The Edison phonograph monthly (Jan-Dec 1912)

Edison Phonograph Monthly, Feb., 1912 11 Nearly everybouy wants something he hasrl't got, and as things are constructed, what he wants is money, more money than he has in his pocket. "But after all, money can only buy a few things. Why should anyone envy the captains of industry? Their lives are made up of those vast, incessant worries from which the average individual is happily spared. Worry, worry, that is the evil of life. "What do 1 consider the nearest approximation to happiness of which the present human nature is capable? Why, living on a farm which is one's own, far from the hectic, artificial conditions of the city — a farm where one gets directly from one's own soil what one needs to sustain life, with a garden in front and a healthy, normal family to contribute those small domestic joys which relieve a man from business strain." Thus did he quaintly illustrate that he is cast in the mold of all the rest of mankind; for he thinks he would be happy if he were a farmer, and fate and his talents forced him to be an inventor. Of course he could buy a farm, but his wisdom tells him he cannot buy happiness, therefore he deduces that he would not find happiness on a farm. Edison does not believe in what he terms "general education," and he found in Europe a text for discourse. Not that he found European education good, for he judged it largely bad, due no less, he concluded, to its generality than its meagerness. "General education," he asserted, "is a luxury for those with money to spare. It leads nowhere as a rule. It is parrotlike instruction, where the reasoning faculties are not developed, and a boy is turned out a mere echo of traditional ideas. We need nothing so much as reform in educational methods. Educate, educate, but on new and proper lines, and I say it the more frequently as I see in Europe the depressing lack of that great factor of civilization. That we have schools that meet the needs of a diverse state of society is to my mind where we surpass Europe, but we ought not to forget to progress." Edison is credited with being a. millionaire, but in his factory quarter of the New Jersey town of West Orange he is never thought of as a rich man, but as a man who works unceasingly. When his plant was small, and the community more scattered "the works" were a beacon light for the valley, an electric blaze often undimmed until the sun came up to eclipse it with brighter rays. The shops now are many and big, and the district thickly settled with workmen, but they say "the wizard" has not changed greatly in habit, except that he works less by night.— Success Magazine. Elks' Records Prof. Waterman, of the University of California, used a phonograph to determine the racial identity of a lone Indian recently captured in (Jroville. He was found to be a member of the Mill Creek Tribe — probably the last of his race. He has made over fifty-two Records of folklore songs. We are now shipping to Jobbers, three Records especially made for Elks. Almost every town in the country has a local Elk Lodge, but many of these lodges are not able to secure proper music for their Ritualistic work. These Records are primarily designed to meet that difficulty, but they will also have a wide sale among Elks, who will want them in their own homes. Every Dealer should get these Records and advertise them in the local newspapers, at the same time notifying the officials of the lodge in his town, that he is prepared to minimize the cost of their ceremonial music. Of course the expense to the lodge will be greatly diminished by the use of these Records as a substitute for hired musicians, and in a great many cases, the quality of the music will be greatly increased. THE RECORDS Amber ol — 50c each in the United States; 65c each in Canada 975 Elks' Opening and Closing Odes Knickerbocker Quartet 976 Elks' Funeral Odes Knickerbocker Quartet 977 Elks' Initiatory March and "Nearer My God to Thee" Organ and Knickerbocker Quartet Suspended List, Jan. 19, 1912 This list is supplemental to the suspended Lists which appeared in the June, 1908, and succeeding issues of the Edison Phonograph Monthly. These are still in force and must be given the same consideration by the Trade as if reprinted in full herewith. CALL, Rio Vista — L. Miller. IND., Columbus — R. J. Gillaspy. WIS., Glen Haven— W. J. Jordan. Jobbers and Dealers are asked not to supply the above named firms with our apparatus, at addresses given or any other address. We are always glad to furnish electros of the illustrations appearing on the cover of the Phonogram to any Dealer who will make use of them. The Fort Wayne Machine Company, of Fort Wayne, Ind., used the "Kiss Waltz" illustration from the January cover on an envelope and produced a very striking effect. Every month's illustration can be adapted by Dealers for the same purpose, or may be placed upon post cards together with a list of selected Records.