Nofactoriesinthelandwouldtakeupthemanufacture。
Iremember，forinstance，ourinterviewswithMessrs。Mitchell，Vance&Co。，theleadingmanufacturersofhousegas-lightingfixtures，suchasbracketsandchandeliers。Theyhadnofaithinelectriclighting，andrejectedallouroverturestoinducethemtotakeupthenewbusinessofmakingelectric-
lightfixtures。AsregardsotherpartsoftheEdisonsystem，notablytheEdisondynamo，nosuchmachineshadeverexisted；therewasnofactoryintheworldequippedtomakethem，and，mostdiscouragingofall，theveryscientificprinciplesoftheirconstructionwerestillvagueandexperimental。
“Whatwastobedone？Mr。Edisonhasneverbeengreaterthanwhenhemetandsolvedthiscrisis。
`Iftherearenofactories，'hesaid，`tomakemyinventions，Iwillbuildthefactoriesmyself。Sincecapitalistimid，Iwillraiseandsupplyit。Theissueisfactoriesordeath。'Mr。Edisoninvitedtheco-
operationofhisleadingstockholders。Theylackedconfidenceordidnotcaretoincreasetheirinvestments。Hewasforcedtogoonalone。ThechainofEdisonshopswasthencreated。Byfarthemostperplexingofthesenewmanufacturingproblemswasthelamp。Notonlywasitanewindustry，onewithoutshadowofprototype，butthemechanicaldevicesformakingthelamps，andtosomeextenttheverymachinestomakethosedevices，weretobeinvented。
Allofthiswasdonebythecourage，capital，andinvincibleenergyandgeniusofthegreatinventor。
ButMr。Edisoncouldnotcreatethesegreatanddiverseindustriesandatthesametimegiverequisiteattentiontolitigation。Hecouldnotstartanddevelopthenewandhardbusinessofelectriclightingandyetspareonehourtopursueinfringers。Onethingortheothermustwait。Allagreedthatitmustbethelitigation。AndrighttherealastingblowwasgiventotheprestigeoftheEdisonpatents。Thedelaywastranslatedasmeaninglackofconfidence；
andthealertinfringergrewstrongincourageandcapital。Moreover，andwhatwastheheaviestblowofall，hehadtime，thusunmolested，togetagoodstart。
“Inlookingbackonthosedaysandscrutinizingthemthroughtheyears，Iamimpressedbythegreatness，thesolitarygreatnessImaysay，ofMr。Edison。
Weallfeltthenthatwewereofimportance，andthatourcontributionofeffortandzealwerevital。Icanseenow，however，thatthebestofuswasnothingbuttheflyonthewheel。SupposeanythinghadhappenedtoEdison？Allwouldhavebeenchaosandruin……
Tohim，therefore，betheglory，ifnottheprofit。“
TheforegoingremarksofMajorEatonshowauthoritativelyhowthemuch-discusseddelayinlitigatingtheEdisonpatentswassogreatlymisunderstoodatthetime，andalsohowimperativelynecessaryitwasforEdisonandhisassociatestodevotetheirentiretimeandenergiestothecommercialdevelopmentoftheart。Asthelightingbusinessincreased，however，andagreatnumberofadditionalmenwereinitiatedintoitsmysteries，Edisonandhisexpertswereabletosparesometimetolegalmatters，andaneraofactivepatentlitigationagainstinfringerswasopenedabouttheyear1885bytheEdisoncompany，andthereaftercontinuedformanyyears。
Whilethehistoryofthisvastarrayoflegalproceedingspossessesafascinatinginterestforthoseinvolved，aswellasforprofessionalmen，legalandscientific，itcouldnotbeexpectedthatitwouldexciteanysuchfeelingonthepartofacasualreader。Hence，itisnotproposedtoencumberthisnarrativewithanydetailedrecordofthenumeroussuitsthatwerebroughtandconductedthroughtheircomplicatedramificationsbyeminentcounsel。Sufficeittosaythatwithinaboutsixteenyearsafterthecommencementofactivepatentlitigation，therehadbeenspentbytheownersoftheEdisonlightingpatentsupwardoftwomilliondollarsinprosecutingmorethantwohundredlawsuitsbroughtagainstpersonswhowereinfringingmanyofthepatentsofEdisonontheincandescentelectriclampandcomponentpartsofhissystem。Overfiftyseparatepatentswereinvolvedinthesesuits，includingthebasiconeonthelampordinarilycalledthe“Filament“patent，otherdetaillamppatents，aswellasthoseonsockets，switches，dynamos，motors，anddistributingsystems。
Theprincipal，or“test，“suitonthe“Filament“
patentwasthatbroughtagainst“TheUnitedStatesElectricLightingCompany，“whichbecameacausecelebreintheannalsofAmericanjurisprudence。
Edison'sclaimswerestrenuouslyandstubbornlycontestedthroughoutaseriesofintenselegalconflictsthatragedinthecourtsforagreatmanyyears。Bothsidesofthecontroversywererepresentedbylegaltalentofthehighestorder，underwhoseexaminationandcross-examinationvolumesoftestimonyweretaken，untiltheprintedrecordincludingexhibits
amountedtomorethansixthousandpages。ScientificandtechnicalliteratureandrecordsinallpartsofthecivilizedworldweresubjectedtothemostminutescrutinyofopposingexpertsintheendeavortoproveEdisontobemerelyanadapterofmethodsanddevicesalreadyprojectedorsuggestedbyothers。Theworldwasransackedforanythingthatmightbeclaimedasananticipationofwhathehaddone。
EveryconceivablephaseofingenuitythatcouldbedevisedbytechnicalexpertswasexercisedintheattempttoshowthatEdisonhadaccomplishednothingnew。Everythingthatlegalacumencouldsuggest——
everysubtletechnicalityofthelaw——allthecomplicatedvariationsofphraseologythatthenovelnomenclatureofayoungartwouldallow——allwerepressedintoserviceandavailedofbythecontestorsoftheEdisoninventionintheirdesperateefforttodefeathisclaims。Itwasallinvain，however，forthedecisionofthecourtwasinfavorofEdison，andhislamppatentwassustainednotonlybythetribunalofthefirstresort，butalsobytheAppellateCourtsometimeafterward。
ThefirsttrialwashadbeforeJudgeWallaceintheUnitedStatesCircuitCourtfortheSouthernDistrictofNewYork，andtheappealwasheardbyJudgesLacombeandShipman，oftheUnitedStatesCircuitCourtofAppeals。Beforebothtribunalsthecausehadbeenfullyrepresentedbycounselchosenfromamongthemosteminentrepresentativesofthebaratthattime，thoserepresentingtheEdisoninterestsbeingthelateClarenceA。SewardandGrosvenorP。
Lowrey，togetherwithSherburneBlakeEaton，AlbertH。Walker，andRichardN。Dyer。Thepresentationofthecasetothecourtshadinbothinstancesbeenmarkedbymasterlyandablearguments，elucidatedbyexperimentsanddemonstrationstoeducatethejudgesontechnicalpoints。Someappreciationofthemagnitudeofthiscasemaybegainedfromthefactthattheargumentonitsfirsttrialemployedagreatmanydays，andtheminutescoveredhundredsofpagesofcloselytypewrittenmatter，whiletheargumentonappealrequiredeightdays，andwassetforthineighthundredandfiftypagesoftypewriting。
Eliminatingallpurelyforensiceloquenceandexpartestatements，theaddressesofcounselinthiscelebratedsuitareworthyofdeepstudybyanearneststudent，for，takentogether，theycomprisethemostconcise，authentic，andcompletehistoryofthepriorstateoftheartandthedevelopmentoftheincandescentlampthathadbeenmadeuptothattime。[22]
[22]Theargumentonappealwasconductedwiththedignityanddecorumthatcharacterizesuchaproceedinginthatcourt。
Thereisusuallylittlethatsavorsofhumorintheordinaryconductofacaseofthiskind，butinthepresentinstanceapertinentstorywasrelatedbyMr。Lowrey，anditisnowreproduced。Inthecourseofhisaddresstothecourt，Mr。Lowreysaid：
“Ihavetomentionthenameofoneexpertwhosetestimonywill，Ibelieve，befoundasaccurate，assincere，asstraightforwardasifitwerethepreachingofthegospel。Idoitwithgreatpleasure，andIaskyoutoreadthetestimonyofCharlesL。ClarkealongwiththatofThomasA。Edison。Hehadratherahardrowtohoe。Heisayounggentleman；heisaverywell-instructedmaninhisprofession；heisnotwhatIhavecalledintheargumentbelowanexpertintheartoftestifying，likesomeoftheothers，hehasnotyetbecomeexpert；whathemaydescendtolatercannotbeknown；heentereduponhisfirstexperience，I
think，withmybrotherDuncan，whoisnotriflerwhenhecomestodealwiththesequestions，andforseveralmonthsMr。Clarkewaspursuedupanddown，overarangeofsuggestionsofwhathewouldhavethoughtifhehadthoughtsomethingelsehadbeensaidatsometimewhensomethingelsewasnotsaid。“
Mr。Duncan——“Igotthreepagesadayoutofhim，too。“
Mr。Lowrey——“Well，itwasagoodresult。ItalwaysrecalledtomewhatIventurenow，sincemyfriendbreaksinuponmeinthisrudemanner，totellthecourtaswellillustrativeofwhathappenedthere。Itisthestoryofthepickerelandtheroach。
Myfriend，ProfessorVonReisenberg，oftheUniversityofGhent，pursuedaseriesofinvestigationsintothecapacityofvariousanimalstoreceiveideas。Amongtherestheputapickerelintoatankcontainingwater，andseparatedacrossitsmiddlebyatransparentglassplate，andontheothersideheputaredroach。
NowyourHonorsbothknowhowapickerellovesaredroach，andIhavenodoubtyouwillrememberthatheisafishofaverylowforeheadandanunlimitedappetite。Whenthispickerelsawtheredroachthroughtheglass，hemadeoneofthoseawfuldasheswhichisusuallytheruinofwhateverstandsinits-way；buthedidn'treachtheredroach。Hereceivedanimpression，doubtless。
Itwasnotsufficient，however，todiscouragehim，andheimmediatelytriedagain，andhecontinuedtotryforthree-
quartersofanhour。Attheendofthree-quartersofanhourheseemedalittleshakenanddiscouraged，andstopped，andtheredroachwastakenoutforthatdayandthepickerelleft。Onthesucceedingdaytheredroachwasrestored，andthepickerelhadforgottentheimpressionsofthefirstday，andherepeatedthisagain。Attheendoftheseconddaytheroachwastakenout。Thiswascontinued，notthroughsolongaperiodastheefforttotakemyfriendClarkeanddevourhim，butforaperiodofaboutthreeweeks。Attheendofthethreeweeks，thetimeduringwhichthepickerelpersistedeachdayhadbeenshortenedandshortened，untilitwasatlastdiscoveredthathedidn'ttryatall。Theplateglasswasthenremoved，andthepickerelandtheredroachsailedaroundtogetherinperfectpeaceeverafterward。
Thepickereldoubtlessattributedtotheroachallthisshaking，therebuffwhichhehadreceived。AndthatisabouttheconditioninwhichmybrotherDuncanandmyfriendClarkewereattheendofthisexamination。“
Mr。Duncan——“InoticeontheredirectthatMr。Clarkechangedhiscolor。“
Mr。Lowrey——“Well，perhapshewasadifferentkindofaroachthen；butyoudidn'tsucceedintakinghim。
“IbegyourHonorstoreadthetestimonyofMr。Clarkeinthelightoftheanecdoteofthepickerelandtheroach。“
Owingtolong-protracteddelaysincidenttothetakingoftestimonyandpreparationfortrial，theargumentbeforetheUnitedStatesCircuitCourtofAppealswasnothaduntilthelatespringof1892，anditsdecisioninfavoroftheEdisonLamppatentwasfiledonOctober4，1892，MORETHANTWELVEYEARS
AFTERTHEISSUANCEOFTHEPATENTITSELF。
Asthetermofthepatenthadbeenlimitedunderthelaw，becausecertainforeignpatentshadbeenissuedtoEdisonbeforethatinthiscountry，therewasnowbutashorttimeleftforenjoymentoftheexclusiverightscontemplatedbythestatuteandgrantedtoEdisonandhisassignsbythetermsofthepatentitself。AvigorousandaggressivelegalcampaignwasthereforeinauguratedbytheEdisonElectricLightCompanyagainstthenumerousinfringingcompaniesandindividualsthathadsprungupwhilethemainsuitwaspending。Oldsuitswererevivedandnewonesinstituted。Injunctionswereobtainedagainstmanyoldoffenders，anditseemedasthoughtheEdisoninterestswereabouttocomeintotheirownforthebriefunexpiredtermofthefundamentalpatent，whenanewbombshellwasdroppedintotheEdisoncampintheshapeofanallegedanticipationoftheinventionfortyyearspreviouslybyoneHenryGoebel。Thus，in1893，thelitigationwasreopened，andaprotractedseriesofstubbornlycontestedconflictswasfoughtinthecourts。
Goebel'sclaimswerenotunknowntotheEdisonCompany，forasfarbackas1882theyhadbeenofficiallybroughttoitsnoticecoupledwithanofferofsaleforafewthousanddollars。Averybriefexaminationintotheirmerits，however，sufficedtodemonstratemostemphaticallythatGoebelhadnevermadeapracticalincandescentlamp，norhadheevercontributedasingleideaordevicebearing，remotelyordirectly，onthedevelopmentoftheart。Edisonandhiscompany，therefore，rejectedtheofferunconditionallyanddeclinedtoenterintoanyarrangementswhateverwithGoebel。Duringtheprosecutionofthesuitsin1893ittranspiredthattheGoebelclaimshadalsobeeninvestigatedbythecounselofthedefendantcompanyintheprincipallitigationalreadyrelated，butalthougheveryconceivabledefenceandanticipationhadbeendraggedintothecaseduringthemanyyearsofitsprogress，theallegedGoebelanticipationwasnoteventouchedupontherein。
Fromthisfactitisquiteapparentthattheyplacednocredenceonitsbonafides。
Butdesperatecasescallfordesperateremedies。
Someoftheinfringinglamp-manufacturingconcerns，whichduringthelonglitigationhadgrownstrongandlusty，andthusfarhadnotbeenenjoinedbythecourt，nowsawinjunctionsstaringthemintheface，andindesperationsetuptheGoebelso-calledanticipationasadefenceinthesuitsbroughtagainstthem。
ThisGermanwatchmaker，Goebel，locatedintheEastSideofNewYorkCity，hadundoubtedlybeeninterested，inadesultorykindofway，insimplephysicalphenomena，andafewtriflingexperimentsmadebyhimsomefortyorforty-fiveyearspreviouslyweremagnifiedanddistortedintobrilliantandall-
comprehensivediscoveriesandinventions。Avalanchesofaffidavitsofhimself，“hissistersandhiscousinsandhisaunts，“practicallyallpersonsinordinarywalksoflife，andofoldfriends，contributedahostofrecollectionsthatseemedlittleshortofmiraculousintheirdetailedaccountsofeventsofascientificnaturethatweresaidtohaveoccurredsomanyyearsbefore。AccordingtoaffidavitsofGoebelhimselfandsomeofhisfamily，nothingthatwouldanticipateEdison'sclaimhadbeenomittedfromhiswork，forheGoebelclaimedtohaveemployedtheall-glassglobe，intowhichweresealedplatinumwirescarryingatenuouscarbonfilament，fromwhichtheoccludedgaseshadbeenliberatedduringtheprocessofhighexhaustion。Hehadevendetermineduponbambooasthebestmaterialforfilaments。Onthefaceofithewasseeminglygiftedwithmorethanhumanprescience，forinatleastoneofhisexhibitlamps，saidtohavebeenmadetwentyyearspreviously，heclaimedtohaveemployedprocesseswhichEdisonandhisassociateshadonlydevelopedbyseveralyearsofexperienceinmakingthousandsoflamps！
TheGoebelstorywastoldbytheaffidavitsinaningenuousmanner，withawealthofsimplehomelydetailthatcarriedonitsfaceanappearanceoftruthcalculatedtodeceivetheelect，hadnottheelectbeensomewhatpreparedbytheirinvestigationmadesomeelevenyearsbefore。
ThestorywasmetbytheEdisoninterestswithcounter-affidavits，showingitsutterimprobabilitiesandabsurditiesfromthestandpointofmenofscienceandothersversedinthehistoryandpracticeoftheart；alsoaffidavitsofotheracquaintancesandneighborsofGoebelflatlydenyingtheexhibitionsheclaimedtohavemade。Theissuethusbeingjoined，thelegalbattleragedoverdifferentsectionsofthecountry。AnumberofcontumeliouslydefiantinfringersinvariouscitiesbasedfondhopesofimmunityuponthesuccessofthisGoebelevidence，butweredefeated。TheattitudeofthecourtsiswellrepresentedintheopinionofJudgeColt，renderedinamotionforinjunctionagainsttheBeaconVacuumPumpandElectricalCompany。ThedefenceallegedtheGoebelanticipation，insupportofwhichitofferedinevidencefourlamps，Nos。1，2，and3purportingtohavebeenmadebefore1854，andNo。4before1872。Afteraveryfullreviewofthefactsinthecase，andafairconsiderationofthedefendants'
affidavits，JudgeColtinhisopiniongoesontosay：
“ItisextremelyimprobablethatHenryGoebelconstructedapracticalincandescentlampin1854。Thisismanifestfromthehistoryoftheartforthepastfiftyyears，theelectricallawswhichsincethattimehavebeendiscoveredasapplicabletotheincandescentlamp，theimperfectmeanswhichthenexistedforobtainingavacuum，thehighdegreeofskillnecessaryintheconstructionofallitsparts，andthecrudeinstrumentswithwhichGoebelworked。
“WhetherGoebelmadethefiddle-bowlamps，1，2，and3，isnotnecessarytodetermine。Theweightofevidenceonthismotionisinthedirectionthathemadetheselamporlampssimilaringeneralappearance，thoughitismanifestthatfew，ifany，ofthemanywitnesseswhosawtheGoebellampcouldformanaccuratejudgmentofthesizeofthefilamentorburner。Butassumingtheyweremade，theydonotanticipatetheinventionofEdison。
Atmosttheywereexperimentaltoysusedtoadvertisehistelescope，ortoflashalightuponhisclock，ortoattractcustomerstohisshop。Theywerecrudelyconstructed，andtheirlifewasbrief。Theycouldnotbeusedfordomesticpurposes。TheywereinnopropersensethepracticalcommerciallampofEdison。Theliteratureoftheartisfullofbetterlamps，allofwhichareheldnottoanticipatetheEdisonpatent。
“AsforLampNo。4，Icannotbutviewitwithsuspicion。Itpresentsanewappearance。Thereasongivenfornotintroducingitbeforethehearingisunsatisfactory。Thislamp，tomymind，envelopswithacloudofdistrustthewholeGoebelstory。ItissimplyimpossibleunderthecircumstancestobelievethatalampsoconstructedcouldhavebeenmadebyGoebelbefore1872。Nothingintheevidencewarrantssuchasup-
position，andotherthingsshowittobeuntrue。Thislamphasacarbonfilament，platinumleading-inwires，agoodvacuum，andiswellsealedandhighlyfinished。Itissaidthatthislampshowsnotracesofmercuryinthebulbbecausethemercurywasdistilled，butGoebelsaysnothingaboutdistilledmercuryinhisfirstaffidavit，andtwicehespeaksoftheparticlesofmercuryclingingtotheinsideofthechamber，andforthatreasonheconstructedaGeisslerpumpafterhemovedto468GrandStreet，whichwasin1877。Again，ifthislamphasbeeninhispossessionsincebefore1872，asheandhissonswear，whywasitnotshowntoMr。Crosby，oftheAmericanCompany，whenhevisitedhisshopin1881andwasmuchinterestedinhislamps？WhywasitnotshowntoMr。Curtis，theleadingcounselforthedefendantsintheNewYorkcases，whenhewasaskedtoproducealampandpromisedtodoso？WhydidnothissontakethislamptoMr。Bull'sofficein1892，whenhetooktheoldfiddle-bowlamps，1，2，and3？WhydidnothissontakethislamptoMr。Eaton'sofficein1882，whenhetriedtonegotiatethesaleofhisfather'sinventionstotheEdisonCompany？Alampsoconstructedandmadebefore1872wasworthalargesumofmoneytothoseinterestedindefeatingtheEdisonpatentliketheAmericanCompany，andGoebelwasnotarichman。Bothheandoneofhissonswereemployedin1881bytheAmericanCompany。WhydidhenotshowthislamptoMcMahonwhenhecalledintheinterestoftheAmericanCompanyandtalkedovertheelectricalmatters？WhenMr。
Dreyertriedtoorganizeacompanyin1882，andprocuredanoptionfromhimofallhisinventionsrelatingtoelectriclightingforwhich$925waspaid，andwhenanoldlampofthiskindwasofvitalconsequenceandwouldhaveinsuredafortune，whywasitnotforthcoming？Mr。DreyeraskedGoebeltoproduceanoldlamp，andwasespeciallyanxioustofindonependinghisnegotiationswiththeEdisonCompanyforthesaleofGoebel'sinventions。WhydidhenotproducethislampinhisinterviewswithBohm，oftheAmericanCompany，orMoses，oftheEdisonCompany，whenitwasforhisinteresttodoso？ThevalueofsuchananticipationoftheEdisonlampwasmadeknowntohim。Hewasdesirousofrealizinguponhisinventions。Hewasproudofhisincandescentlamps，andwaspleasedtotalkaboutthemwithanybodywhowouldlisten。Isitconceivableunderallthesecircumstances，thatheshouldhavehadthisall-importantlampinhispossessionfrom1872to1893，andyetnoonehaveheardofitorseenitexcepthisson？ItcannotbesaidthatignoranceoftheEnglishlanguageoffersanexcuse。HeknewEnglishverywellalthoughBohmandDreyerconversedwithhiminGerman。
HischildrenspokeEnglish。Neitherhisignorancenorhissimplicitypreventedhimfromtakingoutthreepatents：thefirstin1865forasewing-machinehemmer，andthelastin1882foranimprovementinincandescentlamps。IfhemadeLampNo。4previousto1872，whywasitnotalsopatented？
“ThereareothercircumstanceswhichthrowdoubtonthisallegedGoebelanticipation。ThesuitagainsttheUnitedStatesElectricLightingCompanywasbroughtintheSouthernDistrictofNewYorkin1885。Largeinterestswereatstake，andthemaindefencetotheEdisonpatentwasbasedonpriorinventions。ThisGoebelclaimwastheninvestigatedbytheleadingcounselforthedefence，Mr。Curtis。Itwasfurtherinquiredintoin1892，inthecaseagainsttheSawyer-ManCompany。
ItwasbroughttotheattentionandconsideredbytheEdisonCompanyin1882。ItwasatthattimeknowntotheAmericanCompany，whohopedbythismeanstodefeatthemonopolyundertheEdisonpatent。Dreyertriedtoorganizeacompanyforitspurchase。YoungGoebeltriedtosellit。Itmusthavebeenknowntohundredsofpeople。AndnowwhentheEdisonCompanyafteryearsoflitigation，leavingbutashorttimeforthepatenttorun，haveobtainedafinaladjudicationestablishingitsvalidity，thisclaimisagainresurrectedtodefeattheoperationofthejudgmentsoobtained。Acourtinequityshouldnotlookwithfavoronsuchadefence。
Upontheevidenceherepresented，IagreewiththefirstimpressionofMr。CurtisandwiththeopinionofMr。
DickersonthatwhateverGoebeldidmustbeconsideredasanabandonedexperiment。
“Ithasoftenbeenlaiddownthatameritoriousinventionisnottobedefeatedbysomethingwhichrestsinspeculationorexperiment，orwhichisrudimentaryorincomplete。
“Thelawrequiresnotconjecture，butcertainty。Itiseasyafteranimportantinventionhasgoneintopublicuseforpersonstocomeforwardwithclaimsthattheyinventedthesamethingyearsbefore，andtoendeavortoestablishthisbytherecollectionofwitnessesastoeventslongpast。Suchevidenceistobereceivedwithgreatcaution，andthepresumptionofnoveltyarisingfromthegrantofthepatentisnottobeovercomeexceptuponclearandconvincingproof。
“WhenthedefendantcompanyentereduponthemanufactureofincandescentlampsinMay，1891，itwellknewtheconsequenceswhichmustfollowafavorabledecisionfortheEdisonCompanyintheNewYorkcase。“
Theinjunctionwasgranted。
OthercourtstookpracticallythesameviewoftheGoebelstoryaswastakenbyJudgeColt，andtheinjunctionsaskedinbehalfoftheEdisoninterestsweregrantedonallapplicationsexceptoneinSt。
Louis，Missouri，inproceedingsinstitutedagainstastronglocalconcernofthatcity。
Thus，attheeleventhhourinthelifeofthisimportantpatent，afteralongperiodofcostlylitigation，Edisonandhisassociateswerecompelledtoassumethedefensiveagainstaclaimantwhoseutterlybaselesspretensionshadalreadybeenthoroughlyinvestigatedandrejectedyearsbeforebyeveryinterestedparty，andultimately，onexaminationbythecourts，pronouncedlegallyuntenable，ifnotindeedactuallyfraudulent。Irritatingasitwastobeforcedintothepositionofcombatingapropositionsowellknowntobepreposterousandinsincere，therewasnothingelsetodobuttofightthisfabricationwithallthestrenuousanddeadlyearnestnessthatwouldhavebeenbroughttobearonareallymeritoriousdefence。NotonlydidthisGoebelepisodedivertforalongtimetheenergiesoftheEdisoninterestsfromactivitiesinotherdirections，butthecostofovercomingtheextravagantlyabsurdclaimsranupintohundredsofthousandsofdollars。
AnotherquotationfromMajorEatonisofinterestinthisconnection：
“NowawordabouttheGoebelcase。Itookpersonalchargeofrunningdownthismanandhispretensionsinthesectionofthecitywherehelivedandamonghisoldneighbors。TheywereatypicalEastSidelot——ignorant，generallystupid，incapableoflongmemory，butreadytoobligeaneighborandtoturnaneasydollarbyputtingacross-markatthebottomofaforthcomingfriendlyaffidavit。Icansayinalltruthandjusticethattheirtestimonywasutterlyfalse，andthatthelawyerswhotookitmusthaveknownit。
“TheGoebelcaseemphasizestwodefectsinthecourtprocedureinpatentcases。Oneisthattheymaybespunoutalmostinterminably，even，possibly，totheendofthelifeofthepatent；theotheristhatthejudgewhodecidesthecasedoesnotseethewitnesses。
ThatadversedecisionatSt。LouiswouldneverhavebeenmadeifthecourtcouldhaveseenthemenwhosworeforGoebel。WhenImetMr。F。
P。FishonhisreturnfromSt。Louis，afterhehadarguedtheEdisonside，hefeltkeenlythatdisadvantage，tosaynothingofthehopelessdifficultyofeducatingthecourt。“
Intheearliestdaysoftheart，whenitwasapparentthatincandescentlightinghadcometostay，theEdisonCompanywasashiningmarkatwhichtheshaftsofthedishonestwereaimed。Manytherewerewhostoodreadytofurnishaffidavitsthattheyorsomeoneelsewhomtheycontrolledhadreallyinventedthelamp，butwouldobliginglywithdrawandleaveEdisoninpossessionofthefieldonpaymentofmoney。Investigationofthesecases，however，revealedinvariablythepurelyfraudulentnatureofallsuchoffers，whichwereuniformlydeclined。
Astheincandescentlightbegantoadvancerapidlyinpublicfavor，theimmenseproportionsofthefuturemarketbecamesufficientlyobvioustotemptunauthorizedpersonstoenterthefieldandbecomemanufacturers。Whenthelampbecameathoroughlyestablishedarticleitwasnotadifficultmattertocopyit，especiallywhentherewereemployeestobehiredawayatincreasedpay，andtheirknowledgeutilizedbythemoreunscrupulousofthesenewcompetitors。Thisisnotconjecturebutknowntobeafact，andthepracticecontinuedmanyyears，duringwhichnewlampcompaniesspranguponeveryside。
Hence，itisnotsurprisingthat，onthewhole，theEdisonlamplitigationwasnotlessremarkableforquantitythanquality。BetweeneightyandninetyseparatesuitsuponEdison'sfundamentallampanddetailpatentswerebroughtinthecourtsoftheUnitedStatesandprosecutedtocompletion。
InpassingitmaybementionedthatinEnglandFrance，andGermanyalsotheEdisonfundamentallamppatentwasstubbornlyfoughtinthejudicialarena，andhisclaimtobethefirstinventorofpracticalincandescentlightingwasuniformlysustainedinallthosecountries。
Infringementwasnot，however，confinedtothelampalone，but，inAmerica，extendedallalongthelineofEdison'spatentsrelatingtotheproductionanddistributionofelectriclight，includingthoseondynamos，motors，distributingsystems，sockets，switches，andotherdetailswhichhehadfromtimetotimeinvented。Consequently，inordertoprotectitsinterestsatallpoints，theEdisonCompanyhadfounditnecessarytopursueavigorouspolicyofinstitutinglegalproceedingsagainsttheinfringersofthesevariouspatents，and，inadditiontothelargenumberofsuitsonthelampalone，notlessthanonehundredandtwenty-fiveotherseparateactions，involvingsomefiftyormoreofEdison'sprincipalelectric-lightingpatents，werebroughtagainstconcernswhichwerewrongfullyappropriatinghisideasandactivelycompetingwithhiscompaniesinthemarket。
Theramificationsofthislitigationbecamesoextensiveandcomplexastorenderitnecessarytoinstituteaspecialbureau，ordepartment，throughwhichtheimmensedetailcouldbesystematicallysifted，analyzed，andarrangedincollaborationwiththenumerousexpertsandcounselresponsiblefortheconductofthevariouscases。Thisdepartmentwasorganizedin1889byMajorEaton，whowasatthistimeandforsomeyearsafterwarditsgeneralcounsel。
Intheselectionoftheheadofthisdepartmentamanofmethodicalandanalyticalhabitofmindwasnecessary，capableofclearreasoning，andatthesametimeonewhohadgainedathoroughlypracticalexperienceinelectriclightandpowerfields，andthechoicefelluponMr。W。J。Jenks，themanageroftheEdisoncentralstationatBrockton，Massachusetts。
Hehadresignedthatpositionin1885，andhadspenttheinterveningperiodinexploitingtheEdisonmunicipalsystemoflighting，aswellastakinganactivepartinvariousotherbranchesoftheEdisonenterprises。
Thus，throughoutthelifeofEdison'spatentsonelectriclight，power，anddistribution，theinterminablelegalstrifehascontinuedfromdaytoday，fromyeartoyear。Otherinventors，someofthemgreatandnotable，havebeencomingintothefieldsincethefoundationoftheart，patentshavemultipliedexceedingly，improvementhassucceededimprovement，greatcompanieshavegrowngreater，newconcernshavecomeintoexistence，coalitionsandmergershavetakenplace，alltendingtoproducechangesinmethods，butnotmuchindiminutionofpatentlitigation。WhileEdisonhasnotforalongtimepastinterestedhimselfparticularlyinelectriclightandpowerinventions，thebureauwhichwasinitiatedundertheoldregimein1889stillcontinues，enlargedinscope，directedbyitsoriginalchief，butnowconductedundertheauspicesofseveralalliedcompanieswhosegreatvolumesofcombinedpatentsincludingthoseofEdisoncoveraverywiderangeoftheelectricalfield。
Asthegeneralconceptionandtheoryofalawsuitistherecoveryofsomematerialbenefit，thelaymindisapttoconceiveofgreatsumsofmoneybeingawardedtoacomplainantbywayofdamagesuponafavorabledecisioninanimportantpatentcase。Itmight，therefore，benaturaltoaskhowfarEdisonorhiscompanieshavebenefitedpecuniarilybyreasonofthemanybelatedvictoriestheyhavescoredinthecourts。Tothisquestionastrictregardfortruthcompelstheanswerthattheyhavenotbeenbenefitedatall，nottotheextentofasingledollar，sofarascashdamagesareconcerned。
Itisnottobedenied，however，thatsubstantialadvantageshaveaccruedtothemmoreorlessdirectlythroughthenumerousfavorabledecisionsobtainedbythemasaresultoftheenormousamountoflitigation，intheprosecutionofwhichsogreatasumofmoneyhasbeenspentandsoconcentratedanamountofeffortandtimelavished。Indeed，itwouldbestrangeandunaccountableweretheresultsotherwise。
Whilethebenefitsderivedwerenotdirectlypecuniaryintheirnature，theyweresuchastendedtostrengthencommerciallythepositionoftherightfulownersofthepatents。Manyirresponsibleandpurelypiraticalconcernswereclosedaltogether；
otherswerecompelledtotakeoutroyaltylicenses；
consolidationsoflargeinterestswerebroughtabout；
thepublicwasgraduallyeducatedtoamorecorrectviewofthetruemeritsofconflictingclaims，and，generallyspeaking，thebusinesshasbeengreatlyunifiedandbroughtwithinwell-definedandcontrollablelines。
NotonlyinrelationtohiselectriclightandpowerinventionshastheprogressofEdisonandhisassociatesbeenattendedbylegalcontroversyallthroughtheyearsoftheirexploitation，butalsoinrespecttootherinventions，notablythoserelatingtothephonographandtomotionpictures。
TheincreasingendeavorsofinfringerstodivertintotheirownpocketssomeoftheproceedsarisingfromthemarketingofthedevicescoveredbyEdison'sinventionsontheselatterlines，necessitatedtheinstitutionbyhim，someyearsago，ofalegaldepartmentwhich，asinthecaseofthelightinventions，wasdesignedtoconsolidatealllawandexpertworkandplaceitunderthemanagementofageneralcounsel。Thedepartmentisofconsiderableextent，includinganumberofresidentandotherassociatecounsel，andageneralofficestaff，allofwhomareconstantlyengagedfromdaytodayinpatentlitigationandotherlegalworknecessarytoprotecttheEdisoninterests。Throughtheirlaborstheoldstoryisreiteratedinthecontestingofapproximatebutconflictingclaims，thenever-
endingefforttosuppressinfringement，andthedestructionasfaraspossibleofthecommercialpirateswhosetsailupontheseasofallsuccessfulenterprises。
Thedetails，circumstances，andtechnicalquestionsare，ofcourse，differentfromthoserelatingtootherclassesofinventions，andalthoughtherehasbeennocausecelebreconcerningthephonographandmotion-picturepatents，thecontentionisassharpandstrenuousasitwasinthecasesrelatingtoelectriclightingandheavycurrenttechnics。
Mr。Edison'sstoragebatteryandthepouredcementhousehavenotyetreachedthestageofgreatcommercialenterprises，andthereforehavenotyetrisentothedignityofpatentlitigation。If，however，theexperienceofpastyearsisanycriterion，therewillprobablycomeatimeinthefuturewhen，despitepresentwidelyexpressedincredulityandcontemptuoussniffsofunbeliefinthepracticabilityofhisideasinthesedirections，ultimatesuccesswillgiverisetoaseriesofhotlycontestedlegalconflictssuchashavesignalizedthepracticaloutcomeofhispasteffortsinotherlines。
WhenitisconsideredwhatEdisonhasdone，whatthesumandsubstanceofhiscontributionstohumancomfortandhappinesshavebeen，theresults，asmeasuredbylegalsuccess，havebeenpitiable。Withtheexceptionofthefavorabledecisionontheincandescentlampfilamentpatent，comingsolate，however，thatbutlittlepracticalgoodwasaccomplished，thereadermaysearchthelaw-booksinvainforasingledecisionsquarelyandfairlysustainingasinglepatentoffirstorder。Thereneverwasamonopolyinincandescentelectriclighting，andevenfromtheearliestdayscompetitorsandinfringerswereinthefieldreapingthebenefits，andthoughdefeatedintheend，payingnotacentoftribute。Themarketwaspracticallyasfreeandopenasifnopatentexisted。
Thereneverwasamonopolyinthephonograph；
practicallyallofthevitalinventionsweredeliberatelyappropriatedbyothers，andtheinventorwaslaughedatforhispains。EvensobeautifulaprocessasthatfortheduplicationofphonographrecordswassolemnlyheldbyaFederaljudgeaslackinginvention——asbeingobvioustoanyone。ThemerefactthatEdisonspentyearsofhislifeindevelopingthatprocesscountedfornothing。
Theinventionofthethree-wiresystem，which，whenitwasfirstannouncedassavingover60percent。ofcopperinthecircuits，wasregardedasanutterimpossibility——thispatentwaslikewiseheldbyaFederaljudgetobelackingininvention。Inthemotion-
pictureart，infringementsbeganwithitsverybirth，andbeforetheinevitablelitigationcouldbeterminatednolessthantencompetitorswereinthefield，withwhomcompromiseshadtobemade。
Inaforeigncountry，Edisonwouldhaveundoubtedlyreceivedsignalhonors；inhisowncountryhehaswontherespectandadmirationofmillions；butinhischosenfieldasaninventorandasapatenteehisrewardhasbeenempty。Thecourtsabroadhaveconsideredhispatentsinaliberalspiritandgivenhimhisdue；thedecisionsinthiscountryhavefallenwideofthemark。WemakenocriticismofourFederaljudges；asabodytheyarefair，able，andhard-
working；buttheyoperateunderasystemofprocedurethatstiflesabsolutelythedevelopmentofinventivegenius。
Untilthatsystemischangedandanopportunityofferedforafinal，swift，andeconomicaladjudicationofpatentrights，Americaninventorsmaywellhesitatebeforeopenlydisclosingtheirinventionstothepublic，andmayseriouslyconsidertheadvisabilityofretainingthemas“tradesecrets。“
CHAPTERXXIX
THESOCIALSIDEOFEDISON
THEtitleofthischaptermightimplythatthereisanunsocialsidetoEdison。Inasensethisistrue，fornooneismoreimpatientorintolerantofinterruptionwhendeeplyengagedinsomelineofexperiment。Thenthecaller，nomatterhowimportantorwhathismission，islikelytorealizehisutterinsignificanceandbesentawaywithoutaccomplishinghisobject。But，generallyspeaking，Edisoniseasytoleranceitself，withapeculiarweaknesstowardthosewhohavetheleastrighttomakeanydemandsonhistime。Manisasocialanimal，andthatdescribesEdison；butitdoesnotdescribeaccuratelytheinventoraskingtobeletalone。
EdisonneversoughtSociety；but“Society“hasneverceasedtoseekhim，andto-day，asever，thepressureuponhimtogiveuphisworkandreceivehonors，meetdistinguishedpeople，orattendpublicfunctions，isintense。Onlytwoorthreeyearsago，aflatteringinvitationcamefromoneofthegreatEnglishuniversitiestoreceiveadegree，butatthatmomenthewasdeepinexperimentsonhisnewstoragebattery，andnothingcouldbudgehim。Hewouldnotdropthework，andwhilehighlyappreciativeoftheproposedhonor，letitgobyratherthanquitforaweekortwothesterndrudgeryofprobingforthefactandthetruth。Whetheroneapprovesornot，itisatleastadmirablestoicism，ofwhichtheworldhastoolittle。
Asimilarinstanceisthatofavisitpaidtothelaboratorybysomeonebringingagoldmedalfromaforeignsociety。Itwasaveryhotdayinsummer，thevisitorwasinfullsocialregaliaofsilkhatandfrock-coat，andinsistedthathecoulddeliverthemedalonlyintoEdison'shands。AtthatmomentEdison，strippedprettynearlydowntothebuff，wasattheverycrisisofanimportantexperiment，andrefusedabsolutelytobeinterrupted。Hehadneithersoughtnorexpectedthemedal；andifthedelegatedidn'tcaretoleaveithecouldtakeitaway。AtlastEdisonwasoverpersuaded，and，alldirtyandperspiringashewas，receivedthemedalratherthancausethevisitortocomeagain。Ononeoccasion，receivingamedalinNewYork，Edisonforgotitontheferry-boatandleftitbehindhim。Afewyearsago，whenEdisonhadreceivedtheAlbertmedaloftheRoyalSocietyofArts，oneofthepresentauthorscalledatthelaboratorytoseeit。Nobodyknewwhereitwas；hourspassedbeforeitcouldbefound；andwhenatlasttheaccompanyingletterwasproduced，ithadanofficedatestamprightoverthesignatureoftheroyalpresident。
AvisitortothelaboratorywithoneofthesemedallicawardsaskedEdisonifhehadanyothers。
“Ohyes，“hesaid，“Ihaveacoupleofquartsmoreupatthehouse！”Allthissoundslikelackofappreciation，butitisanythingelsethanthat。WhileinParis，in1889，heworethedecorationoftheLegionofHonorwheneveroccasionrequired，butatallothertimesturnedthebadgeunderhislapel“becausehehatedtohavefellow-Americansthinkhewasshowingoff。“AndanyonewhoknowsEdisonwillbeartestimonytohisutterabsenceofostentation。Itmaybeaddedthat，inadditiontothetwoquartsofmedalsupatthehouse，therewillbefoundatGlenmontmanyothersignaltokensofesteemandgood-will——abeautifulcigar-casefromthelateTsarofRussia，bronzesfromtheGovernmentofJapan，steeltrophiesfromKrupp，andahostofothermementos，tooneofwhichhethusrefers：“WhentheexperimentswiththelightweregoingonatMenloPark，SarahBernhardtcametoAmerica。Oneevening，RobertL。
Cutting，ofNewYork，broughtherouttoseethelight。
Shewasaterrific`rubberneck。'Shejumpedalloverthemachinery，andIhadonemanespeciallytoguardherdress。Shewantedtoknoweverything。ShewouldspeakinFrench，andCuttingwouldtranslateintoEnglish。Shestayedthereaboutanhourandahalf。Bernhardtgavemetwopictures，paintedbyherself，whichshesentmefromParis。“
ReferencehasalreadybeenmadetothecallersuponEdison；andtogivesimplythenamesofpersonsofdistinctionwouldfillmanypagesofthisrecord。Someweremereconsumersoftime；othersweregladlywelcomed，likeLordKelvin，thegreatestphysicistofthelastcentury，withwhomEdisonwasalwaysinfriendlycommunication。“ThefirsttimeIsawLordKelvin，hecametomylaboratoryatMenloParkin1876。“HereportedmostfavorablyonEdison'sautomatictelegraphsystematthePhiladelphiaExpositionof1876。“Iwasthenexperimentingwithsendingeightmessagessimultaneouslyoverawirebymeansofsynchronizingtuning-forks。Iwouldtakeawirewithsimilarapparatusatbothends，andwouldthrowitoverononesetofinstruments，takeitaway，andgetitbacksoquicklythatyouwouldnotmissit，therebytakingadvantageoftherapidityofelectricitytoperformoperations。OnmylocalwireIgotittoworkverynicely。WhenSirWilliamThomsonKelvin
cameintheroom，hewasintroducedtome，andhadanumberoffriendswithhim。Hesaid：`Whathaveyouhere？'Itoldhimbrieflywhatitwas。Hethenturnedaround，andtomygreatsurpriseexplainedthewholethingtohisfriends。Quiteadifferentexhibitionwasgiventwoweekslaterbyanotherwell-knownEnglishman，alsoanelectrician，whocameinwithhisfriends，andIwastryingfortwohourstoexplainittohimandfailed。“
Aftertheintroductionoftheelectriclight，Edisonwasmorethaneverindemandsocially，butheshunnedfunctionsliketheplague，notonlybecauseoftheseriousinterferencewithwork，butbecauseofhisdeafness。
Somedinnershehadtoattend，butamanwhoatelittleandheardlesscouldderivepracticallynopleasurefromthem。“GeorgeWashingtonChildswasveryanxiousIshouldgodowntoPhiladelphiatodinewithhim。Iseldomwenttodinners。HeinsistedI
shouldgo——thataspecialcarwouldleaveNewYork。
ItwasformetomeetMr。JosephChamberlain。WehadtheprivatecarofMr。Roberts，PresidentofthePennsylvaniaRailroad。WehadoneofthosecelebrateddinnersthatonlyMr。Childscouldgive，andIheardspeechesfromCharlesFrancisAdamsanddif-
ferentpeople。WhenIcamebacktothedepot，Mr。
Robertswasthere，andinsistedoncarryingmysatchelforme。Inevercouldunderstandthat。“
Amongthemoredistinguishedvisitorsoftheelectric-
lightingperiodwasPresidentDiaz，withwhomEdisonbecamequiteintimate。“PresidentDiaz，ofMexico，visitedthiscountrywithMrs。Diaz，ahighlyeducatedandbeautifulwoman。ShespokeverygoodEnglish。Theybothtookadeepinterestinalltheysaw。Idon'tknowhowitevercameabout，asitisnotinmyline，butIseemedtobedelegatedtoshowthemaround。Itookthemtorailroadbuildings，electric-lightplants，firedepartments，andshowedthemagreatvarietyofthings。Itlastedtwodays。“
OfanothervisitEdisonsays：“SittingBullandfifteenSiouxIndianscametoWashingtontoseetheGreatFather，andthentoNewYork，andwenttotheGoerckStreetworks。Wecouldmakesomeverygoodpyrotechnicsthere，sowedeterminedtogivetheIndiansascare。Butitdidn'twork。Wehadanarcthereofamostterrifyingcharacter，buttheynevermovedamuscle。“AnotherepisodeatGoerckStreetdidnotfindthevisitorsquitesostoical。“IntestingdynamosatGoerckStreetwehadalongflatbeltrunningparallelwiththefloor，aboutfourinchesaboveit，andtravellingfourthousandfeetaminute。Onedayoneofthedirectorsbroughtinthreeorfourladiestotheworkstoseethenewelectric-lightsystem。Oneoftheladieshadalittlepoodleledbyastring。Thebeltwasrunningsosmoothlyandevenly，thepoodledidnotnoticethedifferencebetweenitandthefloor，andgotintothebeltbeforewecoulddoanything。
Thedogwaswhirledaroundfortyorfiftytimes，andalittleflatpieceofleathercameout——andtheladiesfainted。“
Averyinterestingperiod，onthesocialside，wasthevisitpaidbyEdisonandhisfamilytoEuropein1889，whenhehadmadeasplendidexhibitofhisinventionsandapparatusatthegreatParisCentennialExpositionofthatyear，totheextremedelightoftheFrench，whowelcomedhimwithopenarms。ThepoliticalsentimentsthattheExpositioncelebratedwerenotsuchastofindgeneralsympathyinmonarchicalEurope，sothatthe“crownedheads“wereconspicuousbytheirabsence。Itwasnot，ofcourse，bywayoftheatricalantithesisthatEdisonappearedinParisatsuchatime。Butthecontrastwasnonethelessstrikingandeffective。Itwasfeltthat，afterall，thatwhichthegreatexpositionexemplifiedatitsbest——thetriumphofgeniusovermatter，overignorance，oversuperstition——metwithitsduerecognitionwhenEdisoncametoparticipate，andtofelicitateanoblenationthatcouldshowsomuchinthevictoriesofcivilizationandthearts，despiteitslongtrialsanditslongstruggleforliberty。ItisnoexaggerationtosaythatEdisonwasgreetedwiththeenthusiastichomageofthewholeFrenchpeople。Theycouldfindnopraisewarmenoughforthemanwhohad“organizedtheechoes“and“tamedthelightning，“andwhosecareerwassopicturesquewitheventfulandromanticdevelopment。Infact，forweekstogetheritseemedasthoughnoParisianpaperwasconsideredcompleteanduptodatewithoutanarticleonEdison。
Theexuberantwitandfancyofthefeuilletonistsseizeduponhisvariousinventionsevolvingfromthemothersofthemostextraordinarynaturewithwhichtobedazzleandbewilderthereader。AtthecloseoftheExpositionEdisonwascreatedaCommanderoftheLegionofHonor。Hisownexhibit，madeatapersonalexpenseofover$100，000，coveredseveralthousandsquarefeetinthevastMachineryHall，andwascentredaroundahugeEdisonlampbuiltofmyriadsofsmallerlampsoftheordinarysize。
Thegreatattraction，however，wasthedisplayoftheperfectedphonograph。Severalinstrumentswereprovided，andeveryday，alldaylong，whiletheExpositionlasted，queuesofeagervisitorsfromeveryquarteroftheglobewerewaitingtohearthelittlemachinetalkandsingandreproducetheirownvoices。
Neverbeforewassuchacollectionofthelanguagesoftheworldmade。ItwasthefirstlinguisticconcoursesinceBabeltimes。WemustletEdisontellthestoryofsomeofhisexperiences：
“AttheUniversalExpositionatParis，in1889，I
madeapersonalexhibitcoveringaboutanacre。AsIhadnointentionofofferingtosellanythingIwasshowing，andwaspushingnocompanies，thewholeexhibitionwasmadeforhonor，andwithoutanyhopeofprofit。ButtheParisnewspaperscamearoundandwantedpayfornoticesofit，whichwepromptlyrefused；
whereupontherewasratherastormytimeforawhile，butnothingwaspublishedaboutit。
“WhileattheExpositionIvisitedtheOpera-House。
ThePresidentofFrancelentmehisprivatebox。TheOpera-Housewasoneofthefirsttobelightedbytheincandescentlamp，andthemanagerstookgreatpleasureinshowingmedownthroughthelabyrinthcontainingthewiring，dynamos，etc。WhenIcameintothebox，theorchestraplayedthe`Star-SpangledBanner，'andallthepeopleinthehousearose；whereuponIwasverymuchembarrassed。AfterIhadbeenanhourattheplay，themanagercamearoundandaskedmetogounderneaththestage，astheywereputtingonaballetof300girls，thefinestballetinEurope。Itseemsthereisalittleholeonthestagewithahoodoverit，inwhichthepromptersitswhenoperaisgiven。Inthisinstanceitwasnotoccupied，andIwasgiventhepositionintheprompter'sseat，andsawthewholeballetatcloserange。
“ThecityofParisgavemeadinneratthenewHoteldeVille，whichwasalsolightedwiththeEdisonsystem。Theyhadaveryfineinstallationofmachinery。
AsIcouldnotunderstandorspeakawordofFrench，Iwenttoseeourminister，Mr。WhitelawReid，andgothimtosendadeputytoanswerforme，whichhedid，withmygratefulthanks。Thenthetelephonecompanygavemeadinner，andtheengineersofFrance；andIattendedthedinnercelebratingthefiftiethanniversaryofthediscoveryofphotography。
ThentheysenttoReidmydecoration，andtheytriedtoputasashonme，butIcouldnotstandforthat。Mywifehadmewearthelittleredbutton，butwhenIsawAmericanscomingIwouldslipitoutofmylapel，asIthoughttheywouldjollymeforwearingit。“
Norwasthisall。EdisonnaturallymetmanyofthecelebritiesofFrance：“IvisitedtheEiffelTowerattheinvitationofEiffel。Wewenttothetop，wheretherewasanextensionandasmallplaceinwhichwasEiffel'sprivateoffice。Inthiswasapiano。
WhenmywifeandIarrivedatthetop，wefoundthatGounod，thecomposer，wasthere。Westayedacoupleofhours，andGounodsangandplayedforus。
WespentadayatMeudon，anoldpalacegivenbythegovernmenttoJansen，theastronomer。Heoccupiedthreerooms，andtherewere300。Hehadthegranddining-roomforhislaboratory。Heshowedmeagyroscopehehadgotupwhichmadetheincrediblenumberof4000revolutionsinasecond。AmodificationofthiswasafterwardusedontheFrenchAtlanticlinesformakinganartificialhorizontotakeobservationsforpositionatsea。Inconnectionwiththisagentlemancametomeanumberofyearsafterward，andIgotoutapartofsomeplansforhim。Hewantedtomakeagiganticgyroscopeweighingseveraltons，toberunbyanelectricmotorandputonasailingship。Hewantedthisgyroscopetokeepaplatformperfectlyhorizontal，nomatterhowroughtheseawas。
UponthisplatformhewasgoingtomountatelescopetoobserveaneclipseofftheGoldCoastofAfrica。Butforsomereasonitwasnevercompleted。
“PasteurinvitedmetocomedowntotheInstitute，andIwentandhadquiteachatwithhim。Isawalargenumberofpersonsbeinginoculated，andalsothewholemodusoperandi，whichwasveryinteresting。
Isawonebeautifulboyaboutten，thesonofanEnglishlord。Hisfatherwaswithhim。Hehadbeenbittenintheface，andwastakingthetreatment。
IsaidtoPasteur，`Willhelive？'`No，'saidhe，`theboywillbedeadinsixdays。Hewasbittentoonearthetopofthespinalcolumn，andcametoolate！'“
Edisonhasnoopiniontoofferasanexpertonart，buthashisownstandardoftaste：“OfcourseI
visitedtheLouvreandsawtheOldMasters，whichI
couldnotenjoy。AndIattendedtheLuxembourg，withmodernmasters，whichIenjoyedgreatly。Tomymind，theOldMastersarenotart，andIsuspectthatmanyothersareofthesameopinion；andthattheirvalueisintheirscarcityandinthevarietyofmenwithlotsofmoney。“SomewhatakintothisisashrewdcommentononefeatureoftheExposition：
“IspentseveraldaysintheExpositionatParis。I
remembergoingtotheexhibitoftheKimberleydiamondmines，andtheykindlypermittedmetotakediamondsfromsomeoftheblueearthwhichtheywerewashingbymachinerytoexhibitthemineoperations。
Ifoundseveralbeautifuldiamonds，buttheyseemedalittlelightweighttomewhenIwaspickingthemout。Theywerediamondsforexhibitionpurposes——probablyglass。“
ThisdidnotaltogethercompletetheEuropeantripof1889，forEdisonwishedtoseeHelmholtz。“AfterleavingPariswewenttoBerlin。TheFrenchpapersthencameoutandattackedmebecauseIwenttoGermany；andsaidIwasnowgoingovertotheenemy。
IvisitedallthethingsofinterestinBerlin；andthenonmywayhomeIwentwithHelmholtzandSiemensinaprivatecompartmenttothemeetingoftheGermanAssociationofScienceatHeidelberg，andspenttwodaysthere。WhenIstartedfromBerlinonthetrip，IbegantotellAmericanstories。Siemenswasveryfondofthesestoriesandwouldlaughimmenselyatthem，andcouldseethepointsandthehumor，byhisimagination；butHelmholtzcouldnotseeoneofthem。Siemenswouldquickly，inGerman，explainthepoint，butHelmholtzcouldnotseeit，althoughheunderstoodEnglish，whichSiemenscouldspeak。StilltheexplanationsweremadeinGerman。IalwayswishedIcouldhaveunderstoodSiemens'sexplanationsofthepointsofthosestories。AtHeidelberg，myassistant，Mr。Wangemann，anaccomplishedGerman-
American，showedthephonographbeforetheAssociation。“
ThencamethetripfromtheContinenttoEngland，ofwhichthiswillcertainlypassasagraphicpicture：
“WhenIcrossedovertoEnglandIhadheardagooddealabouttheterrorsoftheEnglishChannelasregardsseasickness。Ihadbeenovertheoceanthreetimesanddidnotknowwhatseasicknesswas，sofarasIwasconcernedmyself。Iwastoldthatwhileamanmightnotgetseasickontheocean，ifhemetagoodstormontheChannelitwoulddoforhim。
WhenwearrivedatCalaistocrossover，everybodymadefortherestaurant。Ididnotcareabouteating，anddidnotgototherestaurant，butmyfamilydid。
Iwalkedoutandtriedtofindtheboat。GoingalongthedockIsawtwosmallsmokestacksstickingup，andlookingdownsawalittleboat。`WhereisthesteamerthatgoesacrosstheChannel？'`Thisistheboat。'TherehadbeenastormintheNorthSeathathadcarriedawaysomeoftheboatsontheGermansteamer，anditcertainlylookedawfultoughoutside。
Isaidtotheman：`Willthatboatliveinthatsea？'
`Ohyes，'hesaid，`butwe'vehadabadstorm。'SoI
madeupmymindthatperhapsIwouldgetsickthistime。ThemanagingdirectoroftheEnglishrailroadowningthislinewasForbes，whoheardIwascomingover，andplacedtheprivatesaloonatmydisposal。
ThemomentmyfamilygotintheroomwiththeFrenchlady'smaidandtherest，theycommencedtogetsick，soIfeltprettysureIwasinforit。WestartedoutofthelittleinletandgotintotheChannel，andthatboatwentinseventeendirectionssimultaneously。
Iwaitedawhiletoseewhatwasgoingtooccur，andthenwentintothesmoking-compartment。
Nobodywasthere。By-and-bythefunbegan。
Soundsofallkindsandvarietieswereheardineverydirection。Theywereallsick。Theremusthavebeen100peopleaboard。Ididn'tseeasingleexceptionexceptthewaitersandmyself。Iaskedoneofthewaitersconcerningtheboatitself，andwastakentoseetheengineer，andwentdowntolookattheengines，andsawthecaptain。ButIkeptmostlyinthesmoking-room。Iwassmokingabigcigar，andwhenamanlookedinIwouldgiveabigpuff，andeverytimetheysawthattheywouldgoawayandbeginagain。TheEnglishChannelisaholyterror，allright，butitdidn'taffectme。Imustbeoutofbalance。“
WhileinParis，EdisonhadmetSirJohnPender，theEnglish“cableking，“andhadreceivedaninvitationfromhimtomakeavisittohiscountryresidence：
“SirJohnPender，themasterofthecablesystemoftheworldatthattime，ImetinParis。Ithinkhemusthavelivedamongalotofpeoplewhowereverysolemn，becauseIwentoutridingwithhimintheBoisdeBoulogneandstartedintotellhimAmericanstories。AlthoughhewasaScotchmanhelaughedimmoderately。Hehadthefacultyofunderstandingandquicklyseeingthepointofthestories；andforthreedaysafterIcouldnotgetridofhim。FinallyImadehimapromisethatIwouldgotohiscountryhouseatFoot'sCray，nearLondon。SoIwentthere，andspenttwoorthreedaystellinghimstories。
“WhileatFoot'sCray，ImetsomeofthebackersofFerranti，thenputtingupagiganticalternating-
currentdynamonearLondontosendtenorfifteenthousandvoltsupintothemaindistrictofthecityforelectriclighting。IthinkPenderwasinterested。Atanyratethepeopleinvitedtodinnerwereverymuchinterested，andtheyquestionedmeastowhatI
thoughtoftheproposition。IsaidIhadn'tanythoughtaboutit，andcouldnotgiveanyopinionuntilIsawit。SoIwastakenuptoLondontoseethedynamoincourseofconstructionandthemethodsemployed；andtheyinsistedIshouldgivethemsomeexpressionofmyviews。WhileIgavethemmyopinion，itwasreluctantly；Ididnotwanttodoso。
Ithoughtthatcommerciallythethingwastooambitious，thatFerranti'sideasweretoobig，justthen；
thatheoughttohavestartedalittlesmalleruntilhewassure。Iunderstandthatthisinstallationwasnotcommerciallysuccessful，astherewereagreatmanytroubles。ButFerrantihadgoodideas，andhewasnosmallman。“
Incidentallyitmaybenotedherethatduringthesameyear1889thevariousmanufacturingEdisonlightinginterestsinAmericawerebroughttogether，undertheleadershipofMr。HenryVillard，andconsolidatedintheEdisonGeneralElectricCompanywithacapitalofnolessthan$12，000，000onaneight-
per-cent-dividendbasis。ThenumerousEdisoncentralstationsalloverthecountryrepresentedmuchmorethanthatsum，andmadeasplendidoutletfortheproductofthefactories。AfewyearslatercametheconsolidationwiththeThomson-HoustoninterestsintheGeneralElectricCompany，whichunderthebrilliantandvigorousmanagementofPresidentC。A。
Coffinhasbecomeoneofthegreatestmanufacturinginstitutionsofthecountry，withanoutputofapparatusreachingtoward$75，000，000annually。Thenetresultofbothfinancialoperationswas，however，todetachEdisonfromthespecialfieldofinventiontowhichhehadgivensomanyofhismostfruitfulyears；
andtocloseverydefinitelythatchapterofhislife，leavinghimfreetodevelopotherideasandinterestsassetforthinthesevolumes。
Itmightappearstrangeonthesurface，butoneofthereasonsthatmostinfluencedEdisontoregretsinconnectionwiththe“bigtrade“of1889wasthatitseparatedhimfromhisoldfriendandally，Bergmann，who，onsellingout，sawagreatfutureforhimselfinGermany，wentthere，andrealizedit。EdisonhasalwayshadanamusedadmirationforBergmann，andhis“socialside“isoftenmadeevidentbyhisloveoftellingstoriesaboutthosedaysofstruggle。Someofthestoriesweretoldforthisvolume。“Bergmanncametoworkformeasaboy，“saysEdison。“Hestartedinonstock-quotationprinters。Ashewasarapidworkmanandpaidnoattentiontotheclock，I
tookafancytohim，andgavehimpiece-work。Hecontrivedsomanylittletoolstocheapentheworkthathemadelotsofmoney。Ievenhelpedhimgetuptoolsuntilitoccurredtomethatthiswastoorapidaprocessofgettingridofmymoney，asIhadn'tthehearttocutthepricewhenitwasoriginallyfair。
Afterayearorso，BergmanngotenoughmoneytostartasmallshopinWoosterStreet，NewYork，anditwasatthisshopthatthefirstphonographsweremadeforsale。Thencamethecarbontelephonetransmitter，alargenumberofwhichweremadebyBergmannfortheWesternUnion。Finallycametheelectriclight。AdynamowasinstalledinBergmann'sshoptopermithimtotestthevarioussmalldeviceswhichhewasthenmakingforthesystem。HerentedpowerfromaJewwhoownedthebuilding。Powerwassuppliedfromafifty-horse-powerenginetoothertenantsontheseveralfloors。Soonaftertheintroductionofthebigdynamomachine，thelandlordappearedintheshopandinsistedthatBergmannwasusingmorepowerthanhewaspayingfor，andsaidthatlatelythebeltontheenginewasslippingandsquealing。Bergmannmaintainedthathemustbemistaken。Thelandlordkeptgoingamonghistenantsandfinallydiscoveredthedynamo。`Oh！Mr。
Bergmann，nowIknowwheremypowergoesto，'
pointingtothedynamo。Bergmanngavehimawitheringlookofscorn，andsaid，`ComehereandI
willshowyou。'Throwingoffthebeltanddisconnectingthewires，hespunthearmaturearoundbyhand。
`There，'saidBergmann，`youseeit'snotherethatyoumustlookforyourloss。'Thissatisfiedthelandlord，andhestartedofftohisothertenants。Hedidnotknowthatthatmachine，whenthewireswereconnected，couldstophisengine。
“Soonafter，thebusinesshadgrownsolargethatE。H。JohnsonandIwentinaspartners，andBergmannrentedanimmensefactorybuildingatthecornerofAvenueBandEastSeventeenthStreet，NewYork，sixstorieshighandcoveringaquarterofablock。Hereweremadeallthesmallthingsusedontheelectric-lightingsystem，suchassockets，chandeliers，switches，meters，etc。Inaddition，stocktickers，telephones，telephoneswitchboards，andtypewritersweremadetheHammondtypewriterswereperfectedandmadethere。Over1500menwerefinallyemployed。Thisshopwasverysuccessfulbothscientificallyandfinancially。Bergmannwasamanofgreatexecutiveabilityandcarriedeconomyofmanufacturetothelimit。AmongallthemenIhavehadassociatedwithme，hehadthecommercialinstinctmosthighlydeveloped。“
OneneednotwonderatEdison'sreminiscentremarkthat，“Inanytradeanyofmy`boys'madewithBergmannhealwaysgotthebestofthem，nomatterwhatitwas。OnetimetherewastobeaconventionofthemanagersofEdisonilluminatingcompaniesatChicago。TherewerealotofrepresentativesfromtheEast，andaprivatecarwashired。AtJerseyCityapokergamewasstartedbyoneofthedelegates。
Bergmannwasinducedtoenterthegame。ThiswasplayedrightthroughtoChicagowithoutanysleep，buttheboysdidn'tmindthat。Ihadgottenthemimmunetoit。Bergmannhadwonallthemoney，andwhentheportercameinandsaid`Chicago，'Bergmannjumpedupandsaid：`What！Chicago！IthoughtitwasonlyPhiladelphia！'“
Butperhapsthisfurtherstoryisabetterindicationofdevelopedhumorandshrewdness：“AmanbythenameofEpsteinhadbeeninthehabitofbuyingbrasschipsandtrimmingsfromthelathes，andinsomewayBergmannfoundoutthathehadbeencheated。Thishurthispride，andhedeterminedtogeteven。OnedayEpsteinappearedandsaid：`Good-morning，Mr。
Bergmann，haveyouanychipsto-day？'`No，'saidBergmann，`Ihavenone。'`That'sstrange，Mr。
Bergmann；won'tyoulook？'No，hewouldn'tlook；
heknewhehadnone。FinallyEpsteinwassopersistentthatBergmanncalledanassistantandtoldhimtogoandseeifhehadanychips。Hereturnedandsaidtheyhadthelargestandfinestlottheyeverhad。Epsteinwentuptoseveralboxespiledfullofchips，andsoheavythathecouldnotliftevenoneendofabox。`Now，Mr。Bergmann，'saidEpstein，`howmuchforthelot？'`Epstein，'saidBergmann，`youhavecheatedme，andIwillnolongersellbythelot，butwillsellonlybythepound。'NoamountofargumentwouldapparentlychangeBergmann'sdeterminationtosellbythepound，butfinallyEpsteingotupto$250forthelot，andBergmann，appearingasifdisgusted，acceptedandmadehimcountoutthemoney。Thenhesaid：`Well，Epstein，good-bye，I'vegottogodowntoWallStreet。'Epsteinandhisassistantthenattemptedtolifttheboxestocarrythemout，butcouldn't；andthendiscoveredthatcal-
culationsastoquantityhadbeenthrownoutbecausetheboxeshadallbeenscreweddowntothefloorandmostlyfilledwithboardswithaveneerofbrasschips。
Hemadesuchascenethathehadtoberemovedbythepolice。ImethimseveraldaysafterwardandhesaidhehadforgivenMr。Bergmann，ashewassuchasmartbusinessman，andtheschemewassoingenious。
“OnedayasajokeIfilledthreeorfoursheetsoffoolscappaperwithajumbleoffiguresandtoldBergmanntheywerecalculationsshowingthegreatlossofpowerfromblowingthefactorywhistle。
Bergmannthoughtitreal，andneverafterthatwouldhepermitthewhistletoblow。“
Anotherglimpseofthe“socialside“isaffordedinthefollowinglittleseriesofpen-picturesofthesameplaceandtime：“IhadmylaboratoryatthetopoftheBergmannworks，aftermovingfromMenloPark。
Thebuildingwassixstorieshigh。Myfathercametherewhenhewaseightyyearsofage。Theoldmanhadpowerfullungs。Infact，whenIwasexaminedbytheMutualLifeInsuranceCompany，in1873，mylungexpansionwastakenbythedoctor，andtheoldgentlemanwasthereatthetime。Hesaidtothedoctor：`Iwishyouwouldtakemylungexpansion，too。'Thedoctortookit，andhissurprisewasverygreat，asitwasoneofthelargestonrecord。Ithinkitwasfiveandone-halfinches。Therewereonlythreeorfourcouldbeatit。LittleBergmannhadn'tmuchlungpower。Theoldmansaidtohim，oneday：
`Let'srunup-stairs。'Bergmannagreedandranup。
WhentheygotthereBergmannwasalldoneup，butmyfathernevershowedasignofit。Therewasanelevatorthere，andeachdaywhileitwastravellingupIheldthestemofmyWaterburywatchupagainstthecolumnintheelevatorshaftanditfinishedthewindingbythetimeIgotupthesixstories。“Thisoriginalmethodofreducingtheamountofphysicallaborinvolvedinwatch-windingbringstomindanotherinstanceofshrewdnessmentionedbyEdison，withregardtohisnewsboydays。Beingaskedwhetherhedidnotgetimposeduponwithbadbank-bills，herepliedthathesubscribedtoabank-notedetectorandconsulteditcloselywheneveranoteofanysizefellintohishands。Hewasthenlessthanfourteenyearsold。
TheconversationswithEdisonthatelicitedthesestoriesbroughtoutsomedetailsastoperilthatattendsexperimentation。Hehasconfrontedmanyaseriousphysicalrisk，andcountshimselfluckytohavecomethroughwithoutascratchorscar。Fourinstancesofpersonaldangermaybenotedinhisownlanguage：“WhenIstartedatMenlo，IhadanelectricfurnaceforweldingraremetalsthatIdidnotknowaboutveryclearly。Iwasinthedark-room，whereIhadalotofchlorideofsulphur，averycorrosiveliquid。Ididnotknowthatitwoulddecomposebywater。Ipouredinabeakerfulofwater，andthewholethingexplodedandthrewalotofitintomyeyes。Irantothehydrant，leanedoverbackward，openedmyeyes，andranthehydrantwaterrightintothem。ButitwastwoweeksbeforeIcouldsee。
“Thenexttimewejustsavedourselves。Iwasmakingsomestufftosquirtintofilamentsfortheincandescentlamp。Imadeaboutapoundofit。I
hadusedammoniaandbromine。Ididnotknowitatthetime，butIhadmadebromideofnitrogen。I
putthelargebulkofitinthreefilters，andafterithadbeenwashedandallthewaterhadcomethroughthefilter，Iopenedthethreefiltersandlaidthemonahotsteamplatetodrywiththestuff。WhileIandMr。
Sadler，oneofmyassistants，wereworkingnearit，therewasasuddenflashoflight，andaverysmartexplosion。IsaidtoSadler：`Whatisthat？'`I
don'tknow，'hesaid，andwepaidnoattention。Inabouthalfaminutetherewasasharpconcussion，andSadlersaid：`See，itisthatstuffonthesteamplate。'Igrabbedthewholethingandthrewitinthesink，andpouredwateronit。Isavedalittleofitandfounditwasaterrificexplosive。Thereasonwhythoselittlepreliminaryexplosionstookplacewasthatalittlehadspatteredoutontheedgeofthefilterpaper，andhaddriedfirstandexploded。HadthemainbodyexplodedtherewouldhavebeennothingleftofthelaboratoryIwasworkingin。
“Atanothertime，Ihadabriquettingmachineforbriquettingironore。Ihadaleverhelddownbyapowerfulspring，andarodoneinchindiameterandfourfeetlong。WhileIwasexperimentingwithit，andstandingbesideit，awasherbroke，andthatspringthrewtherodrightuptotheceilingwithablast；anditcamedownagainjustwithinaninchofmynose，andwentclearthroughatwo-inchplank。Thatwas`withinaninchofyourlife，'astheysay。
“InmyexperimentalplantforconcentratingironoreinthenorthernpartofNewJersey，wehadaverti-
caldrier，acolumnaboutninefeetsquareandeightyfeethigh。Atthebottomtherewasaspacewheretwomencouldgothroughahole；andthenalltherestofthecolumnwasfilledwithbaffleplates。Onedaythisdriergotblocked，andtheorewouldnotrundown。SoIandthevice-presidentofthecompany，Mr。Mallory，crowdedthroughthemanholetoseewhytheorewouldnotcomedown。Afterwegotin，theoredidcomedownandtherewerefourteentonsofitaboveus。Themenoutsideknewwewereinthere，andtheyhadagreattimediggingusoutandgettingairtous。“
Suchincidentsbroughtoutinnarrationthefactthatmanyofthemenworkingwithhimhadbeenlessfortunate，particularlythosewhohadexperimentedwiththeRoentgenX-ray，whoseravages，likethoseofleprosy，wereresponsibleforthemutilationanddeathofatleastoneexpertassistant。Intheearlydaysofworkontheincandescentlamp，also，therewasconsiderabletroublewithmercury。“Ihadaseriesofvacuum-pumpsworkedbymercuryandusedforexhaustingexperimentalincandescentlamps。Themainpipe，whichwasfullofmercury，wasaboutsevenandone-halffeetfromthefloor。Alongthelengthofthepipewereoutletstowhichthickrubbertubingwasconnected，eachtubetoapump。Oneday，whileexperimentingwiththemercurypump，myassistant，anawkwardcountryladfromafarmonStatenIsland，whohadadenoidsinhisnoseandbreathedthroughhismouth，whichwasalwayswideopen，waslookingupatthispipe，atasmallleakofmercury，whentherubbertubecameoffandprobablytwopoundsofmercurywentintohismouthanddownhisthroat，andgotthroughhissystemsomehow。Inashorttimehebecamesalivated，andhisteethgotloose。
Hewenthome，andshortlyhismotherappearedatthelaboratorywithahorsewhip，whichsheproposedtouseontheproprietor。Iwasfortunatelyabsent，andshewasmollifiedsomehowbymyotherassistants。