The Laboratory At Orange And The Staff - 4

The Laboratory At Orange And The Staff - 4

 On entering the main building the first doorway from the ample passage leads the visitor

into a handsome library finished throughout in yellow pine, occupying the entire width of

the building, and almost as broad as long. The centre of this spacious room is an open

rectangular space about forty by twenty-five feet, rising clear about forty feet from the

main floor to a panelled ceiling. Around the sides of the room, bounding this open space,

run two tiers of gallery, divided, as is the main floor beneath them; into alcoves of liberal

dimensions. These alcoves are formed by racks extending from floor to ceiling, fitted

with shelves, except on two sides of both galleries, where they are formed by a series of

glass- fronted cabinets containing extensive collections of curious and beautiful

mineralogical and geological specimens, among which is the notable Tiffany-Kunz

collection of minerals acquired by Edison some years ago. Here and there in these

cabinets may also be found a few models which he has used at times in his studies of

anatomy and physiology.

The shelves on the remainder of the upper gallery and part of those on the first gallery are

filled with countless thousands of specimens of ores and minerals of every conceivable

kind gathered from all parts of the world, and all tagged and numbered. The remaining

shelves of the first gallery are filled with current numbers (and some back numbers) of

the numerous periodicals to which Edison subscribes. Here may be found the popular

magazines, together with those of a technical nature relating to electricity, chemistry,

engineering, mechanics, building, cement, building materials, drugs, water and gas,

power, automobiles, railroads, aeronautics, philosophy, hygiene, physics, telegraphy,

mining, metallurgy, metals, music, and others; also theatrical weeklies, as well as the

proceedings and transactions of various learned and technical societies.

The first impression received as one enters on the main floor of the library and looks

around is that of noble proportions and symmetry as a whole. The open central space of

liberal dimensions and height, flanked by the galleries and relieved by four handsome

electric-lighting fixtures suspended from the ceiling by long chains, conveys an idea of

lofty spaciousness; while the huge open fireplace, surmounted by a great clock built into

the wall, at one end of the room, the large rugs, the arm-chairs scattered around, the

tables and chairs in the alcoves, give a general air of comfort combined with utility. In

one of the larger alcoves, at the sunny end of the main hall, is Edison's own desk, where

he may usually be seen for a while in the early morning hours looking over his mail or

otherwise busily working on matters requiring his attention.

At the opposite end of the room, not far from the open fireplace, is a long table

surrounded by swivel desk-chairs. It is here that directors' meetings are sometimes held,

and also where weighty matters are often discussed by Edison at conference with his

closer associates. It has been the privilege of the writers to be present at some of these

conferences, not only as participants, but in some cases as lookers- on while awaiting

their turn. On such occasions an interesting opportunity is offered to study Edison in his

intense and constructive moods. Apparently oblivious to everything else, he will listen

with concentrated mind and close attention, and then pour forth a perfect torrent of ideas

and plans, and, if the occasion calls for it, will turn around to the table, seize a writingpad

and make sketch after sketch with lightning-like rapidity, tearing off each sheet as

filled and tossing it aside to the floor. It is an ordinary indication that there has been an

interesting meeting when the caretaker about fills a waste-basket with these discarded

sketches.