What kind of life did Edison lead?

Because of poverty, when Edison 12 years old, he decided to sell newspapers on the train to earn some money to subsidize his family, and he could also have more money to buy experimental supplies for experiments.

Speaking of experiments, this is Edison's lifeblood. From the age of 9, he set up a "laboratory" in the cellar of his home, and he called his "laboratory" "Happy World". Since then, "experiment" has been with him all his life. It can be said that he spent his whole life in the laboratory.

Now, even if he comes to the train to sell newspapers, he still can't forget his experiment. Because there was always some spare time on the train, he didn't want to let it go to waste, so he asked the old conductor to borrow a corner of the luggage compartment for an experiment. The old conductor has a bad temper, but he is a good man. He agreed to Edison's request.

One day, the train was running at full speed: (cars, horses, etc.). ) Run very fast. Look at that. Edison experimented with a bottle of white phosphorus in his "train laboratory". Edison accidentally dropped the white phosphorus bottle with a bang because of the shaking of the carriage. White phosphorus is a chemical element, and its biggest feature is its low ignition point, which can be burned at about 50℃. Therefore, when this bottle of white phosphorus fell to the ground, it caught fire immediately. In an instant, this small "train laboratory" was full of fireworks. Edison saw that the situation was not good, so he quickly put out the fire and shouted, "Put out the fire! Fire fighting! "

With the help of the conductor and passengers, the fire finally went out. However, the grumpy old conductor flew into a rage, cursed Edison and slapped Edison hard. At that time, Edison only felt a "buzz" in his right ear. Later, after examination, his right eardrum was broken. Since then, his right ear has been deaf. The future "King of Invention" paid the price of an ear for his "experiment".

186 1 year, the civil war broke out in the United States around the liberation of slaves. The war lasted for four years. The news about the war, whether victory or defeat, has become the focus of discussion. People's information comes from newspapers, so newspapers are very popular: there is a broad market. Quick sale ...

/kloc-Edison, 0/5 years old, saw this situation and had a brainwave. He decided to publish a special bulletin of war news. No one believes that a child of 15 can make a newspaper. However, Edison had his own ideas. A few days later, he used the money saved from selling newspapers to buy an old printing machine and a set of movable type, and the "Edison Printing Factory" was built. Printing equipment is complete, but where is the source? He took the opportunity of going to the library to copy some latest reports about the war from the local newspaper. I'll organize and edit it when I get home. Finally, after several all-night (xiāo) preparations and busyness, the first issue of Express, which he edited, self-examined, edited and printed, came out.

The next day, the smiling newspaper boy, with a large roll of freshly printed newspaper in his hand, shouted in the carriage, "Express! Express delivery! Express the latest progress of the war! " Passengers are scrambling to buy one for you and one for me. Soon, hundreds of newspapers sold out. The name of the newspaper is Pioneer Express, and the names of the publisher, publisher, editor-in-chief and reporter are all "Edison". None of the readers on the train thought that the little newsboy in front of them was Edison.

Edison saw that his newspaper was so popular that he decided to continue publishing his second issue of Pioneer Express. This time, he interviewed the editor carefully. In addition to battlefield news, the newspaper also added anecdotes, quotations, advertisements and scripts from stations along the railway. He also hired two partners as assistants to be "our reporter" in charge of the local news section. Sure enough, the circulation of the second issue of Express doubled, and Edison was greatly encouraged.

As a teenager, Edison became a journalist, editor, compositor, proofreader, printer and newsboy.

One day in August, Edison was walking along the railway when suddenly he saw a child playing on the railway track. At this time, a train flew by, which was really a close call: the weight of the close call was tied to a hair. Metaphor is extremely dangerous. At this moment, he immediately risked his life: regardless of his life, he bravely advanced. Go and save the child. Just as he rolled off the railway with his child in his arms, the train sped past them.

It turns out that the father of the child is the stationmaster here. The stationmaster held Edison's hand and said thank you, admiring his spirit of self-sacrifice. The stationmaster worked as a telegraph operator in his early years. In order to repay Edison, the stationmaster decided to teach him the technique of sending and receiving telegrams. From then on, Edison studied with the stationmaster three times a week and practiced by himself at other times.

At this time, Edison became interested in telegraph technology. While studying electrician knowledge, he worked hard to learn the technology of telegraph, and stayed up until midnight almost every day. In this way, in less than four months, Edison mastered the technology of sending and receiving telegrams.

Before long, Edison became a telegraph operator on the railway. This job requires frequent night shifts, and the working hours are more than 12 hours. But Edison still insisted on studying electrotechnics, doing some experiments during the day and getting little sleep every day. In this way, sometimes it is inevitable to take a nap secretly during the night shift (dǔn). However, there are regulations in the bureau. In order to prevent the telegraphers from sleeping at night, they are required to send a signal to the station every hour. In order to get rid of this bondage, Edison pondered day and night: thinking deeply. After repeated research and experiments, I finally came up with a solution. He connected the clock to the telegraph. Every hour, when the clock strikes, the telegraph will automatically send out a signal so that he can sleep peacefully.

It didn't take long for the bureau to find out. This little creation brought him not rewards and support, but dismissal.

Since then, in the United States, he began to wander for four years.

In these four years, he changed jobs 10 times, and stopped at every place for a short time.

He still retains the good habit he has developed for many years: he buys books as soon as he has money and studies as soon as he has time. But he still can't give up his favorite chemistry experiment-this often leads to his boss's dissatisfaction, so he was fired many times ().

Edison had no regrets. He insisted on self-study, mastered all telecommunications technologies in a few years, and gained a lot of fun from it.

When he first arrived at Morpheus Telecommunications Bureau, he was just catching up with the Telecommunications Bureau and St. Louis Telecommunications Bureau for a quick newspaper receiving and dispatching competition. Seeing that Edison was young and wanted to make a fool of himself, the telecom technicians in Morpheus encouraged others to do something. He:

"Edison, you are young and promising. Take the lead. "

They thought Edison would be afraid of fighting. Unexpectedly, Edison agreed without thinking.

St. Louis Telecom wanted to take the lead, sending the fastest technicians to take the lead, and sending signals at lightning speed from the beginning. The speed is so fast that even the most experienced technicians in Morpheus are surprised. Everyone thinks Edison will be defeated soon.

Edison was in no hurry. The faster the other party sends out the newspaper, the calmer he becomes. However, his colleagues are all on tenterhooks: he described himself as very worried or scared, with a cold sweat in his hand.

It's Edison's turn to tell the time, and his colleagues will take his place and let him have a rest. He said:

"I'm not tired, I'll do it."

I saw his fingers dancing up and down on the keys, and the signal came out accurately and quickly. The technicians present have never seen anyone send a message so quickly, and they are all amazed.

In Morpheus, Edison was respected by his colleagues, but he didn't work long.

At that time, he was studying how to send two signals simultaneously on the same line. He asked his secretary to arrange time for him to do this research, but the secretary thought he was whimsical and didn't do his job well, but fired him instead. After that, he changed jobs, all because of the "bad consequences" caused by the experiment.

A few months later, I forgot to eat or sleep: I forgot to eat or sleep. Describe being very focused on your own efforts. Edison tried to make an automatic voting recorder. He spent almost all his salary on making this machine.

Edison went to Washington hopefully and asked the parliament to adopt his invention.

The chairman of parliament is a gentleman with a beard. He received Edison in the hall. Edison said to the chairman cheerfully, "As long as this automatic machine is used, members can count the votes of the parliament at the press of a button."

To Edison's surprise, the chairman of parliament smiled and said, "Young man, the invention in the world, what we don't like most is this thing you invented!" " "

Edison looked confused and tried to find out the answer, but he was kicked out. Later, he learned that the Speaker was a minority in Parliament, and the minority blocked the passage of the correct bill by delaying time, and the machine he invented was to make their magic weapon ineffective. How can they accept this invention?

Finally, Edison learned a truth from his failure: spend energy to invent things that are useful to the public.

After returning to Boston, Edison quit his original job and decided to concentrate on practical inventions. As a telegraph operator, his first thought was to reform the telegraph.

Edison was penniless, so he had to borrow 800 yuan to start his research. He devoted himself to the experiment, sometimes staying indoors for days, eating some bread when he was hungry and drinking some water when he was thirsty.

My friend Adams is surprised that he hasn't seen Edison for a long time. One day, he went to Edison's house to look for him, only to find that the house was a mess like a chicken nest. It took him a long time to find Edison behind a strange machine. Seeing Edison's face covered with putty, Adams smiled, "What are you up to?"

"Double transmitters."

"How, almost succeeded?" The friend asked with concern.

"Not yet. However, if I don't succeed, I will never leave my house again! "

"Why did you ask for it?" Adams encouraged.

Edison insisted on answering: "Dear Adams, I must invent something useful to mankind. I believe that a person's best contribution in a short life is to benefit the public. "

Adams was deeply moved by Edison's words. He firmly believed that Edison would succeed one day in spite of adversity.

Soon, Edison spent all the borrowed money, and the trial production of the dual transmitter was not successful. Creditors have come to collect debts. Fearing that Edison would be taken to court, Adams quietly sent Edison to new york.

In new york, penniless Edison asked around where he could find a job. The next day, he saw an advertisement for a telegraph operator in the newspaper. He applied for the job and successfully became an employee of this company, and agreed to work that night.

Edison arrived at the telegraph room on time, but he accidentally heard an abnormal sound from the telegraph. Edison knew that the machine was going to break down. As expected, five minutes later, a strange sound appeared, the machine stopped working, and all the signals stopped.

At that time, the company operator had already left work, and only the operator was on duty. The general manager came in and saw that the machine was broken, and his face suddenly changed. At this time, the information is related to the life and death of the company, and the operator is not here. What should I do?

The general manager is in a hurry, and the fate of the company depends entirely on this telegram. Suddenly, he saw the new operator staring at the telegraph. The general manager didn't know the technical level of the new operator at all, so he had to give it a try.

So the general manager asked Edison, "Can you fix it right away?"

Edison replied without hesitation: "Yes!"

"Only ten minutes before the next briefing. Can it be repaired in ten minutes? " The general manager looks anxious.

"yes." Edison answered confidently.

Like a savior, the general manager grabbed Edison's hand and said, "The survival of the company depends on you!" "

I saw Edison unhurried, took apart the telegraph and began to repair it. Edison has been dealing with telegrams for many years. He is familiar with the structure and principle of telegrams. Such a small fault is nothing.

The general manager watched nervously for a minute, two minutes, five minutes ... When the minute hand passed eight minutes, the telegram returned to normal sound.

The general manager could hardly believe it. He was surprised and happy. He held Edison's hand for a long time.

The next day, Edison was promoted to chief telegraph technician, and his salary was several times higher than before.

However, he hasn't worked in this high-paying position for a long time. The following year, he resigned voluntarily.

He and a colleague started a company to undertake private telecommunication line projects.

It should be said that the company's operating conditions are still good, but Edison soon parted ways with his partner (biāo): parting ways. Metaphor goes their separate ways because of different goals or company dissolution.

He used his share of the money to build a small laboratory.

From morning till night, he is immersed in his work-trying to realize his creativity.

Soon, he invented Edison's universal printing machine. This kind of printing machine is precise, practical and easy to operate. It has been widely used for nearly a hundred years since its birth, which shows its excellent performance.

Mr. Lefferts, President of Western Union Company, was the first person to see the value of the universal printing press. He found Edison and asked to sell him the patent of this printing machine. He said nobly:

"The price is up to you."

Edison could never do business in his life, and he could never accurately estimate the value of his invention, let alone when he was young.

He thinks that the cost of materials, production and patent authorization, plus his own time and energy, should be worth 5000 yuan; He thought, 5000 yuan may be too much, just 3000 yuan.

When Mr Loew spoke, he was hesitating:

"40 thousand yuan, ok?"

He thought he heard wrong:

"Forty thousand?"

"If it suits you, close the deal immediately."

Edison seems to be dreaming again.

"Good, good, that's it."

40 thousand yuan laid the economic foundation for Edison to become a great inventor in the future.

Edison used this huge sum of money to set up an "invention factory" in New Jersey. He personally served as an electrical engineer. In addition, he paid off his debts in Boston. His invention career went through hardships and entered its heyday.

On Christmas Day, 24-year-old Edison got married. It is said that on the wedding day, he was so immersed in the experiment that he forgot the wedding time.

It was also during this period that a telegram came from my home in Port Huron: My mother died.

Edison secretly vowed in front of his mother's tombstone that he must invent something that the public needs to repay his mother's parenting.

Mom's expectations of Edison didn't fail. In a few short years from 1872 to 1875, Edison often slept in the laboratory, rarely went home and worked at night. He invented the automatic telegraph and the quadruple telegraph successively, and also cooperated with others to complete the world's first English typewriter.

1876, Edison sold his factory. The original factory was too small and only suitable for production. As a laboratory, it is unqualified. Now that Edison is rich, he has built a modern laboratory-Monroe Park in the suburb of new york. The environment here is beautiful and quiet, which is most suitable for experiments. Edison completed the transformation of the telephone here, and later he invented the phonograph and the electric light. Monroe Park is famous for it.

Edison has long been a celebrity because of his invention after invention. Therefore, Monroe Park often attracts some journalists to visit.

Once, a reporter came to Monroe Park and recorded Edison's life in one day. He wrote in his diary: Edison was an excellent electrician ... the food he gave me was tea and undercooked ham. ...

Edison never paid attention to life. No wonder some reporters wrote this. But Edison was unconvinced and said rudely to everyone, "When that reporter came to see me in Monroe Park, he was dressed in rags, especially his hat, as if he had just taken it out of the soup pot."

"Oh, I see. This time someone can compare with our great inventor. " Everyone laughed.

Although Edison is honored as "the magician of this century" and "the king of invention", he has a high reputation, but he is unpretentious and has no shelf. He is not good at talking and hates giving speeches and wearing new clothes all his life.

He usually only wears a shirt, no tie, an old suit and overalls. Even though some politicians came to visit the institute, he refused to change clothes. Even if his wife asked him to put on a new shirt, he would run away like a child.

1889, an unprecedented World Expo was held in Paris, France. The famous Eiffel Tower was built for this great event.

At the World Expo, Edison's inventions accounted for one third of the American Pavilion. With full respect, the French government specially invited Edison.

Under the enthusiastic supervision of his wife and eldest daughter, Edison took off his old clothes and put on new ones.

In Europe, he received an unprecedented grand welcome and won great honor.

He felt uncomfortable when people asked him to give a speech. He felt uncomfortable when he realized that he was wearing a new dress. Dressing, he always felt that he was trapped in a hard, cold iron shell, and it was inconvenient to raise his hand and cast his feet, as if he were a prisoner, and he wanted to break free from the iron shell. But in the upper class of Europe, etiquette is very important, and there are strict rules about what clothes to wear on any occasion. As an American tourist, he can only do as the Romans do.

Back to West Orange from Europe, as soon as he stepped into the house, he couldn't wait to take off his clothes and throw them on the ground, sighing:

"I'm lucky that I wasn't killed by it! Madam, please find my clothes, quickly! "

He looked at the skirt on the floor and remembered the horror of being abused by it all the way. He gave a good kick, which is not Japanese. He ran to find nails and hammers, "knocked", nailed his coat on the wall and said to himself:

"You've made me suffer enough, and now I'm going to make you suffer!"

The lady stood by and looked at him and the skirt nailed to the wall. She could only shake her head and smile bitterly.

After Edison became famous, many people asked him about the secret of his invention. He always laughs but doesn't answer.

Edison's later years began with the sound of guns. 19 14, World War I broke out.

Edison was a man who hated war. He hopes that the world will become peaceful as soon as possible.

As early as 1884, Edison left Monroe Park and built another home in the suburbs of West Orange. His first wife died at that time. People advised him to marry another wife who was equally kind. They moved to a new home in order not to recall the old days.

1929 On May 30th, in Atlanta, President Hoover personally presided over the 50th anniversary celebration of the invention of electric light. Politicians, scholars and experts from all over the world have called to congratulate. The US Postal Service issued a commemorative stamp with a light bulb. Major General Budd, who was exploring the Antarctic at that time, wrote Edison's name on the flag and erected it on the land of the Antarctic. Atlanta is brightly lit and never goes out all night.

Excitement and fatigue caused Edison's diabetes to recur. That winter, he suffered from severe pneumonia. Although he recovered later, he became weaker and weaker.

At this time, he still refused to give up his job. In July of the following year, he went to the rubber (xiànɡ) planting experimental field in California. After years of cultivation, the varieties he selected have grown into forests. He said to the staff of the proving ground:

"In another five years, the rubber needed by the United States will not need to be imported from abroad."

Unfortunately, he didn't see that day.

1 931August1day, when he was working in the institute, he suddenly fainted to the ground. The news shocked the whole world.

193 1 year1October 18 The great inventor who worked hard all his life and had a strong will died at the age of 84.

Three nights later, a grand funeral was held under a big oak tree in Xiju's house.

President Hoover was in tears and said in his eulogy:

"People all over the world have inherited the inventor's legacy and will always be grateful to him."

That night, all the lights in America went out together, and 1 minute came back. At this time, in West Orange, Edison's funeral was being held ceremoniously. Lights out 1 minute, to remind people that it was this great inventor who brought light and joy to the night of the earth.