhichweremanufacturedthevariousitemsofelectric-
lightingapparatusnecessarytoexploithissystem。Besides，hewasobligedtoraiseadditionallargesumsofmoneyfromothersourcesforthispurpose。Hethusbecameamanufacturerwithcapitalraisedbyhimself，andthestockthathereceivedlater，ontheformationoftheGeneralElectricCompany，wasnotforhiselectric-lightpatents，butwasinpaymentforhismanufacturingestablishments，whichhadthengrowntobeofgreatcommercialimportance。
“IntheearlydaysIwasexperimentingwithmetallicfilamentsfortheincandescentlight，andsentacertainmanouttoCaliforniainsearchofplatinum。
Hefoundaconsiderablequantityinthesluice-boxesoftheCherokeeValleyMiningCompany；butjustthenhefoundalsothatfruit-gardeningwasthething，anddroppedthesubject。Hethencametomeandsaidthatifhecouldraise$4000hecouldgointosomekindoforchardarrangementoutthere，andwouldgivemehalftheprofits。Iwasunwillingtodoit，nothavingverymuchmoneyjustthen，buthispersistencewassuchthatIraisedthemoneyandgaveittohim。HewentbacktoCalifornia，andgotintominingclaimsandintofruit-growing，andbecameoneofthepoliticiansoftheCoast，and，Ibelieve，wasonthestaffoftheGovernoroftheState。Acoupleofyearsagohewoundedhisdaughterandshothimselfbecausehehadbecomeruinedfinancially。I
neverheardfromhimafterhegotthemoney。“
Edisontellsofanothersimilarepisode。“Ihadtwomenworkingforme——oneaGerman，theotheraJew。
TheywantedmetoputupalittlemoneyandstarttheminashopinNewYorktomakerepairs，etc。I
putup$800，andwastogethalfoftheprofits，andeachofthemone-quarter。Inevergotanythingforit。AfewyearsafterwardIwenttoseethem，andaskedwhattheyweredoing，andsaidIwouldliketosellmyinterest。Theysaid：`Selloutwhat？\'
`Why，\'Isaid，`myinterestinthemachinery。\'Theysaid：`Youdon\'townthismachinery。Thisisourmachinery。Youhavenopaperstoshowanything。
Youhadbettergetout。\'IaminclinedtothinkthatthepercentageofcrookedpeoplewassmallerwhenIwasyoung。Ithasbeensteadilyrising，andhasgotuptoaveryrespectablefigurenow。Ihopeitwillneverreachpar。“Towhichlugubriousepisodesoprovocativeofcynicism，Edisonadds：“WhenIwasayoungfellowthefirstthingIdidwhenIwenttoatownwastoputsomethingintothesavings-bankandstartanaccount。WhenIcametoNewYorkIput$30intoasavings-bankundertheNewYorkSunoffice。Afterthemoneyhadbeeninabouttwoweeksthebankbusted。Thatwasin1870。In1909
Igotback$6。40，withachargefor$1。75forlawexpenses。ThatshowsthebeautyofNewYorkreceiverships。“
ItishardlytobewonderedatthatEdisonisratherfrankandunsparinginsomeofhiscriticismsofshadymodernbusinessmethods，andthementionofthefollowingincidentalwaysprovokeshimtoafinescorn。“IhadaninterviewwithoneofthewealthiestmeninNewYork。Hewantedmetoselloutmyassociatesintheelectriclightingbusiness，andofferedmeallIwasgoingtogetand$100，000besides。OfcourseIwouldnotdoit。IfoundoutthatthereasonforthisofferwasthathehadhadtroublewithMr。
Morgan，andwantedtogetevenwithhim。“WallStreetis，infact，afrequentobjectofrathersarcasticreference，applyingeventoitsregularandprobablycorrectmethodsofbanking。“WhenIwasrunningmyore-mine，“hesays，“andgotuptothepointofmakingshipmentstoJohnFritz，Ididn\'thavecapitalenoughtocarrytheore，soIwenttoJ。P。Morgan&
Co。andsaidIwantedthemtogivemealettertotheCityBank。Iwantedtoraisesomemoney。
IgotalettertoMr。Stillman；andwentoverandtoldhimIwantedtoopenanaccountandgetsomeloansanddiscounts。Heturnedmedown，andwouldnotdoit。`Well，\'Isaid，`isn\'titbankingtohelpamaninthisway？\'Hesaid：`Whatyouwantisapartner。\'
Ifeltverymuchcrestfallen。IwentovertoabankinNewark——theMerchants\'——andtoldthemwhatI
wanted。Theysaid：`Certainly，youcanhavethemoney。\'Imademydeposit，andtheypulledmethroughallright。MyideaofWallStreetbankinghasbeenverypoorsincethattime。Merchantbankingseemstobedifferent。“
Asageneralthing，Edisonhashadnotroubleinraisingmoneywhenheneededit，thereasonbeingthatpeoplehavefaithinhimassoonastheycometoknowhim。Alittleincidentbearsonthispoint。
“InoperatingtheSchenectadyworksMr。InsullandIhadaterribleburden。Wehadenormousordersandlittlemoney，andhadgreatdifficultytomeetourpay-
rollsandbuysupplies。Atonetimewehadsomanyordersonhandwewanted$200，000worthofcopper，anddidn\'thaveacenttobuyit。WewentdowntotheAnsoniaBrassandCopperCompany，andtoldMr。
Cowlesjusthowwestood。Hesaid：`IwillseewhatIcando。Willyouletmybookkeeperlookatyourbooks？\'Wesaid：`Comerightupandlookthemover。\'Hesenthismanupandfoundwehadtheordersandwereallright，althoughwedidn\'thavethemoney。Hesaid：`Iwillletyouhavethecopper。\'
Andforyearshetrustedusforallthecopperwewanted，evenifwedidn\'thavethemoneytopayforit。“
ItisnotgenerallyknownthatEdison，inadditiontobeinganewsboyandacontributortothetechnicalpress，hasalsobeenabackerandan“angel“forvariouspublications。Thisisperhapstherightplaceatwhichtorefertothematter，asitbelongsinthelistofhisfinancialorcommercialenterprises。Edisonsumsupthischapterofhislifeverypithily。“Iwasinterested，asatelegrapher，injournalism，andstartedtheTelegraphJournal，andgotoutaboutadozennumberswhenitwastakenoverbyW。J。Johnston，whoafterwardfoundedtheElectricalWorldonitasanoffshootfromtheOperator。IalsostartedScience，andranitforayearandahalf。Itcostmetoomuchmoneytomaintain，andIsoldittoGardinerHubbard，thefather-in-lawofAlexanderGrahamBell。
Hecarrieditalongforyears。“Boththesepapersarestillinprosperousexistence，particularlytheElectricalWorld，astherecognizedexponentofelectricaldevelopmentinAmerica，wherenowthepublicspendsasmuchannuallyforelectricityasitdoesfordailybread。
FromallthathasbeensaidaboveitwillbeunderstoodthatEdison\'srealandremarkablecapacityforbusinessdoesnotlieinabilityto“takecareofhimself，“
norinthedirectionofroutineofficepractice，noreveninordinaryadministrativeaffairs。Inshort，hewouldanddoesregarditasafoolishwasteofhistimetogiveattentiontothemereoccupancyofadesk。
Hiscommercialstrengthmanifestsitselfratherintheoutliningofmattersrelatingtoorganizationandbroadpolicywithasagacityarisingfromashrewdperceptionandappreciationofgeneralbusinessrequirementsandconditions，towhichshouldbeaddedhisintenselycomprehensivegraspofmanufacturingpossibilitiesanddetails，andanunceasingvigilanceindevisingmeansofimprovingthequalityofproductsandincreasingtheeconomyoftheirmanufacture。
Likeothersuccessfulcommanders，Edisonalsopossessesthehappyfacultyofchoosingsuitablelieutenantstocarryouthispoliciesandtomanagetheindustrieshehascreated，such，forinstance，asthosewithwhichthischapterhastodeal——namely，thephonograph，motionpicture，primarybattery，andstoragebatteryenterprises。
ThePortlandcementbusinesshasalreadybeendealtwithseparately，andalthoughtheaboveremarksareappropriatetoitalso，Edisonbeingitsheadandinformingspirit，thefollowingpagesareintendedtobedevotedtothoseindustriesthataregroupedaroundthelaboratoryatOrange，andthatmaybetakenastypicalofEdison\'smethodsonthemanufacturingside。
Withinafewmonthsafterestablishinghimselfatthepresentlaboratory，in1887，Edisonenteredupononeofthoseintenselyactiveperiodsofworkthathavebeensocharacteristicofhismethodsincommercializinghisotherinventions。Inthiscasehislaborsweredirectedtowardimprovingthephonographsoastoputitintothoroughlypracticableform，capableofordinaryusebythepublicatlarge。
Thenetresultofthisworkwasthegeneraltypeofmachineofwhichthewell-knownphonographoftodayisarefinementevolvedthroughmanyyearsofsustainedexperimentandimprovement。
Afteraconsiderableperiodofstrenuousactivityintheeighties，thephonographanditswaxrecordsweredevelopedtoasufficientdegreeofperfectiontowarranthiminmakingarrangementsfortheirmanufactureandcommercialintroduction。AtthistimethesurroundingsoftheOrangelaboratoryweredistinctlyruralincharacter。Immediatelyadjacenttothemainbuildingandthefoursmallerstructures，constitutingthelaboratoryplant，weregrassmeadowsthatstretchedawayforsomeconsiderabledistanceinalldirections，andatitsbackdoor，sotospeak，duckspaddledaroundandquackedinapondundisturbed。Beingnowreadyformanufacturing，butrequiringmorefacilities，Edisonincreasedhisreal-estateholdingsbypurchasingalargetractoflandlyingcontiguoustowhathealreadyowned。Atoneendofthenewlyacquiredlandtwounpretentiousbrickstructureswereerected，equippedwithfirst-
classmachinery，andputintocommissionasshopsformanufacturingphonographsandtheirrecordblanks；whilethecapacioushallformingthethirdstoryofthelaboratory，overthelibrary，wasfittedupandusedasamusic-roomwhererecordsweremade。
ThusthemodernEdisonphonographmadeitsmodestdebutin1888，inwhatwasthencalledthe“Improved“formtodistinguishitfromtheoriginalstyleofmachineheinventedin1877，inwhichtherecordwasmadeonasheetoftin-foilheldinplaceuponametalliccylinder。The“Improved“formisthegeneraltypesowellknownformanyyearsandsoldatthepresentday——viz。，thespringorelectricmotor-drivenmachinewiththecylindricalwaxrecord——infact，theregulationEdisonphonograph。
Itdidnottakealongtimetofindamarketfortheproductsofthenewlyestablishedfactory，foraworld-
widepublicinterestinthemachinehadbeencreatedbytheappearanceofnewspaperarticlesfromtimetotime，announcingtheapproachingcompletionbyEdisonofhisimprovedphonograph。Theoriginaltin-foilmachinehadbeensufficienttoillustratethefactthatthehumanvoiceandothersoundscouldberecordedandreproduced，butsuchatypeofmachinehadsharplimitationsingeneraluse；
hencethecomingintobeingofatypethatanyordinarypersoncouldhandlewassufficientofitselftoinsureamarket。Thusthedemandforthenewmachinesandwaxrecordsgrewapaceasthecorporationsorganizedtohandlethebusinessextendedtheirlines。Anexaminationofthenewspaperfilesoftheyears1888，1889，and1890willrevealthegreatexcitementcausedbythebringingoutofthenewphonograph，andhowfrequentlyandsuccessfullyitwasemployedinpublicentertainments，eitherforthewholeorpartofanevening。Inthisandotherwaysitbecamepopularizedtoastillfurtherextent。
Thisledtothedemandforanickel-in-the-slotmachine，which，whenestablished，becameimmenselypopularoverthewholecountry。Initsearlierformsthe“Improved“phonographwasnotcapableofsuchgeneralnon-experthandlingasisthemachineofthepresentday，andconsequentlytherewasaconstantendeavoronEdison\'sparttosimplifytheconstructionofthemachineanditsmannerofopera-
tion。Experimentationwasincessantlygoingonwiththisinview，andintheprocessesofevolutionchangesweremadehereandtherethatresultedinastillgreatermeasureofperfection。
Invariouswaystherewasacontinualslowandsteadygrowthoftheindustrythuscreated，necessitatingtheerectionofmanyadditionalbuildingsastheyearspassedby。Duringpartofthelastdecadetherewasalull，causedmostlyfromthefailureofcorporateintereststocarryouttheircontractrelationswithEdison，andhewastherebycompelledtoresorttolegalproceedings，attheendofwhichheboughtintheoutstandingcontractsandassumedcommandofthebusinesspersonally。
Beingthusfreedfrommanyirksomerestrictionsthathadhungheavilyuponhim，Edisonnowproceededtopushthephonographbusinessunderabroaderpolicythanthatwhichobtainedunderhispreviouscontractualrelations。Withtheever-increasingsimplificationandefficiencyofthemachineandabroadeningofitsapplication，theresultsofthispolicyweremanifestedinastillmorerapidgrowthofthebusinessthatnecessitatedfurtheradditionstothemanufacturingplant。Andthusmatterswentonuntiltheearlypartofthepresentdecade，whenthefactoryfacilitieswerebecomingsorapidlyoutgrownastorenderradicalchangesnecessary。ItwasinthesecircumstancesthatEdison\'ssagacityandbreadthofbusinesscapacitycametothefront。Withcharacteristicboldnessandforesightheplannedtheerectionoftheseriesofmagnificentconcretebuildingsthatnowstandadjacenttoandaroundthelaboratory，andinwhichthemanufacturingplantisatpresenthoused。
Therewasnonarrownessinhisviewsindesigningthesebuildings，but，onthecontrary，greatfaithinthefuture，forhisplansincludednotonlythephonographindustry，butprovidedalsoforthecomingdevelopmentofmotionpicturesandoftheprimaryandstoragebatteryenterprises。
Intheaggregatetherearetwelvestructuresincludingtheadministrationbuilding，ofwhichsixareofimposingdimensions，runningfrom200feetlongby50feetwideto440feetinlengthby115feetinwidth，alltheselargerbuildings，exceptone，beingfivestoriesinheight。TheyareconstructedentirelyofreinforcedconcretewithEdisoncement，includingwalls，floors，andstairways，thuseliminatingfirehazardtotheutmostextent，andinsuringahighdegreeofprotection，cleanliness，andsanitation。Asfullythree-fourthsoftheareaoftheirexteriorframeworkconsistsofwindows，anabundanceofdaylightissecured。Thesemanyadvantages，combinedwithloftyceilingsoneveryfloor，provideidealconditionsforthethousandsofworkingpeopleengagedinthisimmenseplant。
Inadditiontothesetwelveconcretestructuresthereareafewsmallerbrickandwoodenbuildingsonthegrounds，inwhichsomespecialoperationsareconducted。These，however，arefewinnumber，andatsomefuturetimewillbeconcentratedinoneormoreadditionalconcretebuildings。Itwillaffordaclearerideaoftheextentoftheindustriesclusteredimmediatelyaroundthelaboratorywhenitisstatedthatthecombinedfloorspacewhichisoccupiedbytheminallthesebuildingsisequivalentintheaggregatetooverfourteenacres。
Itwouldbeinstructive，butscarcelywithinthescopeofthenarrative，toconductthereaderthroughthisextensiveplantandseeitsmanyinterestingoperationsindetail。Itmustsuffice，however，tonoteitscompleteandampleequipmentwithmodernmachineryofeverykindapplicabletothework；
itsnumerousandsomeofthemwonderfullyingenious
methods，processes，machines，andtoolsspeciallydesignedorinventedforthemanufactureofspecialpartsandsupplementalappliancesforthephonographorotherEdisonproducts；andalsotonotetheinterestingvarietyoftradesrepresentedinthedifferentdepartments，inwhichareincludedchemists，electricians，electricalmechanicians，machinists，mechanics，pattern-makers，carpenters，cabinet-makers，varnishers，japanners，tool-makers，lapidaries，waxexperts，photographicdevelopersandprinters，opticians，electroplaters，furnacemen，andothers，togetherwithfactoryexperimentersandahostofgeneralemployees，whobycarefultraininghavebecomespecialistsandexpertsinnumerousbranchesoftheseindustries。
Edison\'splansforthismanufacturingplantweresufficientlywelloutlinedtoprovideamplecapacityforthenaturalgrowthofthebusiness；andalthoughthatcapacitysofarasphonographsisconcerned
hasactuallyreachedanoutputofover6000completephonographsPERWEEK，andupwardof130，000
moldedrecordsPERDAY——withapay-rollembracingover3500employees，includingofficeforce——andamountingtoabout$45，000perweek——thelimitsofproductionhavenotyetbeenreached。