HOW EDISON BEGAN.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 8, Issue 27, 2 April 1907, Page 7

HOW EDISON BEGAN.

Thomas Edison had been in several AVestcrn telegraph offices, where ho. was looked \q on as an expert, and was at length ordered to Boston to fill a vacancy. The weather was warm and he donned linen clothes and a broad-brimmed hat. Before he reached Boston the weather turned cold and stormy, but just as he was, linen "duster " and all, ho reported himself at the telegraph office. lie walked into the superintendent's room, and said. "Here 1 am." The superintendent looked the young fellow over with a critical eye and asked, "Who are you '?" "Tom Edison," was the reply. "Who's Tom Edison ?"■ The young operator explained that he had been ordered to report for duty, and the superintendent told him to t sit down in the operating room. His advent there created considerable amusement, and the operators guyed him not a little. Edison sat quietly, making no outward sign of disturbance. An hour or .more passed, and then a New York sender, noted for his swiftness, signalled the office. There was no one to receive his message, the operators all being otherwise engaged. "Let the new fellow take him," said the superintendent. Young' Edison sat down at the instrument, and for four hours and a half wrote out messages in a clear, round hand, stuck a date and number on them, and throw them on the floor for the ofiice-boy to pick up. The time he took in numbering and dating were the only moments he was not writing out transmitted words.

Faster and faster ticked the instrument, and faster and faster moved Edison's fingers till the rapidity with which the messages came tumbling out attracted the attention of other operators, who, when their work was done, gathered around to witness the spectacle. At the close of four hours and a half, and of the New York business, there Hashed from New York the salutation : "Hello !" "Hello yourself !" ticked back Edison.

"Who are you ?"• "Tom Edison," was ticked back. "Tom Edison, I'm glad to know you," was licked back over the wires "You are the only man that could ever take me at my fastest and the first man who ever sat at the other end of my wire for over two hours and a half. I congratulate the office in getting you there."

The young man in the limp dustei; and slouch hat had won his first laurels in the Boston office. He was never guyed after that first day. ■^ J - ■ '»«■