GoingbacktoCincinnatiandbeginninghissecondtermthereasanoperator，Edisonfoundtheofficeinnewquartersandwithgreatlyimprovedmanagement。

Hewasagainputonnightduty，muchtohissatisfaction。Herentedaroominthetopfloorofanofficebuilding，boughtacotandanoil-stove，afootlathe，andsometools。HecultivatedtheacquaintanceofMr。Sommers，superintendentoftelegraphoftheCincinnati&IndianapolisRailroad，whogavehimpermissiontotakesuchscrapapparatusashemightdesire，thatwasofnousetothecompany。

WithSommersononeoccasionhehadanopportunitytoindulgehisalwaysstrongsenseofhumor。“Sommerswasaverywittyman，“hesays，“andfondofexperimenting。Weworkedonaself-adjustingtelegraphrelay，whichwouldhavebeenveryvaluableifwecouldhavegotit。Isoonbecamethepossessorofasecond-handRuhmkorffinductioncoil，which，althoughitwouldonlygiveasmallspark，wouldtwistthearmsandclutchthehandsofamansothathecouldnotletgooftheapparatus。Onedaywewentdowntotheround-houseoftheCincinnati&

IndianapolisRailroadandconnectedupthelongwash-

tankintheroomwiththecoil，oneelectrodebeingconnectedtoearth。Abovethiswash-roomwasaflatroof。Weboredaholethroughtheroof，andcouldseethemenastheycamein。Thefirstmanasheentereddippedhishandsinthewater。Thefloorbeingwetheformedacircuit，andupwenthishands。Hetrieditthesecondtime，withthesameresult。Hethenstoodagainstthewallwithapuzzledexpression。Wesurmisedthathewaswaitingforsomebodyelsetocomein，whichoccurredshortlyafter——withthesameresult。Thentheywentout，andtheplacewassooncrowded，andtherewasconsiderableexcitement。Varioustheorieswerebroachedtoexplainthecuriousphenomenon。Weenjoyedthesportimmensely。“Itmustberememberedthatthiswasoverfortyyearsago，whentherewasnopopularinstructioninelectricity，andwhenitspossibilitiesforpracticaljokingwereknowntoveryfew。To-daysuchacrowdofworking-menwouldbesuretoincludeatleastonestudentofanightschoolorcorrespondencecoursewhowouldexplainthemysteryoffhand。

NotehasbeenmadeofthepresenceofEllsworthintheCincinnatioffice，andhisservicewiththeConfederateguerrillaMorgan，forwhomhetappedFederalwires，readmilitarymessages，sentfalseones，anddidseriousmischiefgenerally。Itiswellknownthatoneoperatorcanrecognizeanotherbythewayinwhichhemakeshissignals——itishisstyleofhandwriting。Ellsworthpossessedinaremarkabledegreetheskillofimitatingthesepeculiarities，andthushedeceivedtheUnionoperatorseasily。Edisonsaysthatwhileapparentlyaquietmaninbearing，Ellsworth，aftertheexcitementoffighting，foundthetamenessofatelegraphofficeobnoxious，andthathebecameabad“gunman“inthePanhandleofTexas，wherehewaskilled。“Wesoonbecameacquainted，“

saysEdisonofthisperiodinCincinnati，“andhewantedmetoinventasecretmethodofsendingdespatchessothatanintermediateoperatorcouldnottapthewireandunderstandit。Hesaidthatifitcouldbeaccomplished，hecouldsellittotheGovern-

mentforalargesumofmoney。Thissuitedme，andIstartedinandsucceededinmakingsuchaninstrument，whichhadinitthegermofmyquadruplexnowusedthroughouttheworld，permittingthedespatchoffourmessagesoveronewiresimultaneously。

BythetimeIhadsucceededingettingtheapparatustowork，Ellsworthsuddenlydisappeared。ManyyearsafterwardIusedthislittledeviceagainforthesamepurpose。AtMenloPark，NewJersey，Ihadmylaboratory。TherewereseveralWesternUnionwirescutintothelaboratory，andusedbymeinexperimentingatnight。OnedayIsatnearaninstrumentwhichIhadleftconnectedduringthenight。

IsoonfounditwasaprivatewirebetweenNewYorkandPhiladelphia，andIheardamongalotofstuffamessagethatsurprisedme。AweekafterthatI

hadoccasiontogotoNewYork，and，visitingtheofficeofthelesseeofthewire，Iaskedhimifhehadn'tsentsuchandsuchamessage。Theexpressionthatcameoverhisfacewasasight。HeaskedmehowI

knewofanymessage。Itoldhimthecircumstances，andsuggestedthathehadbetterciphersuchcommunications，orputonasecretsounder。TheresultoftheinterviewwasthatIinstalledforhimmyoldCincinnatiapparatus，whichwasusedthereafterformanyyears。“

EdisondidnotmakeaverylongstayinCincinnatithistime，butwenthomeafterawhiletoPortHuron。

Soontiringofidlenessandisolationhesent“acryfromMacedonia“tohisoldfriend“Milt“Adams，whowasinBoston，andwhomhewishedtorejoinifhecouldgetworkpromptlyintheEast。

Edisonhimselfgivesthedetailsofthiseventfulmove，whenhewentEasttogrowupwiththenewartofelectricity。“IhadleftLouisvillethesecondtime，andwenthometoseemyparents。Afterstoppingathomeforsometime，Igotrestless，andthoughtIwouldliketoworkintheEast。KnowingthataformeroperatornamedAdams，whohadworkedwithmeintheCincinnatioffice，wasinBoston，IwrotehimthatIwantedajobthere。HewrotebackthatifIcameonimmediatelyhecouldgetmeintheWesternUnionoffice。IhadhelpedouttheGrandTrunkRailroadtelegraphpeoplebyanewdevicewhentheylostoneofthetwosubmarinecablestheyhadacrosstheriver，makingtheremainingcableactjustaswellfortheirpurpose，asiftheyhadtwo。

IthoughtIwasentitledtoapass，whichtheyconceded；andIstartedforBoston。AfterleavingTorontoaterrificblizzardcameupandthetraingotsnowedunderinacut。Afterstayingtheretwenty-

fourhours，thetrainmenmadesnowshoesoffence-

railsplintsandstartedouttofindfood，whichtheydidaboutahalfmileaway。Theyfoundaroadsideinn，andbymeansofsnowshoesallthepassengersweretakentotheinn。ThetrainreachedMontrealfourdayslate。Anumberofthepassengersandmyselfwenttothemilitaryheadquarterstotestifyinfavorofasoldierwhowasonfurlough，andwastwodayslate，whichwasaseriousmatterwithmilitarypeople，I

learned。Wewillinglydidthis，forthissoldierwasagreatstory-teller，andmadethetimepassquickly。

ImethereatelegraphoperatornamedStanton，whotookmetohisboarding-house，themostcheer-

lessIhaveeverbeenin。Nobodygotenoughtoeat；

thebedclothesweretooshortandtoothin；itwas28degreesbelowzero，andthewash-waterwasfrozensolid。Theboardwascheap，beingonly$1。50perweek。

“Stantonsaidthattheusuallive-stockaccompanimentofoperators'boarding-houseswasabsent；

hethoughttheintensecoldhadcausedthemtohibernate。Stanton，whenIwasworkinginCincinnati，lefthispositionandwentoutontheUnionPacifictoworkatJulesburg，whichwasacattletownatthattimeandverytough。Irememberseeinghimoffonthetrain，neverexpectingtoseehimagain。

Sixmonthsafterward，whileworkingpresswireinCincinnati，about2A。M。，therewasflungintothemiddleoftheoperating-roomalargetinbox。Itmadeareportlikeapistol，andwealljumpedupstartled。

InwalkedStanton。`Gentlemen，'hesaid`IhavejustreturnedfromapleasuretriptothelandbeyondtheMississippi。Allmywealthiscontainedinmymetallictravellingcaseandyouarewelcometoit。'

Thecasecontainedonepapercollar。Hesatdown，andInoticedthathehadawoollencomforteraroundhisneckwithhiscoatbuttonedclosely。Thenightwasintenselywarm。Hethenopenedhiscoatandrevealedthefactthathehadnothingbutthebareskin。`Gentlemen，'saidhe，`youseebeforeyouanoperatorwhohasreachedthelimitofimpecuniosity。'“

NotfarfromthelimitofimpecuniositywasEdisonhimself，ashelandedinBostonin1868afterthiswintryordeal。

Thischapterhasruntounduelength，butitmustnotclosewithoutonecitationfromhighauthorityastotheserviceofthemilitarytelegraphcorpssooftenreferredtoinit。GeneralGrantinhisMemoirs，describingthemovementsoftheArmyofthePotomac，laysstressontheserviceofhistelegraphoperators，andsays：“Nothingcouldbemorecompletethantheorganizationanddisciplineofthisbodyofbraveandintelligentmen。Insulatedwireswerewounduponreels，twomenandamuledetailedtoeachreel。Thepack-saddlewasprovidedwitharacklikeasawbuck，placedcrosswise，sothatthewheelwouldrevolvefreely；therewasawagonprovidedwithatelegraphoperator，battery，andinstrumentsforeachdivisioncorpsandarmy，andformyheadquarters。Wagonswerealsoloadedwithlightpolessuppliedwithanironspikeateachendtoholdthewiresup。Themomenttroopswereinpositiontogointocamp，themenwouldputuptheirwires。

Thusinafewminutes'longertimethanittookamuletowalkthelengthofitscoil，telegraphiccommunicationwouldbeeffectedbetweenalltheheadquartersofthearmy。Noorderseverhadtobegiventoestablishthetelegraph。“

CHAPTERVI

WORKANDINVENTIONINBOSTON

MILTONADAMSwasworkingintheofficeoftheFranklinTelegraphCompanyinBostonwhenhereceivedEdison'sappealfromPortHuron，andwithcharacteristicimpetuosityatoncemadeithisbusinesstosecureapositionforhisfriend。TherewasnoopeningintheFranklinoffice，soAdamswentovertotheWesternUnionoffice，andaskedthemanager，Mr。GeorgeF。Milliken，ifhedidnotwantanoperatorwho，likeyoungLochinvar，cameoutoftheWest。“Whatkindofcopydoeshemake？”wasthecautiousresponse。“IpassedEdison'sletterthroughthewindowforhisinspection。Millikenreadit，andalookofsurprisecameoverhiscountenanceasheaskedmeifhecouldtakeitoffthelinelikethat。I

saidhecertainlycould，andthattherewasnobodywhocouldstickhim。MillikensaidthatifhewasthatkindofanoperatorIcouldsendforhim，andIwrotetoEdisontocomeon，asIhadajobforhiminthemainofficeoftheWesternUnion。“MeantimeEdisonhadsecuredhispassovertheGrandTrunkRailroad，andspentfourdaysandnightsonthejourney，sufferingextremesofcoldandhunger。Franklin'sarrivalinPhiladelphiafindsitsparallelintheverymodestdebutofAdams'sfriendinBoston。

IttookonlyfiveminutesforEdisontogetthe“job，“forSuperintendentMilliken，afinetypeoftelegraphofficial，sawquicklythroughthesuperficialities，andrealizedthatitwasnoordinaryyoungoperatorhewasengaging。Edisonhimselftellsthestoryofwhathappened。“ThemanageraskedmewhenIwasreadytogotowork。`Now，'IrepliedIwasthentoldtoreturnat5。30P。M。，andpunctuallyatthathourIenteredthemainoperating-roomandwasintroducedtothenightmanager。Theweatherbeingcold，andbeingclothedpoorly，mypeculiarappearancecausedmuchmirth，and，asIafterwardlearned，thenightoperatorshadconsultedtogetherhowtheymight`putupajobonthejayfromthewoollyWest。'IwasgivenapenandassignedtotheNewYorkNo。1wire。Afterwaitinganhour，IwastoldtocomeovertoaspecialtableandtakeaspecialreportfortheBostonHerald，theconspiratorshavingarrangedtohaveoneofthefastestsendersinNewYorksendthedespatchand`salt'thenewman。Isatdownunsuspiciouslyatthetable，andtheNewYorkmanstartedslowly。Soonheincreasedhisspeed，towhichIeasilyadaptedmypace。Thisputmyrivalonhismettle，andheputonhisbestpowers，which，however，weresoonreached。

AtthispointIhappenedtolookup，andsawtheoperatorsalllookingovermyshoulder，withtheirfacesshiningwithfunandexcitement。Iknewthenthattheyweretryingtoputupajobonme，butkeptmyowncounsel。TheNewYorkmanthencommencedtosluroverhiswords，runningthemtogetherandstickingthesignals；butIhadbeenusedtothisstyleoftelegraphyintakingreport，andwasnotintheleastdiscomfited。Finally，whenIthoughtthefunhadgonefarenough，andhavingaboutcompletedthespecial，Iquietlyopenedthekeyandremarked，telegraphically，tomyNewYorkfriend：

`Say，youngman，changeoffandsendwithyourotherfoot。'ThisbroketheNewYorkmanallup，andheturnedthejobovertoanothermantofinish。“

Edisonhadadistastefortakingpressreport，duetothefactthatitwassteady，continuouswork，andinterferedwiththestudiesandinvestigationsthatcouldbecarriedonintheintervalsofordinarycommercialtelegraphy。Hewasnotlazyinanysense。

Whilehehadnoverylivelyinterestinthemereroutineworkofatelegraphoffice，hehadtheprofoundestcuriosityastotheunderlyingprinciplesofelectricitythatmadetelegraphypossible，andhehadanunflaggingdesireandbeliefinhisownabilitytoimprovetheapparatushehandleddaily。ThewholeintellectualatmosphereofBostonwasfavorabletothedevelopmentofthebroodinggeniusinthisshy，awkward，studiousyouth，utterlyindifferenttoclothesandpersonalappearance，butreadytospendhislastdollaronbooksandscientificparaphernalia。ItismatterofrecordthathedidoncebuyanewsuitforthirtydollarsinBoston，butthefollowingSunday，whileexperimentingwithacidsinhislittleworkshop，thesuitwasspoiled。“ThatiswhatIgetforputtingsomuchmoneyinanewsuit，“

wasthelaconicremarkoftheyouth，whowasmorethandelightedtopickupacompletesetofFaraday'sworksaboutthesametime。AdamssaysthatwhenEdisonbroughthomethesebooksat4A。M。hereadsteadilyuntilbreakfast-time，andthenheremarked，enthusiastically：“Adams，Ihavegotsomuchtodoandlifeissoshort，Iamgoingtohustle。“Andthereuponhestartedonarunforbreakfast。Edisonhimselfsays：“ItwasinBostonIboughtFaraday'sworks。IthinkImusthavetriedabouteverythinginthosebooks。Hisexplanationsweresimple。Heusednomathematics。HewastheMasterExperimenter。

Idon'tthinkthereweremanycopiesofFaraday'sworkssoldinthosedays。Theonlypeoplewhodidanythinginelectricitywerethetelegraphersandtheopticiansmakingsimpleschoolapparatustodemonstratetheprinciples。“OneofthesefirmswasPalmer&Hall，whosecatalogueof1850showedaminiatureelectriclocomotivemadebyMr。ThomasHall，andexhibitedinoperationthefollowingyearattheCharitableMechanics'FairinBoston。In1852Mr。HallmadeforaDr。A。L。Henderson，ofBuffalo，NewYork，amodellineofrailroadwithelectric-motorengine，telegraphline，andelectricrailroadsignals，togetherwithafigureoperatingthesignalsateachendofthelineautomatically。Thiswasinrealitythefirstexampleofrailroadtrainsmovedbytelegraphsignals，apracticenowsocommonanduniversalastoattractnocomment。Toshowhowlittlesomefundamentalmethodscanchangeinfiftyyears，itmaybenotedthatHallconveyedthecurrenttohistinycarthroughfortyfeetofrail，usingtherailasconductor，justasEdisondidmorethanthirtyyearslaterinhishistoricexperimentsforVillardatMenloPark；andjustasalargepro-

portionofAmericantrolleysystemsdoatthispresentmoment。

Itwasamongsuchpractical，investigatingfolkasthesethatEdisonwasverymuchathome。Anothernotablemanofthisstamp，withwhomEdisonwasthrownincontact，wasthelateMr。CharlesWilliams，who，beginninghiscareerintheelectricalfieldintheforties，wasattheheightofactivityasamakerofapparatuswhenEdisonarrivedinthecity；andwhoafterward，asanassociateofAlexanderGrahamBell，enjoyedthedistinctionofbeingthefirstmanufacturerintheworldoftelephones。AthisCourtStreetworkshopEdisonwasafrequentvisitor。Telegraphrepairsandexperimentsweregoingonconstantly，especiallyontheearlyfire-alarmtelegraphs[1]

ofFarmerandGamewell，andwiththeaidofoneofthementhere——probablyGeorgeAnders——Edisonworkedoutintoanoperativemodelhisfirstinvention，avote-

recorder，thefirstEdisonpatent，forwhichpaperswereexecutedonOctober11，1868，andwhichwastakenoutJune1，1869，No。90，646。ThepurposeofthisparticulardevicewastopermitavoteintheNationalHouseofRepresentativestobetakeninaminuteorso，completelistsbeingfurnishedofallmembersvotingonthetwosidesofanyquestionMr。Edison，inrecallingthecircumstances，says：

“Robertswasthetelegraphoperatorwhowasthefinancialbackertotheextentof$100。TheinventionwhencompletedwastakentoWashington。IthinkitwasexhibitedbeforeacommitteethathadsomethingtodowiththeCapitol。Thechairmanofthecommittee，afterseeinghowquicklyandperfectlyitworked，said：`Youngman，ifthereisanyinventiononearththatwedon'twantdownhere，itisthis。

Oneofthegreatestweaponsinthehandsofaminoritytopreventbadlegislationisfilibusteringonvotes，andthisinstrumentwouldpreventit。'Isawthetruthofthis，becauseaspressoperatorIhadtakenmilesofCongressionalproceedings，andtothisdayanenormousamountoftimeiswastedduringeachsessionoftheHouseinfoolishlycallingthemembers'

namesandrecordingandthenaddingtheirvotes，whenthewholeoperationcouldbedoneinalmostamomentbymerelypressingaparticularbuttonateachdesk。Forfilibusteringpurposes，however，thepresentmethodsaremostadmirable。“

Edisondeterminedfromthattimeforthtodevotehisinventivefacultiesonlytothingsforwhichtherewasareal，genuinedemand，somethingthatsubservedtheactualnecessitiesofhumanity。ThisfirstpatentwastakenoutforhimbythelateHon。CarrollD。Wright，afterwardU。S。CommissionerofLabor，andawell-knownpublicist，thenpracticingpatentlawinBoston。HedescribesEdisonasuncouthinmanner，achewerratherthanasmokeroftobacco，butfullofintelligenceandideas。

[1]Thegeneralschemeofafire-alarmtelegraphsystemembodiesacentralofficetowhichnoticecanbesentfromanynumberofsignalboxesoftheoutbreakofafireinthedistrictcoveredbythebox，thecentralofficeinturncallingoutthenearestfireengines，andwarningthefiredepartmentingeneraloftheoccurrence。Suchfirealarmscanbeexchangedautomatically，orbyoperators，andaresometimesassociatedwithalargefire-alarmbellorwhistle。Someboxescanbeoperatedbythepassingpublic；

othersneedspecialkeys。Theboxmechanismisusuallyoftheratchet，step-by-stepmovement，familiarindistrictmessengercall-boxes。

Edison'scuriouslypractical，thoughimaginative，minddemandedrealitiestoworkupon，thingsthatbelongto“humannature'sdailyfood，“andhesoonharkedbacktotelegraphy，adomaininwhichhewasdestinedtosucceed，andoverwhichhewastoreignsupremeasaninventor。Hedidnot，however，neglectchemistry，butindulgedhistastesinthatdirectionfreely，althoughwehavenorecordthatthisworkwasanythingmore，atthattime，thanthecarryingoutofexperimentsoutlinedinthebooks。

Thefoundationswerebeinglaidfortheremarkablechemicalknowledgethatlaterongrappledsuccessfullywithsomanyknottyproblemsintherealmofchemistry；notablywiththeincandescentlampandthestoragebattery。Ofoneincidentinhischemicalexperimentshetellsthefollowingstory：“Ihadreadinascientificpaperthemethodofmakingnitroglycerine，andwassofiredbythewonderfulpropertiesitwassaidtopossess，thatIdeterminedtomakesomeofthecompound。Wetestedwhatweconsideredaverysmallquantity，butthisproducedsuchterribleandunexpectedresultsthatwebecamealarmed，thefactdawninguponusthatwehadaverylargewhiteelephantinourpossession。At6A。M。I

puttheexplosiveintoasarsaparillabottle，tiedastringtoit，wrappeditinapaper，andgentlyletitdownintothesewer，cornerofStateandWashingtonStreets。“Theassociateinthiswasamanwhomhehadfoundendeavoringtomakeelectricalapparatusforsleight-of-handperformances。

IntheBostontelegraphofficeatthattime，asperhapsatothers，therewereoperatorsstudyingtoen-

tercollege；possiblysomewerealreadyinattendanceatHarvardUniversity。Thisconditionwasnotunusualatonetime；thefirstelectricalengineergraduatedfromColumbiaUniversity，NewYork，followeduphisstudieswhileanightoperator，andcameoutbrilliantlyattheheadofhisclass。Edisonsaysofthesescholarsthattheyparadedtheirknowledgeratherfreely，andthatitwashisdelighttogotothesecond-handbookstoresonCornhillandstudyupquestionswhichhecouldspringuponthemwhenhegotanoccasion。WiththoseengagedonnightdutyhegotmidnightlunchfromanoldIrishmancalled“theCakeMan，“whoappearedregularlywithhiswaresat12midnight。“Theofficewasonthegroundfloor，andhadbeenarestaurantprevioustoitsoccupationbytheWesternUnionTelegraphCompany。Itwasliterallyloadedwithcockroaches，whichlivedbetweenthewallandtheboardrunningaroundtheroomatthefloor，andwhichcameafterthelunch。TheseweresuchabotheronmytablethatIpastedtwostripsoftinfoilonthewallatmydesk，connectingonepiecetothepositivepoleofthebigbatterysupplyingcurrenttothewiresandthenegativepoletotheotherstrip。Thecockroachesmovinguponthewallwouldpassoverthestrips。Themomenttheygottheirlegsacrossbothstripstherewasaflashoflightandthecockroacheswentintogas。

Thisautomaticelectrocutingdeviceattractedsomuchattention，andgothalfacolumninaneveningpaper，thatthemanagermademestopit。“ThereaderwillrememberthatasimilarplanofcampaignagainstratswascarriedoutbyEdisonwhileintheWest。

AboutthistimeEdisonhadanarrowescapefrominjurythatmighteasilyhaveshortenedhiscareer，andheseemstohaveprovokedthetroublemoreorlessinnocentlybyusingalittleelementarychemistry。

“AfterbeinginBostonseveralmonths，“hesays，“workingNewYorkwireNo。1，Iwasrequestedtoworkthepresswire，calledthe`milkroute，'asthereweresomanytownsonittakingpresssimultaneously。

NewYorkofficehadreportedgreatdelaysonthewire，duetooperatorsconstantlyinterrupting，or`breaking，'asitwascalled，tohavewordsrepeatedwhichtheyhadfailedtoget；andNewYorkclaimedthatBostonwasoneoftheworstoffenders。Itwasaratherhardpositionforme，forifItookthereportwithoutbreaking，itwouldprovethepreviousBostonoperatorincompetent。Theresultsmadetheoperatorhavesomehardfeelingsagainstme。Hewasputbackonthewire，anddidmuchbetterafterthat。Itseemsthattheofficeboywasdownonthisman。OnenightheaskedmeifIcouldtellhimhowtofixakeysothatitwouldnot`break，'evenifthecircuit-breakerwasopen，andalsosothatitcouldnotbeeasilydetected。Itoldhimtojabapenfulofinkontheplatinumpoints，astherewassugarenoughtomakeitsufficientlythicktoholdupwhentheoperatortriedtobreak——thecurrentstillgoingthroughtheinksothathecouldnotbreak。

“Thenextnightabout1A。M。thisoperator，onthepresswire，whileIwasstandingnearaHouseprinterstudyingit，pulledoutaglassinsulator，thenusedupsidedownasasubstituteforanink-bottle，andthrewitwithgreatviolenceatme，justmissingmyhead。Itwouldcertainlyhavekilledmeifithadnotmissed。Thecauseofthetroublewasthatthisoperatorwasdoingthebesthecouldnottobreak，butbeingcompelledto，openedhiskeyandfoundhecouldn't。Thepressmattercamerightalong，andhecouldnotstopit。Theofficeboyhadputtheinkinafewminutesbefore，whentheoperatorhadturnedhisheadduringalull。Heblamedmeinstinctivelyasthecauseofthetrouble。Lateronwebecamegoodfriends。HetookhismealsatthesameemaciatorthatIdid。Hismainobjectinlifeseemedtobeacquiringtheartofthrowingupwash-pitchersandcatchingthemwithoutbreakingthem。Aboutone-thirdofhissalarywasusedupinpayingforpitchers。“

OnedayarequestreachedtheWesternUnionTelegraphofficeinBoston，fromtheprincipalofaselectschoolforyoungladies，totheeffectthatshewouldlikesomeonetobesentuptotheschooltoexhibitanddescribetheMorsetelegraphtoher“children。“TherehasalwaysbeenawarminterestinBostoninthelifeandworkofMorse，whowasbornthere，atCharlestown，barelyamilefromthebirthplaceofFranklin，andthisrequestforalittlelectureonMorse'stelegraphwasquitenatural。Edison，whowasalwaysreadytoearnsomeextramoneyforhisexperiments，andwasalreadyknownasthebest-

informedoperatorintheoffice，acceptedtheinvitation。WhathappenedisdescribedbyAdamsasfollows：“Wegatheredupacoupleofsounders，abattery，andsonicwire，andattheappointedtimecalledonhertodothestunt。Herschool-roomwasabouttwentybytwentyfeet，notincludingasmallplatform。Weriggedupthelinebetweenthetwoendsoftheroom，EdisontakingthestagewhileI

wasattheotherendoftheroom。Allbeinginreadiness，theprincipalwastoldtobringinherchildren。Thedooropenedandincameabouttwentyyoungladieselegantlygowned，notoneofwhomwasunderseventeen。WhenEdisonsawthemIthoughthewouldfaint。HecalledmeonthelineandaskedmetocometothestageandexplainthemysteriesoftheMorsesystem。IrepliedthatIthoughthewasintherightplace，andtoldhimtogetbusywithhistalkondotsanddashes。Alwaysmodest，Edisonwassoovercomehecouldhardlyspeak，buthemanagedtosay，finally，thatashisfriendMr。Adamswasbetterequippedwithcheekthanhewas，wewouldchangeplaces，andhewoulddothedemonstratingwhileIexplainedthewholething。Thiscausedthebevytoturntoseewherethelecturerwas。Iwentonthestage，saidsomething，andwedidsometelegraphingovertheline。Iguessitwassatisfactory；

wegotthemoney，whichwasthemainpointtous。“

Edisontellsthestoryinasimilarmanner，butinsiststhatitwashewhosavedthesituation。“ImanagedtosaythatIwouldworktheapparatus，andMr。

Adamswouldmaketheexplanations。Adamswassoembarrassedthathefelloveranottoman。Thegirlstittered，andthisincreasedhisembarrassmentuntilhecouldn'tsayaword。ThesituationwassodesperatethatforareasonInevercouldexplainIstartedinmyselfandtalkedandexplainedbetterthanIeverdidbeforeorsince。Icantalktotwoorthreepersons；

butwhentherearemoretheyradiatesomeunknownformofinfluencewhichparalyzesmyvocalcords。

However，Igotoutofthisscrape，andmanytimesafterwardwhenIchancedwithotheroperatorstomeetsomeoftheyoungladiesontheirwayhomefromschool，theywouldsmileandnod，muchtothemystificationoftheoperators，whowereignorantofthisepisode。“

AnotheramusingstoryofthisperiodofimpecuniosityandfinancialstrainistoldthusbyEdison：“MyfriendAdamswasworkingintheFranklinTelegraphCompany，whichcompetedwiththeWesternUnion。

Adamswaslaidoff，andashisfinancialresourceshadreachedabsolutezerocentigrade，Iundertooktolethimsleepinmyhallbedroom。Igenerallyhadhallbedrooms，becausetheywerecheapandIneededmoneytobuyapparatus。Ialsohadthepleasureofhisgenialcompanyattheboarding-houseaboutamiledistant，butatthesacrificeofsomeapparatus。

Onemorning，aswewerehasteningtobreakfast，wecameintoTremontRow，andsawalargecrowdinfrontoftwosmall`gents'furnishinggoodsstores。

Westoppedtoascertainthecauseoftheexcitement。

Onestoreputupapapersigninthedisplaywindowwhichsaid：`Three-hundredpairsofstockingsreceivedthisday，fivecentsapair——noconnectionwiththestorenextdoor。'Presentlytheotherstoreputupasignstatingtheyhadreceivedthreehundredpairs，pricethreecentsperpair，andstatedthattheyhadnoconnectionwiththestorenextdoor。Nobodywentin。Thecrowdkeptincreasing。Finally，whenthepricehadreachedthreepairsforonecent，Adamssaidtome：`Ican'tstandthisanylonger；givemeacent。'Igavehimanickel，andheelbowedhiswayin；andthrowingthemoneyonthecounter，thestorebeingfilledwithwomenclerks，hesaid：`Givemethreepairs。'Thecrowdwasbreathless，andthegirltookdownaboxanddrewoutthreepairsofbabysocks。`Oh！'saidAdams，`Iwantmen'ssize。'

`Well，sir，wedonotpermitonetopicksizesforthatamountofmoney。'Andthecrowdroared；andthisbrokeupthesales。“

IthasgenerallybeensupposedthatEdisondidnottakeupworkonthestocktickeruntilafterhisarrivalalittlelaterinNewYork；buthesays：“Afterthevote-recorderIinventedastockticker，andstartedatickerserviceinBoston；hadthirtyorfortysubscribers，andoperatedfromaroomovertheGoldExchange。ThiswasaboutayearafterCallahanstartedinNewYork。“Tosaytheleast，thisevidencedgreatabilityandenterpriseonthepartoftheyouth。ThedealingsingoldduringtheCivilWarandafteritsclosehadbroughtgoldindicatorsintouse，andthesehadsoonbeenfollowedby“stocktickers，“thefirstofwhichwasintroducedinNewYorkin1867。Thesuccessofthisnewbutstillprimitivelycrudeclassofapparatuswasimmediate。

Fourmanufacturersweresoonbusytryingtokeeppacewiththedemandsforitfrombrokers；andtheGold&StockTelegraphCompanyformedtoexploitthesystemsoonincreaseditscapitalfrom$200，000

to$300，000，paying12percent。dividendsonthelatteramount。Withinitsfirstyearthecapitalwasagainincreasedto$1，000，000，anddividendsof10

percent。werepaideasilyonthatsumalso。Itisneedlesstosaythatsuchfactsbecamequicklyknownamongtheoperators，fromwhoseranks，ofcourse，thenewemployeeswereenlisted；anditwasacommonambitionamongthemoreingenioustoproduceanewticker。Fromthebeginning，eachphaseofelectricaldevelopment——indeed，eachstepinmechanics——hasbeenaccompaniedbythewell-knownphenomenonofinvention；namely，theattemptofthemanytoperfectandrefineandevenre-inventwhereoneortwodaringspiritshaveledtheway。Thefiguresofcapitalizationandprofitjustmentionedwererelativelymuchlargerinthesixtiesthantheyareto-day；andtoimpressionableyoungoperatorstheyspelledillimitablewealth。Edisonwas，however，abouttheonlyoneinBostonofwhomhistorymakesrecordasachievinganytangibleresultinthisnewart；andhesoonlongedforthelargertelegraphicopportunityofNewYork。Hisfriend，MiltAdams，wentWestwithquenchlesszestforthatkindofrovinglifeandaimlessadventureofwhichtheseriousmindedEdisonhadalreadyhadmorethanenough。

RealizingthattoNewYorkhemustlookforfurthersupportinhisefforts，Edison，deepindebtforhisembryonicinventions，butwithhighhopeandcourage，nowmadethenextmomentousstepinhiscareer。Hewasfarriperinexperienceandpracticeofhisartthananyothertelegrapherofhisage，andhadacquired，moreover，nolittleknowledgeofthepracticalbusinessoflife。NotehasbeenmadeaboveofhisinventionofastocktickerinBoston，andofhisestablishingastock-quotationcircuit。Thiswasbynomeansall，andasafittingclosetothischapterhemaybequotedastosomeotherworkanditsperilsinexperimentation：“Ialsoengagedinputtingupprivatelines，uponwhichIusedanalphabeticaldialinstrumentfortelegraphingbetweenbusinessestablishments，aforerunnerofmoderntelephony。Thisinstrumentwasverysimpleandpractical，andanyonecouldworkitafterafewminutes'explanation。

IhadtheseinstrumentsmadeatMr。Hamblet's，whohadalittleshopwherehewasengagedinexperimentingwithelectricclocks。Mr。HambletwasthefatherandintroducerinafteryearsoftheWesternUnionTelegraphsystemoftimedistribution。Mylaboratorywastheheadquartersforthemen，andalsooftoolsandsuppliesforthoseprivatelines。

Theywereputupcheaply，asIusedtheroofsofhouses，justastheWesternUniondid。Itneveroccurredtometoaskpermissionfromtheowners；

allwedidwastogotothestore，etc。，sayweweretelegraphmen，andwantedtogouptothewiresontheroof；andpermissionwasalwaysgranted。

“InthislaboratoryIhadalargeinductioncoilwhichIhadborrowedtomakesomeexperimentswith。

OnedayIgotholdofbothelectrodesofthecoil，anditclinchedmyhandonthemsothatIcouldn'tletgo。Thebatterywasonashelf。TheonlywayI

couldgetfreewastobackoffandpullthecoil，sothatthebatterywireswouldpullthecellsofftheshelfandthusbreakthecircuit。Ishutmyeyesandpulled，butthenitricacidsplashedallovermyfaceandrandownmyback。Irushedtoasink，whichwasonlyhalfbigenough，andgotinaswellasIcouldandwiggledaroundforseveralminutestopermitthewatertodilutetheacidandstopthepain。Myfaceandbackwerestreakedwithyellow；theskinwasthoroughlyoxidized。Ididnotgoonthestreetbydaylightfortwoweeks，astheappearanceofmyfacewasdreadful。Theskin，however，peeledoff，andnewskinreplaceditwithoutanydamage。“

CHAPTERVII

THESTOCKTICKER

“THElettersandfiguresusedinthelanguageofthetape，“saidawell-knownBostonstockspeculator，“areveryfew，buttheyspellruininninety-ninemillionways。“Itisnottobeinferred，however，thatthemodernstocktickerhasanythingtodowiththemakingorlosingoffortunes。Therewereregulardailystock-marketreportsinLondonnewspapersin1825，andNewYorksoonfollowedtheexample。Asfarbackas1692，HoughtonissuedinLondonaweeklyreviewoffinancialandcommercialtransactions，uponwhichMacaulaybasedthelivelynarrativeofstockspeculationintheseventeenthcentury，giveninhisfamoushistory。Thatwhichtheubiquitousstocktickerhasdoneistogiveinstantaneitytothenewsofwhatthestockmarketisdoing，sothatateveryminute，thousandsofmilesapart，brokers，investors，andgamblersmaylearntheexactconditions。Theexistenceofsuchfacilitiesistobeadmiredratherthandeplored。NewsisvitaltoWallStreet，andthereisnolivingmanonwhomthedoingsinWallStreetarewithouteffect。ThefinancialhistoryoftheUnitedStatesandoftheworld，asshownbythepricesofgovernmentbondsandgeneralsecurities，hasbeentolddailyforfortyyearsonthesenarrowstripsofpapertape，ofwhichthousandsofmilesarerunyearlythroughthe“tickers“

ofNewYorkalone。Itistruethattherecordofthechatteringlittlemachine，madeincabalisticabbreviationsonthetape，candriveamansuddenlytotheveryvergeofinsanitywithjoyordespair；butiftherebeblameforthat，itattachestotheAmericanspiritofspeculationandnottotheingeniousmechanismwhichreadsandregistersthebeatingofthefinancialpulse。

EdisoncamefirsttoNewYorkin1868，withhisearlystockprinter，whichhetriedunsuccessfullytosell。HewentbacktoBoston，andquiteundismayedgotupaduplextelegraph。“TowardtheendofmystayinBoston，“hesays，“Iobtainedaloanofmoney，amountingto$800，tobuildapeculiarkindofduplextelegraphforsendingtwomessagesoverasinglewiresimultaneously。Theapparatuswasbuilt，andIlefttheWesternUnionemployandwenttoRochester，NewYork，totesttheapparatusonthelinesoftheAtlantic&PacificTelegraphbetweenthatcityandNewYork。Buttheassistantattheotherendcouldnotbemadetounderstandanything，notwithstandingIhadwrittenoutaveryminutedescriptionofjustwhattodo。AftertryingforaweekIgaveitupandreturnedtoNewYorkwithbutafewcentsinmypocket。“Thushewhohasneverspeculatedinastockinhislifewasdestinedtomakethebeginningsofhisownfortunebyprovidingforotherstheapparatusthatshouldbringtotheeye，alloveragreatcity，themomentaryfluctuationsofstocksandbonds。NoonecouldhavebeenindirerpovertythanhewhenthesteamboatlandedhiminNewYorkin1869。Hewasindebt，andhisfewbelongingsinbooksandinstrumentshadtobeleftbehind。Hewasnotfarfromstarving。Mr。

W。S。Mallory，anassociateofmanyyears，quotesdirectlyfromhimonthispoint：“SomeyearsagowehadabusinessnegotiationinNewYorkwhichmadeitnecessaryforMr。Edisonandmetovisitthecityfiveorsixtimeswithinacomparativelyshortperiod。ItwasourcustomtoleaveOrangeabout11A。M。，andonarrivalinNewYorktogetourlunchbeforekeepingtheappointments，whichwereusuallymadefortwoo'clock。SeveraloftheseluncheswerehadatDelmonico's，Sherry's，andotherplacesofsimilarcharacter，butoneday，whileenroute，Mr。

Edisonsaid：`Ihavebeentolunchwithyouseveraltimes；nowto-dayIamgoingtotakeyoutolunchwithme，andgiveyouthefinestlunchyoueverhad。'

WhenwearrivedinHoboken，wetookthedowntownferryacrosstheHudson，andwhenwearrivedontheManhattansideMr。EdisonledthewaytoSmith&McNell's，oppositeWashingtonMarket，andwellknowntooldNewYorkers。WewentinsideandassoonasthewaiterappearedMr。Edisonorderedappledumplingsandacupofcoffeeforhimself。Heconsumedhisshareofthelunchwiththegreatestpossiblepleasure。Then，assoonashehadfinished，hewenttothecigarcounterandpurchasedcigars。

Aswewalkedtokeeptheappointmenthegavemethefollowingreminiscence：WhenheleftBostonanddecidedtocometoNewYorkhehadonlymoneyenoughforthetrip。Afterleavingtheboathisfirstthoughtwasofbreakfast；buthewaswithoutmoneytoobtainit。However，inpassingawholesaletea-

househesawamantastingtea，sohewentinandaskedthe`taster'ifhemighthavesomeofthetea。

Thisthemangavehim，andthusheobtainedhisfirstbreakfastinNewYork。Heknewatelegraphoperatorhere，andonhimhedependedforaloantotidehimoveruntilsuchtimeasheshouldsecureaposition。

Duringthedayhesucceededinlocatingthisoperator，butfoundthathealsowasoutofajob，andthatthebesthecoulddowastoloanhimonedollar，whichhedid。Thissmallsumofmoneyrepresentedbothfoodandlodginguntilsuchtimeasworkcouldbeobtained。Edisonsaidthatastheresultofthetimeconsumedandtheexerciseinwalkingwhilehefoundhisfriend，hewasextremelyhungry，andthathegavemostseriousconsiderationastowhatheshouldbuyinthewayoffood，andwhatparticularkindoffoodwouldbemostsatisfyingandfilling。TheresultwasthatatSmith&McNell'shedecidedonappledumplingsandacupofcoffee，thanwhichheneverateanythingmoreappetizing。Itwasnotlongbeforehewasatworkandwasabletoliveinanormalmanner。“

DuringtheCivilWar，withitsenormousincreaseinthenationaldebtandthevolumeofpapermoney，goldhadgonetoahighpremium；and，asever，byitsfluctuationsinpricethevalueofallothercommoditieswasdetermined。Thisledtothecreationofa“GoldRoom“inWallStreet，wherethepreciousmetalcouldbedealtin；whilefordealingsinstockstherealsoexistedthe“RegularBoard，“the“OpenBoard，“andthe“LongRoom。“Devotedtoone，buttheleadingobjectofspeculation，the“GoldRoom“wastheveryfocusofallthefinancialandgamblingactivityofthetime，anditsquotationsgovernedtradeandcommerce。Atfirstnotationsinchalkonablackboardsufficed，butseeingtheirinadequacy，Dr。S。S。Laws，vice-presidentandactualpresidingofficeroftheGoldExchange，devisedandintroducedwhatwaspopularlyknownasthe“goldindicator。“Thisexhibitedmerelytheprevailingpriceofgold；butasitsquotationschangedfrominstanttoinstant，itwasinamostliteralsense“thecynosureofneighboringeyes。“OneindicatorlookedupontheGoldRoom；theotheropenedtowardthestreet。Withintheexchangethefacecouldeasilybeseenhighuponthewestwalloftheroom，andthemachinewasoperatedbyMr。Mersereau，theofficialregistraroftheGoldBoard。

DoctorLaws，whoafterwardbecamePresidentoftheStateUniversityofMissouri，wasaninventorofunusualabilityandattainments。Inhisearlyyouthhehadearnedhislivelihoodinatoolfactory；and，apparentlywithhissavings，hewenttoPrinceton，wherehestudiedelectricityundernolessateacherthanthefamousJosephHenry。Attheoutbreakofthewarin1861hewaspresidentofoneofthePresbyteriansynodicalcollegesintheSouth，whosebuildingspassedintothehandsoftheGovernment。

GoingtoEurope，hereturnedtoNewYorkin1863，and，becominginterestedwitharelativeinfinancialmatters，hisconnectionwiththeGoldExchangesoonfollowed，whenitwasorganized。Theindicatingmechanismhenowdevisedwaselectrical，controlledatcentralbytwocircuit-closingkeys，andwasaprototypeofallthelaterandmodernstep-by-stepprintingtelegraphs，uponwhichthedistributionoffinancialnewsdepends。The“fraction“drumoftheindicatorcouldbedrivenineitherdirection，knownastheadvanceandretrogrademovements，andwasdividedandmarkedineighths。Itgearedintoa“unit“drum，justasdospeed-indicatorsandcyclometers。Fourelectricalpulsationswererequiredtomovethedrumthedistancebetweenthefractions。

Thegeneraloperationwassimple，andinnormallyactivetimesthemechanismandtheregistrarwereequaltoallemergencies。Butitisobviousthattherecordhadtobecarriedawaytothebrokers'officesandotherplacesbymessengers；andthedelay，confusion，andmistakessoonsuggestedtoDoctorLawsthedesirabilityofhavinganumberofindicatorsatsuchscatteredpoints，operatedbyamastertransmitter，anddispensingwiththeregimentsofnoisyboys。Hesecuredthisprivilegeofdistribution，and，resigningfromtheexchange，devotedhisexclusiveattentiontothe“GoldReportingTelegraph，“whichhepatented，andforwhich，attheendof1866，hehadsecuredfiftysubscribers。Hisindicatorsweresmalloblongboxes，inthefrontofwhichwasalongslot，allowingthedialsastheytravelledpast，inside，toshowthenumeralsconstitutingthequotation；

thedialsorwheelsbeingarrangedinarowhorizontally，overlappingeachother，asinmodernfareregisterswhicharenowseenonmosttrolleycars。

Itwasnotlongbeforetherewerethreehundredsubscribers；buttheverysuccessofthisdevicebroughtcompetitionandimprovement。Mr。E。A。Callahan，aningeniousprinting-telegraphoperator，sawthattherewereunexhaustedpossibilitiesintheidea，andhisforesightandinventivenessmadehimthefatherofthe“ticker，“inconnectionwithwhichhewasthus，likeLaws，oneofthefirsttograspandexploittheunderlyingprincipleofthe“centralstation“asauniversalsourceofsupply。ThegenesisofhisinventionMr。Callahanhastoldinaninterestingway：

“In1867，onthesiteofthepresentMillsBuildingonBroadStreet，oppositetheStockExchangeoftoday，wasanoldbuildingwhichhadbeencutuptosubservethenecessitiesofitsoccupants，allengagedindealingingoldandstocks。Ithadonemainentrancefromthestreettoahallway，fromwhichentrancetotheofficesoftwoprominentbrokerfirmswasobtained。Eachfirmhaditsownarmyofboys，numberingfromtwelvetofifteen，whosedutiesweretoascertainthelatestquotationsfromthedifferentexchanges。Eachboydevotedhisattentiontosomeparticularlyactivestock。Pushingeachothertogetintothesenarrowquarters，yellingoutthepricesatthedoor，andpushingbackforlaterones，thehustlemadethisdoorwaytomeamostundesirablerefugefromanAprilshower。Iwassimplywhirledintothestreet。Inaturallythoughtthatmuchofthisnoiseandconfusionmightbedispensedwith，andthatthepricesmightbefurnishedthroughsomesystemoftelegraphywhichwouldnotrequiretheemploymentofskilledoperators。Theconceptionofthestocktickerdatesfromthisincident。“

Mr。Callahan'sfirstideawastodistributegoldquotations，andtothisendhedevisedan“indicator。“

Itconsistedoftwodialsmountedseparately，eachrevolvedbyanelectromagnet，sothatthedesiredfigureswerebroughttoanapertureinthecaseenclosingtheapparatus，asintheLawssystem。Eachshaftwithitsdialwasprovidedwithtworatchetwheels，onethereverseoftheother。Onewasusedinconnectionwiththepropellinglever，whichwasprovidedwithapawltofitintotheteethofthereversedratchetwheelonitsforwardmovement。Itwasthusmadeimpossibleforeitherdialtogobymomentumbeyonditslimit。LearningthatDoctorLaws，withtheskilfulaidofF。L。Pope，wasalreadyactiveinthesamedirection，Mr。Callahan，withreadywit，transformedhisindicatorintoa“ticker“thatwouldmakeaprintedrecord。Thenameofthe“ticker“camethroughthecasualremarkofanobservertowhomthenoisewasthemoststrikingfeatureofthemechanism。Mr。Callahanremovedthetwodials，and，substitutingtypewheels，turnedthemovementsfacetoface，sothateachtypewheelcouldimprintitscharactersuponapapertapeintwolines。Threewiresstrandedtogetherranfromthecentralofficetoeachinstrument。Oftheseonefurnishedthecurrentforthealphabetwheel，oneforthefigurewheel，andoneforthemechanismthattookcareoftheinkingandprintingonthetape。Callahanmadethefurtherinnovationofinsulatinghiscircuitwires，althoughthecostwasthenfortytimesasgreatasthatofbarewire。Itwillbeunderstoodthatelectromagnetsweretheticker'sactuatingagency。Thetickerapparatuswasplacedunderaneatglassshadeandmountedonashelf。Twenty-fiveinstrumentswereenergizedfromonecircuit，andthequotationsweresuppliedfroma“central“at18NewStreet。

TheGold&StockTelegraphCompanywaspromptlyorganizedtosupplytobrokersthesystem，whichwasveryrapidlyadoptedthroughoutthefinancialdistrictofNewYork，atthesoutherntipofManhattanIsland。QuotationsweretransmittedbytheMorsetelegraphfromtheflooroftheStockExchangetothe“central，“andthencedistributedtothesubscribers。Successwiththe“stock“newssystemwasinstantaneous。

ItwasatthisjuncturethatEdisonreachedNewYork，andaccordingtohisownstatementfoundshelteratnightinthebattery-roomoftheGoldIndicatorCompany，havingmeantimeappliedforapositionasoperatorwiththeWesternUnion。Hehadtowaitafewdays，andduringthistimeheseizedtheopportunitytostudytheindicatorsandthecomplicatedgeneraltransmitterintheoffice，controlledfromthekeyboardoftheoperatorontheflooroftheGoldExchange。Whathappenednexthasbeenthebasisofmanyinaccuratestories，butisdramaticenoughastoldinMr。Edison'sownversion：“Onthethirddayofmyarrivalandwhilesittingintheoffice，thecomplicatedgeneralinstrumentforsendingonallthelines，andwhichmadeaverygreatnoise，suddenlycametoastopwithacrash。Withintwominutesoverthreehundredboys——aboyfromeverybrokerinthestreet——rushedup-stairsandcrowdedthelongaisleandoffice，thathardlyhadroomforonehundred，allyellingthatsuchandsuchabroker'swirewasoutoforderandtofixitatonce。Itwaspandemonium，andthemaninchargebecamesoexcitedthathelostcontrolofalltheknowledgeheeverhad。Iwenttotheindicator，and，havingstudieditthoroughly，knewwherethetroubleoughttobe，andfoundit。Oneoftheinnumerablecontactspringshadbrokenoffandhadfallendownbetweenthetwogearwheelsandstoppedtheinstrument；butitwasnotverynoticeable。

AsIwentouttotellthemaninchargewhatthematterwas，DoctorLawsappearedonthescene，themostexcitedpersonIhadseen。Hedemandedofthemanthecauseofthetrouble，butthemanwasspeechless。IventuredtosaythatIknewwhatthetroublewas，andhesaid，`Fixit！Fixit！Bequick！'

Iremovedthespringandsetthecontactwheelsatzero；andtheline，battery，andinspectingmenallscatteredthroughthefinancialdistricttosettheinstruments。Inabouttwohoursthingswereworkingagain。DoctorLawscameintoaskmynameandwhatIwasdoing。Itoldhim，andheaskedmetocometohisprivateofficethefollowingday。Hisofficewasfilledwithstacksofbooksallrelatingtometaphysicsandkindredmatters。Heaskedmeagreatmanyquestionsabouttheinstrumentsandhissystem，andIshowedhimhowhecouldsimplifythingsgenerally。HethenrequestedthatIshouldcallnextday。Onarrival，hestatedatoncethathehaddecidedtoputmeinchargeofthewholeplant，andthatmysalarywouldbe$300permonth！

ThiswassuchaviolentjumpfromanythingIhadeverseenbefore，thatitratherparalyzedmeforawhile，Ithoughtitwastoomuchtobelasting，butIdeterminedtotryandliveuptothatsalaryiftwentyhoursadayofhardworkwoulddoit。I

keptthisposition，mademanyimprovements，devisedseveralstocktickers，untiltheGold&StockTelegraphCompanyconsolidatedwiththeGoldIndicatorCompany。“Certainlyfewchangesinfortunehavebeenmoresuddenanddramaticinanynotablecareerthanthiswhichthusplacedanill-

clad，unkempt，half-starved，eagerladinapositionofsuchresponsibilityindayswhenthefluctuationsinthepriceofgoldateveryinstantmeantfortuneorruintothousands。

Edison，barelytwenty-oneyearsold，wasakeenobserverofthestirringeventsaroundhim。“WallStreet“isatanytimeaninterestingstudy，butitwasneveratamoreagitatedandsensationalperiodofitshistorythanatthistime。Edison'sarrivalinNewYorkcoincidedwithanactivespeculationingoldwhichmay，indeed，besaidtohaveprovidedhimwithoccupation；andwassoonfollowedbytheattemptofMr。JayGouldandhisassociatestocornerthegoldmarket，precipitatingthepanicofBlackFriday，September24，1869。Securingitsimportdutiesinthepreciousmetalandthusassistingtocreateanartificialstringencyinthegoldmarket，theGovernmenthadmadeitapracticetorelievethesituationbysellingamillionofgoldeachmonth。

Themetalwasthusrestoredtocirculation。Insomemanner，PresidentGrantwaspersuadedthatgeneralconditionsandthemovementofthecropswouldbehelpedifthesaleofgoldweresuspendedforatime；

and，thisputintoeffect，hewenttovisitanoldfriendinPennsylvaniaremotefromrailroadsandtelegraphs。TheGouldpoolhadacquiredcontrolof$10，000，000ingold，anddrovethepriceupwardrapidlyfrom144towardtheirgoalof200。OnBlackFridaytheypurchasedanother$28，000，000at160，andstillthepricewentup。Thefinancialandcommercialinterestsofthecountrywereinpanic；butthepoolperseveredinitsefforttocornergold，withaprofitofmanymillionscontingentonsuccess。

Yieldingtofranticrequests，PresidentGrant，whoreturnedtoWashington，causedSecretaryBoutwell，oftheTreasury，tothrow$4，000，000ofgoldintothemarket。Reliefwasinstantaneous，thecornerwasbroken，buttheharmhadbeendone。Edison'sremarksshedavividside-lightonthisextraordinaryepisode：“OnBlackFriday，“hesays，“wehadaveryexcitingtimewiththeindicators。TheGouldandFiskcrowdhadcorneredgold，andhadrunthequotationsupfasterthantheindicatorcouldfollow。

Theindicatorwascomposedofseveralwheels；onthecircumferenceofeachwheelwerethenumerals；

andonewheelhadfractions。Itworkedinthesamewayasanordinarycounter；onewheelmadetenrevolutions，andatthetenthitadvancedtheadjacentwheel；andthisinitsturnhavinggonetenrevolutions，advancedthenextwheel，andsoon。OnthemorningofBlackFridaytheindicatorwasquoting150premium，whereasthebidsbyGould'sagentsintheGoldRoomwere165forfivemillionsoranypart。

Wehadapaper-weightatthetransmitter(tospeeditup)，andbyoneo'clockreachedtherightquotation。

Theexcitementwasprodigious。NewStreet，aswellasBroadStreet，wasjammedwithexcitedpeople。IsatonthetopoftheWesternUniontelegraphboothtowatchthesurging，crazycrowd。Onemancametothebooth，grabbedapencil，andattemptedtowriteamessagetoBoston。Thefirststrokewentclearofftheblank；hewassoexcitedthathehadtheoperatorwritethemessageforhim。AmidgreatexcitementSpeyer，thebanker，wentcrazyandittookfivementoholdhim；andeverybodylosttheirhead。TheWesternUnionoperatorcametomeandsaid：`Shake，Edison，weareO。K。Wehaven'tgotacent。'Ifeltveryhappybecausewewerepoor。

Theseoccasionsareveryenjoyabletoapoorman；

buttheyoccurrarely。“

Thereisacalmsenseofdetachmentaboutthisdescriptionthathasbeenpossessedbythenarratoreveninthemostanxiousmomentsofhiscareer。Hewasdeterminedtoseeallthatcouldbeseen，and，quittinghisperchonthetelegraphbooth，soughtthemoresecludedheadquartersofthepoolforces。“A

friendofminewasanoperatorwhoworkedintheofficeofBelden&Company，60Broadway，whichwereheadquartersforFisk。Mr。Gouldwasup-townintheErieofficesintheGrandOperaHouse。ThefirmonBroadStreet，Smith，Gould&Martin，wastheotherbranch。Allwereconnectedwithwires。Gouldseemedtobeincharge，Fiskbeingtheexecutivedown-town。

Fiskworeavelvetcorduroycoatandaverypeculiarvest。Hewasverychipper，andseemedtobelight-

heartedandhappy。Sittingaroundtheroomwereaboutadozenfine-lookingmen。Allhadthecomplexionofcadavers。Therewasabasketofcham-

pagne。Hundredsofboyswererushinginpayingchecks，allchecksbeingpayabletoBelden&Company。

WhenJamesBrown，ofBrownBrothers&

Company，brokethecornerbysellingfivemilliongold，allpaymentswererepudiatedbySmith，Gould&Martin；buttheycontinuedtoreceivechecksatBelden&Company'sforsometime，untiltheStreetgotwindofthegame。TherewassomekindofconspiracywiththeGovernmentpeoplewhichIcouldnotmakeout，butIheardmessagesthatopenedmyeyesastotheramificationsofWallStreet。Goldfellto132，andittookusallnighttogettheindicatorbacktothatquotation。Allnightlongthestreetswerefullofpeople。Everybroker'sofficewasbrilliantlylightedallnight，andallhandswereatwork。

Theclearing-houseforgoldhadbeenswamped，andallwasmixedup。Nooneknewifhewasbankruptornot。“

Edisoninthosedaysratherlikedthemodestcoffee-

shops，andmentionsvisitingone。“WhenontheNewYorkNo。1wire，thatIworkedinBoston，therewasanoperatornamedJerryBorstattheotherend。

Hewasafirst-classreceiverandrapidsender。Wemadeupaschemetoholdthiswire，sohechangedoneletterofthealphabetandIsoongotusedtoit；

andfinallywechangedthreeletters。IfanyoperatortriedtoreceivefromBorst，hecouldn'tdoit，soBorstandIalwaysworkedtogether。BorstdidlesstalkingthananyoperatorIeverknew。Neverhavingseenhim，IwentwhileinNewYorktocalluponhim。I

didallthetalking。Hewouldlisten，strokehisbeard，andsaynothing。IntheeveningIwentovertoanall-nightlunch-houseinPrintingHouseSquareinabasement——Oliver's。Nighteditors，includingHoraceGreeley，andHenryRaymond，oftheNewYorkTimes，tooktheirmidnightlunchthere。WhenIwentwithBorstandanotheroperator，theypointedouttwoorthreemenwhowerethencelebratedinthenewspaperworld。Thenightwasintenselyhotandclose。Aftergettingourlunchanduponreachingthesidewalk，Borstopenedhismouth，andsaid：`That'sagreatplace；aplateofcakes，acupofcoffee，andaRussianbath，fortencents。'Thiswasaboutfiftypercent。ofhisconversationfortwodays。“

TheworkofEdisononthegold-indicatorhadthrownhimintocloserelationshipwithMr。FranklinL。Pope，theyoungtelegraphengineerthenassociatedwithDoctorLaws，andafterwardadistinguishedexpertandtechnicalwriter，whobecamePresidentoftheAmericanInstituteofElectricalEngineersin1886。Eachrecognizedthespecialabilityoftheother，andbarelyaweekafterthefamouseventsofBlackFridaytheannouncementoftheirpartnershipappearedintheTelegrapherofOctober1，1869。Thiswasthefirst“professionalcard，“ifitmaybesodescribed，everissuedinAmericabyafirmofelectricalengineers，andisherereproduced。

Itisprobablethattheadvertisement，oneofthelargestintheTelegrapher，andappearingfrequently，wasnotpaidforatfullrates，asthepublisher，Mr。J。N。

Ashley，becameapartnerinthefirm，andnotaltogethera“sleepingone“whenitcametoadivisionofprofits，whichattimeswereconsiderable。InordertobenearerhisnewfriendEdisonboardedwithPopeatElizabeth，NewJersey，forsometime，living“thestrenuouslife“intheperformanceofhisduties。

AssociatedwithPopeandAshley，hefolloweduphisworkontelegraphprinterswithmarkedsuccess。

“WhilewiththemIdevisedaprintertoprintgoldquotationsinsteadofindicatingthem。Thelineswerestarted，andthewholewassoldouttotheGold&

StockTelegraphCompany。MyexperimentingwasalldoneinthesmallshopofaDoctorBradley，locatednearthestationofthePennsylvaniaRailroadinJerseyCity。EverynightIleftforElizabethonthe1A。M。train，thenwalkedhalfamiletoMr。Pope'shouseandupat6A。M。forbreakfasttocatchthe7A。M。train。Thiscontinuedallwinter，andmanyweretheoccasionswhenIwasnearlyfrozenintheElizabethwalk。“ThisDoctorBradleyappearstohavebeenthefirstinthiscountrytomakeelectricalmeasurementsofprecisionwiththegalvanometer，butwasanold-schoolexperimenterwhowouldworkforyearsonaninstrumentwithoutcommercialvalue。

Hewasalsoextremelyirascible，andwhenononeoccasiontheconnectingwirewouldnotcomeoutofoneofthebindingpostsofanewandcostlygalvanometer，hejerkedtheinstrumenttothefloorandthenjumpedonit。Hemusthavebeen，however，amanoforiginality，asevidencedbyhisattempttoagewhiskeybyelectricity，anattemptthathasoftensincebeenmade。“ThehobbyhehadatthetimeIwasthere，“saysEdison，“wastheagingofrawwhiskeybypassingstrongelectriccurrentsthroughit。Hehadarrangedtwentyjarswithplatinumelectrodesheldinplacebyhardrubber。Whenallwasready，hefilledthecellswithwhiskey，connectedthebattery，lockedthedoorofthesmallroominwhichtheywereplaced，andgavepositiveordersthatnooneshouldenter。Hethendisappearedforthreedays。Ontheseconddaywenoticedaterriblesmellintheshop，asiffromsomedeadanimal。Thenextdaythedoctorarrivedand，noticingthesmell，askedwhatwasdead。Weallthoughtsomethinghadgotintohiswhiskey-roomanddied。Heopeneditandwasnearlyovercome。Thehardrubberheusedwas，ofcourse，fullofsulphur，andthisbeingattackedbythenascenthydrogen，hadproducedsulphurettedhydrogengasintorrents，displacingalloftheairintheroom。Sulphurettedhydrogenis，asiswellknown，thegasgivenoffbyrotteneggs。“

Anotherglimpseofthisperiodofdevelopmentisaffordedbyaninterestingarticleonthestock-reportingtelegraphintheElectricalWorldofMarch4，1899，byMr。RalphW。Pope，thewell-knownSecretaryoftheAmericanInstituteofElectricalEngineers，whohadasayouthanactiveandintimateconnectionwiththatbranchofelectricalindustry。InthecourseofhisarticlehementionsthecuriousfactthatDoctorLawsatfirst，inreceivingquotationsfromtheExchanges，wassodistrustfuloftheMorsesystemthatheinstalledlonglinesofspeaking-tubeasamoresatisfactoryandsafedevicethanatelegraphwire。

AstotherelationsofthattimeMr。Poperemarks：

“Therivalrybetweenthetwoconcernsresultedinconsolidation，DoctorLaws'senterprisebeingabsorbedbytheGold&StockTelegraphCompany，whiletheLawsstockprinterwasrelegatedtothescrap-heapandthemuseum。Competitioninthefielddidnot，however，cease。Messrs。PopeandEdisoninventedaone-wireprinter，andstartedasystemof`goldprinters'devotedtotherecordingofgoldquotationsandsterlingexchangeonly。Itwasintendedmoreespeciallyforimportersandexchangebrokers，andwasfurnishedatalowerpricethantheindicatorservice……Thebuildingandequipmentofprivatetelegraphlineswasalsoenteredupon。ThisbusinesswasalsosubsequentlyabsorbedbytheGold&StockTelegraphCompany，whichwasprobablyatthistimeattheheightofitsprosperity。

Thefinancialorganizationofthecompanywaspeculiarandworthyofattention。Eachsubscriberforamachinepaidin$100fortheprivilegeofsecuringaninstrument。Fortheservicehepaid$25weekly。

Incaseheretiredorfailed，hecouldtransferhis`right，'andemployeeswereconstantlyonthealertforpurchasablerights，whichcouldbedisposedofataprofit。Itwasoccasionallyworththeprofittoconvinceamanthathedidnotactuallyownthemachinewhichhadbeenplacedinhisoffice……TheWesternUnionTelegraphCompanysecuredamajorityofitsstock，andGen。MarshallLeffertswaselectedpresident。Aprivate-linedepartmentwasestablished，andthebusinesstakenoverfromPope，Edison，andAshleywasrapidlyenlarged。“

AtthisjunctureGeneralLefferts，asPresidentoftheGold&StockTelegraphCompany，requestedEdisontogotoworkonimprovingthestockticker，furnishingthemoney；andthewell-known“Universal“

ticker，inwide-spreaduseinitsday，wasoneresult。Mr。Edisongivesagraphicpictureofthestartlingeffectonhisfortunes：“Imadeagreatmanyinventions；onewasthespecialtickerusedformanyyearsoutsideofNewYorkinthelargecities。Thiswasmadeexceedinglysimple，astheydidnothavetheexpertswehadinNewYorktohandleanythingcomplicated。ThesametickerwasusedontheLondonStockExchange。AfterIhadmadeagreatnumberofinventionsandobtainedpatents，theGeneralseemedanxiousthatthemattershouldbeclosedup。

OnedayIexhibitedandworkedasuccessfuldevicewherebyifatickershouldgetoutofunisoninabroker'sofficeandcommencetoprintwildfigures，itcouldbebroughttounisonfromthecentralstation，whichsavedthelaborofmanymenandmuchtroubletothebroker。Hecalledmeintohisoffice，andsaid：

`Now，youngman，Iwanttocloseupthematterofyourinventions。Howmuchdoyouthinkyoushouldreceive？'Ihadmadeupmymindthat，takingintoconsiderationthetimeandkillingpaceIwasworkingat，Ishouldbeentitledto$5000，butcouldgetalongwith$3000。Whenthepsychologicalmomentarrived，Ihadn'tthenervetonamesuchalargesum，soIsaid：`Well，General，supposeyoumakemeanoffer。'Thenhesaid：`Howwould$40，000strikeyou？'ThiscausedmetocomeasnearfaintingasI

evergot。Iwasafraidhewouldhearmyheartbeat。

ImanagedtosaythatIthoughtitwasfair。`Allright，Iwillhaveacontractdrawn；comearoundinthreedaysandsignit，andIwillgiveyouthemoney。'

Iarrivedontime，buthadbeendoingsomeconsiderablethinkingonthesubject。Thesumseemedtobeverylargefortheamountofwork，foratthattimeIdeterminedthevaluebythetimeandtrouble，andnotbywhattheinventionwasworthtoothers。I

thoughttherewassomethingunrealaboutit。However，thecontractwashandedtome。Isignedwithoutreadingit。“Edisonwasthenhandedthefirstcheckhehadeverreceived，onefor$40，000drawnontheBankofNewYork，atthecornerofWilliamandWallStreets。Ongoingtothebankandpassinginthecheckatthewicketofthepayingteller，somebriefremarksweremadetohim，whichinhisdeafnesshedidnotunderstand。Thecheckwashandedbacktohim，andEdison，fancyingforamomentthatinsomewayhehadbeencheated，wentoutside“tothelargestepstoletthecoldsweatevaporate。“HethenwentbacktotheGeneral，who，withhissecretary，hadagoodlaughoverthematter，toldhimthecheckmustbeendorsed，andsentwithhimayoungmantoidentifyhim。Theceremonyofidentificationperformedwiththepayingteller，whowasquitemerryovertheincident，Edisonwasgiventheamountinbundlesofsmallbills“untiltherecertainlyseemedtobeonecubicfoot。“Unawarethathewasthevictimofapracticaljoke，Edisonproceededgravelytostowawaythemoneyinhisovercoatpocketsandallhisotherpockets。HethenwenttoNewarkandsatupallnightwiththemoneyforfearitmightbestolen。Oncemorehesoughthelpnextmorning，whentheGenerallaughedheartily，and，tellingtheclerkthatthejokemustnotbecarriedanyfurther，enabledhimtodepositthecurrencyinthebankandopenanaccount。

ThusinaninconceivablybrieftimehadEdisonpassedfrompovertytoindependence；madeadeepimpressionastohisoriginalityandabilityonimportantpeople，andbroughtoutvaluableinventions；

liftinghimselfatoneboundoutoftheruckofmediocrity，andawayfromthedeadeningdrudgeryofthekey。Bestofallhewasenterprising，oneoftheleadersandpioneersforwhomtheworldisalwayslooking；and，tousehisowncriticismofhimself，hehad“toosanguineatemperamenttokeepmoneyinsolitaryconfinement。“Withquietself-possessionheseizedhisopportunity，begantobuymachinery，rentedashopandgotworkforit。Movingquicklyintoalargershop，Nos。10and12WardStreet，Newark，NewJersey，hesecuredlargeordersfromGeneralLeffertstobuildstocktickers，andemployedfiftymen。Asbusinessincreasedheputonanightforce，andwashisownforemanonbothshifts。Halfanhourofsleepthreeorfourtimesinthetwenty-

fourhourswasallheneededinthosedays，whenoneinventionsucceededanotherwithdazzlingrapidity，andwhenheworkedwiththefierce，eruptiveenergyofagreatvolcano，throwingoutnewideasincessantlywithspectaculareffectontheartstowhichtheyrelated。IthasalwaysbeenatheorywithEdisonthatwesleepaltogethertoomuch；butontheotherhandhenever，untillongpastfifty，kneworpracticedtheslightestmoderationinworkorintheuseofstrongcoffeeandblackcigars。Hehas，moreover，whileoftenderandkindlydisposition，neverhesitatedtousemenupasfreelyasaNapoleonorGrant；seeingonlythegoalofacompleteinventionorperfectedde-

vice，toattainwhichallelsemustbecomesubsidiary。

Hegivesagraphicpictureofhisfirstmethodsasamanufacturer：“Nearlyallmymenwereonpiecework，andIallowedthemtomakegoodwages，andnevercutuntilthepaybecameabsurdlyhighastheygotmoreexpert。Ikeptnobooks。Ihadtwohooks。

AllthebillsandaccountsIowedIjabbedononehook；andmemorandaofallowedtomyselfIputontheother。Whensomeofthebillsfelldue，andIcouldn'tdelivertickerstogetasupplyofmoney，I

gaveanote。Whenthenotesweredue，amessengercamearoundfromthebankwiththenoteandaprotestpinnedtoitfor$1。25。ThenIwouldgotoNewYorkandgetanadvance，orpaythenoteifI

hadthemoney。ThismethodofgivingnotesformyaccountsandhavingallnotesprotestedIkeptupovertwoyears，yetmycreditwasfine。EverystoreItradedwithwasalwaysgladtofurnishgoods，perhapsinamazedadmirationofmysystemofdoingbusiness，whichwascertainlynew。“AfterawhileEdisongotabookkeeper，whosevagariesmadehimlookbackwithregretontheearlier，primitivemethod。

“ThefirstthreemonthsIhadhimgooverthebookstofindouthowmuchwehadmade。Hereported$3000。Igaveasuppertosomeofmymentocelebratethis，onlytobetoldtwodaysafterwardthathehadmadeamistake，andthatwehadlost$500；andthenafewdaysafterthathecametomeagainandsaidhewasallmixedup，andnowfoundthatwehadmadeover$7000。“Edisonchangedbookkeepers，butneverthereaftercountedanythingrealprofituntilhehadpaidallhisdebtsandhadtheprofitsinthebank。

Thefactoryworkatthistimerelatedchieflytostocktickers，principallythe“Universal，“ofwhichatonetimetwelvehundredwereinuse。Edison'sconnectionwiththisparticulardevicewasveryclosewhileitlasted。Inareviewofthetickerart，Mr。Callahanstated，withrathergrudgingpraise，that“atickeratthepresenttime(1901)wouldbeconsideredasimpracticableandunsalableifitwerenotprovidedwithaunisondevice，“andhegoesontoremark：“ThefirstunisononstocktickerswasoneusedontheLawsprinter。[2]Itwasacrudeandunsatisfactorypieceofmechanismandnecessitateddoublingofthebatteryinordertobringitintoaction。

Itwasshort-lived。TheEdisonunisoncomprisedaleverwithafreeendtravellinginaspiralorwormonthetype-wheelshaftuntilitmetapinattheendoftheworm，thusobstructingtheshaftandleavingthetype-wheelsatthezero-pointuntilreleasedbytheprintinglever。Thisdeviceistoowellknowntorequireafurtherdescription。Itisnotapplicabletoanyinstrumentusingtwoindependentlymovingtype-wheels；butonnearlyifnotallotherinstrumentswillbefoundinuse。“Thestocktickerhasenjoyedthedevotionofmanybrilliantinventors——

G。M。Phelps，H。VanHoevenbergh，A。A。Knudson，G。B。Scott，S。D。Field，JohnBurry——andremainsinextensiveuseasanapplianceforwhichnosubstituteorcompetitorhasbeenfound。InNewYorkthetwogreatstockexchangeshavedeemeditnecessarytoownandoperateastock-tickerserviceforthesolebenefitoftheirmembers；anddowntothepresentmomenttheprocessofimprovementhasgoneon，impelledbytheincreasingvolumeofbusinesstobereported。ItissignificantofEdison'swork，nowdimmedandoverlaidbylateradvances，thatattheveryoutsetherecognizedthevitalimportanceofinterchangeabilityintheconstructionofthisdelicateandsensitiveapparatus。Butthedifficultiesoftheseearlydayswerealmostinsurmountable。Mr。R。W。

Popesaysofthe“Universal“machinesthattheyweresimpleandsubstantialandgenerallysatisfactory，butadds：“Theseinstrumentsweresupposedtohavebeenmadewithinterchangeableparts；butasamatteroffacttheinstancesinwhichthesepartswouldfitwereveryfew。Theinstruction-bookpreparedfortheuseofinspectorsstatedthat`Thepartsshouldnotbetinkerednorbent，astheyareaccuratelymadeandinterchangeable。'ThedifficultiesencounteredinfittingthemproperlydoubtlessgaverisetoastorythatMr。Edisonhadstatedthattherewerethreedegreesofinterchangeability。Thiswasinterpretedtomean：First，thepartswillfit；second，theywillalmostfit；third，theydonotfit，andcan'tbemadetofit。“

[2]ThisIinventedaswell——T。A。E。

ThisearlyshopaffordsanillustrationofthemannerinwhichEdisonhasmadeadeepimpressiononthepersonneloftheelectricalarts。Atasinglebenchthereworkedthreemensincerichorprominent。

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