at this is pretty close to the dictionary definition of
genius."

It is said that Edison replied rather incoherently and changed the topic
of conversation.

This innate modesty, however, does not prevent Edison from recognizing
and classifying his own methods of investigation. In a conversation with
two old associates recently (April, 1909), he remarked: "It has been
said of me that my methods are empirical. That is true only so far
as chemistry is concerned. Did you ever realize that practically all
industrial chemistry is colloidal in its nature? Hard rubber, celluloid,
glass, soap, paper, and lots of others, all have to deal with amorphous
substances, as to which comparatively little has been really settled.
My methods are similar to those followed by Luther Burbank. He plants an
acre, and when this is in bloom he inspects it. He has a sharp eye, and
can pick out of thousands a single plant that has promise of what he
wants. From this he gets the seed, and uses his skill and knowledge in
producing from it a number of new plants which, on development, furnish
the means of propagating an improved variety in large quantity. So, when
I am after a chemical result that I have in mind, I may make hundreds
or thousands of experiments out of which there may be one that promises
results in the right direction. This I follow up to its legitimate
conclusion, discarding the others, and usually get what I am after.
There is no doubt about this being empirical; but when it comes to
problems of a mechanical nature, I want to tell you that all I've
ever tackled and solved have been done by hard, logical thinking." The
intense earnestness and emphasis with which this was said were very
impressive to the auditors. This empirical method may perhaps be better
illustrated by a specific example. During the latter part of the storage
battery investigations, after the form of positive element had been
determined upon, it became necessary to ascertain what definite
proportions and what quality of nickel hydrate and nickel flake would
give the best results. A series of positive tubes were filled with the
two materials in different proportions--say, nine parts hydrate to one
of flake; eight parts hydrate to two of flake; seven parts hydrate to
three of flake, and so on through varying proportions. Three sets of
each of these positives were made, and all put into separate test tubes
with a uniform type of negative element. These were carried th