Memories Of Menlo Park - 6

Memories Of Menlo Park - 6

Here again occurs the reference to the incessant night-work at Menlo Park, a note that is

struck in every reminiscence and in every record of the time. But it is not to be inferred

that the atmosphere of grim determination and persistent pursuit of the new invention

characteristic of this period made life a burden to the small family of laborers associated

with Edison. Many a time during the long, weary nights of experimenting Edison would

call a halt for refreshments, which he had ordered always to be sent in when night-work

was in progress. Everything would be dropped, all present would join in the meal, and the

last good story or joke would pass around. In his notes Mr. Jehl says: "Our lunch always

ended with a cigar, and I may mention here that although Edison was never fastidious in

eating, he always relished a good cigar, and seemed to find in it consolation and solace....

It often happened that while we were enjoying the cigars after our midnight re- past, one

of the boys would start up a tune on the organ and we would all sing together, or one of

the others would give a solo. Another of the boys had a voice that sounded like

something between the ring of an old tomato can and a pewter jug. He had one song that

he would sing while we roared with laughter. He was also great in imitating the tin-foil

phonograph.... When Boehm was in good-humor he would play his zither now and then,

and amuse us by singing pretty German songs. On many of these occasions the laboratory

was the rendezvous of jolly and convivial visitors, mostly old friends and acquaintances

of Mr. Edison. Some of the office employees would also drop in once in a while, and as

everybody present was always welcome to partake of the midnight meal, we all enjoyed

these gatherings. After a while, when we were ready to resume work, our visitors would

intimate that they were going home to bed, but we fellows could stay up and work, and

they would depart, generally singing some song like Good-night, ladies! . . . It often

happened that when Edison had been working up to three or four o'clock in the morning,

he would lie down on one of the laboratory tables, and with nothing but a couple of books

for a pillow, would fall into a sound sleep. He said it did him more good than being in a

soft bed, which spoils a man. Some of the laboratory assistants could be seen now and

then sleeping on a table in the early morning hours. If their snoring became objectionable

to those still at work, the `calmer' was applied. This machine consisted of a Babbitt's soap

box without a cover. Upon it was mounted a broad ratchet-wheel with a crank, while into

the teeth of the wheel there played a stout, elastic slab of wood. The box would be placed

on the table where the snorer was sleeping and the crank turned rapidly. The racket thus

produced was something terrible, and the sleeper would jump up as though a typhoon had

struck the laboratory. The irrepressible spirit of humor in the old days, although

somewhat strenuous at times, caused many a moment of hilarity which seemed to refresh

the boys, and enabled them to work with renewed vigor after its manifestation." Mr.

Upton remarks that often during the period of the invention of the incandescent lamp,

when under great strain and fatigue, Edison would go to the organ and play tunes in a

primitive way, and come back to crack jokes with the staff. "But I have often felt that Mr.

Edison never could comprehend the limitations of the strength of other men, as his own

physical and mental strength have always seemed to be without limit. He could work

continuously as long as he wished, and had sleep at his command. His sleep was always

instant, profound, and restful. He has told me that he never dreamed. I have known Mr.

Edison now for thirty-one years, and feel that he has always kept his mind direct and

simple, going straight to the root of troubles. One of the peculiarities I have noticed is

that I have never known him to break into a conversation going on around him, and ask

what people were talking about. The nearest he would ever come to it was when there

had evidently been some story told, and his face would express a desire to join in the

laugh, which would immediately invite telling the story to him."