heroes of the telegraph-第41章
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。 Long watchfulness and labour seem to heighten the activity of his mind； which under its 'second wind；' so to speak； becomes preternaturally keen and suggestive。 He likes best to work at night in the silence and solitude of his laboratory when the noise of the benches or the rumble of the engines is stilled； and all the world about him is asleep。
Fortunately； he can work without stimulants； and； when the strain is over； rest without narcotics； otherwise his exhausted constitution； sound as it is； would probably break down。 Still； he appears to be ageing before his time； and some of his assistants； not so well endowed with vitality； have； we believe； overtaxed their strength in trying to keep up with him。
At this period he devised his electric pen； an ingenious device for making copies of a document。 It consists essentially of a needle； rapidly jogged up and down by means of an electro…magnet actuated by an intermittent current of electricity。 The writing is traced with the needle； which perforates another sheet of paper underneath； thus forming a stencil…plate； which when placed on a clean paper； and evenly inked with a rolling brush； reproduces the original writing。
In 1873 Edison was married to Miss Mary Stillwell； of Newark； one of his employees。 His eldest child； Mary Estelle； was playfully surnamed 'Dot；' and his second； Thomas Alva； jun。； 'Dash；' after the signals of the Morse code。 Mrs。 Edison died several years ago。
While seeking to improve the method of duplex working introduced by Mr。 Steams； Edison invented the quadruplex； by which four messages are simultaneously sent through one wire； two from each end。 Brought out in association with Mr。 Prescott； it was adopted by the Western Union Telegraph Company； and； later； by the British Post Office。 The President of the Western Union reported that it had saved the Company 500；000 dollars a year in the construction of new lines。 Edison also improved the Bain chemical telegraph； until it attained an incredible speed。 Bain had left it capable of recording 200 words a minute； but Edison； by dint of searching a pile of books ordered from New York； Paris； and London； making copious notes； and trying innumerable experiments； while eating at his desk and sleeping in his chair； ultimately prepared a solution which enabled it to register over 1000 words a minute。 It was exhibited at the Philadelphia Centenial Exhibition in 1876； where it astonished Sir William Thomson。
In 1876； Edison sold his factory at Newark； and retired to Menlo Park； a sequestered spot near Metuchin； on the Pennsylvania Railroad； and about twenty…four miles from New York。 Here on some rising ground he built a wooden tenement； two stories high； and furnished it as a workshop and laboratory。 His own residence and the cottages of his servants completed the little colony。
The basement of the main building was occupied by his office； a choice library； a cabinet replete with instruments of precision； and a large airy workshop； provided with lathes and steam power； where his workmen shaped his ideas into wood and metal。
The books lying about； the designs and placards on the walls； the draught…board on the table； gave it the appearance of a mechanics' club… room。 The free and lightsome behaviour of the men； the humming at the benches； recalled some school of handicraft。 There were no rigid hours； no grinding toil under the jealous eye of the overseer。 The spirit of competition and commercial rivalry was absent。 It was not a question of wringing as much work as possible out of the men in the shortest time and at the lowest price。 Moreover； they were not mere mechanical drudgesthey were interested in their jobs； which demanded thought as well as skill。
Upstairs was the laboratory propera long room containing an array of chemicals； for Edison likes to have a sample of every kind； in case it might suddenly be requisite。 On the tables and in the cupboards were lying all manner of telegraphic apparatus； lenses； crucibles； and pieces of his own inventions。 A perfect tangle of telegraph wires coming from all parts of the Union were focussed at one end of the room。 An ash… covered forge； a cabinet organ； a rusty stove with an old pivot chair； a bench well stained with oils and acids； completed the equipment of this curious den； into which the sunlight filtered through the chemical jars and fell in coloured patches along the dusty floor。
The moving spirit of this haunt by day and night is well described as an overgrown school…boy。 He is a man of a slim； but wiry figure； about five feet ten inches in height。 His face at this period was juvenile and beardless。 The nose and chin were shapely and prominent； the mouth firm； the forehead wide and full above； but not very high。 It was shaded by dark chestnut hair； just silvered with grey。 His most remarkable features were his eyes； which are blue…grey and deeply set； with an intense and piercing expression。 When his attention was not aroused； he seemed to retire into himself； as though his mind had drifted far away； and came back slowly to the present。 He was pale with nightwork； and his thoughtful eyes had an old look in serious moments。 But his smile was boyish and pleasant； and his manner a trifle shy。
There was nothing of the dandy about Edison； He boasted no jewelled fingers or superfine raiment。 An easy coat soiled with chemicals； a battered wide…awake； and boots guiltless of polish； were good enough for this inspired workman。 An old silver watch； sophisticated with magnetism； and keeping an eccentric time peculiar to it； was his only ornament。 On social occasions； of course； he adopted a more conventional costume。 Visitors to the laboratory often found him in his shirt…sleeves； with dishevelled hair and grimy hands。
The writer of 'A Night with Edison' has described him as bending like a wizard over the smoky fumes of some lurid lamps arranged on a brick furnace； as if he were summoning the powers of darkness。
'It is much after midnight now；' says this author。 'The machinery below has ceased to rumble； and the tired hands have gone to their homes。 A hasty lunch has been sent up。 We are at the thermoscope。 Suddenly a telegraph instrument begins to click。 The inventor strikes a grotesque attitude； a herring in one hand and a biscuit in the other； and with a voice a little muffled with a mouthful of both； translates aloud； slowly； the sound intelligible to him alone： 〃London。News of death of Lord John Russell premature。〃 〃John Blanchard； whose failure was announced yesterday； has suicided （no； that was a bad one） SUCCEEDED！ in adjusting his affairs； and will continue in business。〃'
His tastes are simple and his habits are plain。 On one occasion； when invited to a dinner at Delmonico's restaurant； he contented himself with a slice of pie and a cup of tea。 Another time he is said to have declined a public dinner with the remark that 100；000 dollars would not tempt him to sit through two hours of 'personal glorification。' He dislikes notoriety； thinking that a man is to be 'measured by what he does； not by what is said about him。' But he likes to talk about his inventions and show them to visitors at Menlo Park。 In disposition he is sociable； affectionate； and generous； giving himself no airs； and treating all alike。 His humour is native； and peculiar to himself； so there is some excuse for the newspaper reporters who take his jokes about the capabilities of Nature AU SERIEUX； and publish them for gospel。
His assistants are selected for their skill and physical endurance。 The chief at Menlo Park was Mr。 Charles Batchelor； a Scotchman； who had a certain interest in the inventions； but the others； including mathematicians； chemists； electricians； secretary； bookkeeper； and mechanics； were paid a salary。 They were devoted to Edison； who； though he worked them hard at times； was an indulgent master； and sometimes joined them in a general holiday。 All of them spoke in the highest terms of the inventor and the man。
The Menlo establishment was unique in the world。 It was founded for the sole purpose of applying the properties of matter to the production of new inventions。 For love of science or the hope of gain；
