particularly indulged his taste for botany. That he has had the usual
experience in running machines will be evidenced by the following little
story from Mr. Mallory: "About three years ago I had a motor-car of
a make of which Mr. Edison had already two cars; and when the car was
received I made inquiry as to whether any repair parts were carried
by any of the various garages in Easton, Pennsylvania, near our cement
works. I learned that this particular car was the only one in Easton.
Knowing that Mr. Edison had had an experience lasting two or three
years with this particular make of car, I determined to ask him for
information relative to repair parts; so the next time I was at the
laboratory I told him I was unable to get any repair parts in Easton,
and that I wished to order some of the most necessary, so that, in case
of breakdowns, I would not be compelled to lose the use of the car for
several days until the parts came from the automobile factory. I asked
his advice as to what I should order, to which he replied: 'I don't
think it will be necessary to order an extra top.'" Since that episode,
which will probably be appreciated by most automobilists, Edison
has taken up the electric automobile, and is now using it as well as
developing it. One of the cars equipped with his battery is the Bailey,
and Mr. Bee tells the following story in regard to it: "One day Colonel
Bailey, of Amesbury, Massachusetts, who was visiting the Automobile Show
in New York, came out to the laboratory to see Mr. Edison, as the
latter had expressed a desire to talk with him on his next visit to the
metropolis. When he arrived at the laboratory, Mr. Edison, who had been
up all night experimenting, was asleep on the cot in the library. As
a rule we never wake Mr. Edison from sleep, but as he wanted to see
Colonel Bailey, who had to go, I felt that an exception should be made,
so I went and tapped him on the shoulder. He awoke at once, smiling,
jumped up, was instantly himself as usual, and advanced and greeted the
visitor. His very first question was: 'Well, Colonel, how did you come
out on that experiment?'--referring to some suggestions he had made at
their last meeting a year before. For a minute Colonel Bailey did not
recall what was referred to; but a few words from Mr. Edison brought it
back to his remembrance, and he reported that the results had justified
Mr. Edison's expectations."

It might be expected that Edison would have extreme