AS LONDON SAW MR EDISON.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 10902, 20 October 1911, Page 4

AS LONDON SAW MR EDISON.

(London Standard.; Mr Edison has ajtered very little in appearance since lie was last here some months eatoin shrdl uemfwy pnunu nu years ago. He still .might be mistaken "for a burly, good-uatured priest, the suggestion jbeing enhanced by the white tie he wears,. showing just above the high waistcoat of his carelessly hanging, well worn, dark lounge suit. On board ship tin old cap was well at the back of his head, and- ho greeted everybody with his familiar broad smile and look of interrogation. Edison's eyes are always asking questions. But he did not talk much to his fellow passengers, lie wandered all over the ship and watched everything. The wircle.<« telegraphy room often attracted him. Here was something which he did not invent. Marconi got there ill front, and Kdison was the first to offer him laurels. "When he was induced to talk at any length to the little group that gathered around him he soon enthralled nis audience." relates a" JMauretrmia passenger. "His language is so .simple; he ohoo-ses | his words so carefully io enable you to understand his reasonings, and yet [ without any indication that he presumes you are ignorant. Occasionally he emphasises his words with his hand. u>sh:ed and colored by the constant use o) chemicals, and. now and again he laughs with the heartiness and abandon of a schoolboy." Mr Kdison was asked if he had any special object in coming to England. "Why, no," lie replied, "'just the wanderlust, as my German friends call it. I go over every few years or so to see how things are getting along and whether there'is anything for me to pick up. Besides, it is best to get away from one's usual surroundings sometimes, and.even I require rest, although I don't sleep much. Such a lot of time is wasted in sleep. There i,s much too much sleep in the world nowadays. Eight hours is ridiculous. Nobody wants it, nobody should take it except when utterly exhausted with many bonrs of work. Sometimes 1 wrestle with a knotty problem for a day or two. During all that time I am awake; then I solve it or drop it, and_ I sleep. I can slumber a day and a night straight off. I sleep until I wake up again. That'll last me for a month or two. "Sleep was invented in the curfew days when there was only a villainous artificial light, and men got in the habit of sleeping. The world loses twothirds of its life in sleep. People tell me I have accomplished things: if I have, it is because I have always kept awake as long as possible thinking about things," and while speaking Mr Edison lit- another of the long black cigars of which he smokes between a dozen and twenty daily, lie never takes any alcoholic stimulants, not even the lightest of wines. His drink when he requires anything liquid, which is seldom, is mineral water, a little fruit juice iu ordinary water, or coffee. Some" of us 011 board questioned" Mr Edison about his recent statements with regard to the possibility of manufacturing gold. "Only a, matter of time," lie replied. "The" discovery of a proper combination and treatment of. metal is bound to come soon; it may arrive tomorrow," and the wizard looked mysterious and then laughed heartily. "It makes some of you gold bugs shake a. little, doesn't it? But scientists all over th? world are working at metal combinations and the crucible will hetrav things sooner or later —and then what about those clauses in contracts to pav in gold coin of standard weight ami fineness:' Supposing the railroads suddenly . became able to , pay their IhukLs in gold which tli'ey kuew how to manufacture at a cost of only f5 » ton. Mark my words it will come." For living machines Mr Edison predicts the greatest future. Jmt he seems to think that there will be man.f improvements upon the present 'construction and motive power. The subject was discussed in the smoking room the night prior to the Mauretania's arrival at Fishguard. He believes tha't _the secret will be wrested from the-motions of certain Hying insects rather than of birds and that in a . year "or two air transports witli passengers speeding 100 miles an hour will be the general means of travel. "The earth," however, wili not cease to be busy in consequence;" he added. "There will be lots-of things running up and down all the time; butthe days of steam ]w»wer are about to finishelectricity will be the motive power everywhere. As tor agricultural implements", there indeed there is going to be revolution! I married the daughter of a man who made a great fortune out of the manufacture and invention of all manner of farming machinery. He never would have made. it had he lived in these days. ■ The coining farmer will push a button ami work levers. Storage batteries will drive ploughs, while the future -agricultural laborer will lie a man \wi*> has acquired a working knowledge chemistrv and botany. The very utmost will be got out ol the earth and t.t the seed within the earth: but a" I bimanual work— tin- iloiiki-y Uuik with ;|.f sweat .It the biuU —v. ill be |.iT--I,,,'uici! by niaeliinery 1 !>:■ trii-itv. We :i:v .ml v :.l imiii;- "I ... - >aid Mr !id.-„. thro*.,.;a . an-! li-i:11:. H'.-.-b v.'iil v,'. . ■ 1 the b;>tVi.-".. .=. , . i,- tin v. I!.■ 1.- V. a- .bel I Kit ;• Ib. \ :.|.p-al j ,'i'''-i's .-aIV in.-. !..i.- l -b:i.bA'..-I n all 1 * ... th.ee day-. 'I If-'''- ' v. i„. ibiid: : bui even tl.inkuU A,.* h n *i>h.-> u, i.e ..,.",1 i i.nviuri- bv patiently ovi-i. i.iiiui'A ri.'u ill.- and tb.- bundled and on.- obwhich always e.:itlf"iii pioi'res-