Edison, Thomas Alva, a noted American inventor. He was born at Milan, Ohio, February 11, 1847. Financial circumstances prevented his going to school. At the age of twelve he was a newsboy on the Grand Trunk Railway. He was "fond of reading." The printing press and the telegraph instrument had a fascination for him. In 1862 he bought a small hand press, set it up in an abandoned freight car, and published a small weekly paper which he called The Grand Trunk Herald. Later he became a telegraph operator at Mount Clemens. He was noted for rapidity and accuracy. It is said, however, that fondness for playing practical jokes cost him several positions. In 1864 he invented what is known as the automatic telegraph repeater. This was the first of a long list of electrical inventions. He invented, also, a machine for indicating the price of stock, known as a commercial stock indicator. This he sold to a New York company for $40,000. With this money he set up a laboratory and workshop at Newark, New Jersey. In 1876 he removed to Menlo Park, from which he is called often "The Wizard of Menlo Park." Later he established himself at West Orange, New Jersey. The manufacturing end of his establishment gives employment to several hundred men. He keeps a large force of experts busy at work making experiments under his direction. Among Edison's more noted inventions are the phonograph, a long distance telephone, the megaphone, the incandescent electric lamp, and a storage battery for cars and automobiles. Honors have been heaped upon Edison by foreign governments. In 1878 he was made chevalier of the French Legion of Honor. He has been honored also by Italy and by the Society of Arts of Great Britain. He is a man of undoubted intellectuality and of equal industry. He has said himself that "genius is two per cent inspiration and ninety-eight per cent perspiration." He reads omnivorously. Each day's mail brings him new books from all parts of the world. His method of procedure is to determine first of all that a certain article or device is desirable. He then sets himself and his men at work to invent it. He is a man without time for gossip and none for rest. Frequently he telephones for his meals to be sent to his workroom. The carriage which now calls for him is obliged frequently to wait for hours until he has come to a stopping place. Fortunately, he passed the point long since where money is a consideration. It is impossible to get his ear on money matters. Invention is his consuming passion.