The Social Side Of Edison -17

The Social Side Of Edison -17

 One very cold winter's day he entered the laboratory library in fine spirits, "doing" the

decayed dandy, with imaginary cane under his arm, struggling to put on a pair of tattered

imaginary gloves, with a self- satisfied smirk and leer that would have done credit to a

real comedian. This particular bit of acting was heightened by the fact that even in the

coldest weather he wears thin summer clothes, generally acid-worn and more or less

disreputable. For protection he varies the number of his suits of underclothing, sometimes

wearing three or four sets, according to the thermometer.

If one could divorce Edison from the idea of work, and could regard him separate and

apart from his embodiment as an inventor and man of science, it might truly be asserted

that his temperament is essentially mercurial. Often he is in the highest spirits, with all

the spontaneity of youth, and again he is depressed, moody, and violently angry. Anger

with him, however, is a good deal like the story attributed to Napoleon:

"Sire, how is it that your judgment is not affected by your great rage?" asked one of his

courtiers.

"Because," said the Emperor, "I never allow it to rise above this line," drawing his hand

across his throat. Edison has been seen sometimes almost beside himself with anger at a

stupid mistake or inexcusable oversight on the part of an assistant, his voice raised to a

high pitch, sneeringly expressing his feelings of contempt for the offender; and yet when

the culprit, like a bad school-boy, has left the room, Edison has immediately returned to

his normal poise, and the incident is a thing of the past. At other times the unsettled

condition persists, and his spleen is vented not only on the original instigator but upon

others who may have occasion to see him, sometimes hours afterward. When such a fit is

on him the word is quickly passed around, and but few of his associates find it necessary

to consult with him at the time. The genuine anger can generally be distinguished from

the imitation article by those who know him intimately by the fact that when really

enraged his forehead between the eyes partakes of a curious rotary movement that cannot

be adequately described in words. It is as if the storm-clouds within are moving like a

whirling cyclone. As a general rule, Edison does not get genuinely angry at mistakes and

other human weaknesses of his subordinates; at best he merely simulates anger. But woe

betide the one who has committed an act of bad faith, treachery, dishonesty, or

ingratitude; THEN Edison can show what it is for a strong man to get downright mad.

But in this respect he is singularly free, and his spells of anger are really few. In fact,

those who know him best are continually surprised at his moderation and patience, often

when there has been great provocation. People who come in contact with him and who

may have occasion to oppose his views, may leave with the impression that he is hottempered;

nothing could be further from the truth. He argues his point with great

vehemence, pounds on the table to emphasize his views, and illustrates his theme with a

wealth of apt similes; but, on account of his deafness, it is difficult to make the argument

really two-sided. Before the visitor can fully explain his side of the matter some point is

brought up that starts Edison off again, and new arguments from his viewpoint are poured

forth. This constant interruption is taken by many to mean that Edison has a small

opinion of any arguments that oppose him; but he is only intensely in earnest in

presenting his own side. If the visitor persists until Edison has seen both sides of the

controversy, he is always willing to frankly admit that his own views may be unsound

and that his opponent is right. In fact, after such a controversy, both parties going after

each other hammer and tongs, the arguments TO HIM being carried on at the very top of

one's voice to enable him to hear, and FROM HIM being equally loud in the excitement

of the discussion, he has often said: "I see now that my position was absolutely rotten. "