I want to say that as long as I am Governor of Ohio, and always as a private citizen of Ohio, I shall be interested in your work in every possible way. I believe that this Society is doing a splendid work, and there is ever more work to do. I want you to command me, either in public or private life, whenever I can be of service to this organization. [Applause].

The village of Milan, Erie County, Ohio, has ac-. quired nation-wide and world-wide fame as the birthplace of one of the great inventors of the age. Thomas Alva Edison was born there February 11, 1847. A more extended sketch of this famous son of Ohio is reserved for the future. It is the purpose here to record briefly a recent visit of Edison to the place of his birth on Saturday, August 11, 1923. He came in company with Henry Ford and Harvey S. Firestone, the wellknown manufacturers and successful business men, the latter also a native Ohioan and identified with the great rubber industry of Akron.

The village of Milan, we are told by the local paper,* was in holiday attire. Announcement of the proposed visit had been made a short time previous and the people crowded to the public park not only from the village but the surrounding country. It was almost four o'clock in the afternoon when the arrival of the guests was announced. They came by automobile and repaired at once to the old home of Edison, where his cousin, Miss Metta Wadsworth, and friends were waiting to greet and receive them. "The ubiquitous camera-men," we are told, had taken up positions most favorable for obtaining good pictures of the visitors. While the party was on the front porch the click of the cameras was noticeable. One of the camera-men seemingly anxious

*The Milan Ledger of August 16, 1923.

to secure a good picture of Mr. Edison, suggested to Mrs. Edison who accompanied him that she attract his attention towards the trees in front of the house. Pointing to the trees, Mrs. Edison said, 'We want the tree doctors to take care of these trees, we don't want them

-Copyright, Walter Scott Shinn, N. Y.
THOMAS ALVA EDISON

to go.' Mr. Edison looked up towards the trees and nodded his head. The camera-man snapped the picture."

We do not have a copy of this picture for the QUARTERLY. In its stead we reproduce a cut from a fine photograph of Mr. Edison in the possession of the Society. Milan has an excellent brass band which of

course was present to discourse its best music for the crowd in waiting. A stir of excitement announced the presence of the party and the people pressed around, eager to greet them and take them by the hand. The mayor of the village, Mr. Beare, presided at the meeting. In a few well chosen words he introduced Judge R. H. Williams of Sandusky, formerly a Milan boy, to make an address. In a happy vein Judge Williams welcomed the guests and, addressing Mr. Edison, said:

It is an unusual event for the people of this vicinity to meet upon the public square of this village to honor one who played upon that square as a boy seventy years ago, the renowned American, Thomas A. Edison.

There are three facts that stand out prominently on this occasion.

In the first place, we are impressed by his accomplishments. He is the greatest inventor of the age and of all time. His inventions number more than a thousand, and his contributions to industrial and economic development have been considerable. His fame has reached abroad and he has been made a medalist of the British Society of Art and a chevalier of the French Legion of Honor. But with all his achievements he will be best known to generations to come as the man of genius who made wood and iron talk.

In the second place, it is a source of pride that this village was the place in which he was born, for it is a great distinction to be the birthplace of one of the greatest living Americans; and the humble cottage of his birth, standing upon the hillside, will ever be an object of interest to his countrymen.

In the third place, the outstanding fact is, that here - here now-in our midst, we congratulate him on his attainments and we welcome him among us.

To those who have gathered here in his honor for the purpose of meeting him face to face and greeting him, I take pleasure in presenting Thomas A. Edison.

The guests then were invited to respond. Mrs. Edison in behalf of her husband said that he could not hear well and therefore did not wish to speak.

Mr. Ford facetiously remarked when called upon to

speak, "I hear so much that I do not want to talk". Mr. Firestone expressed the appreciation he felt in counting Mr. Edison and Mr. Ford his friends and in the privilege of association with them.

Many who were present then had the privilege of shaking hands with the distinguished visitors. Among them was an elderly lady who said she had gone to school with Mr. Edison.

At the conclusion of the exercises of the afternoon the party left for the Page farm, escorted by Mayor Beare, where Mr. and Mrs. Edison remained until Monday and then departed for Detroit. On Sunday Mr. Edison visited his birthplace in Milan and the scenes of his childhood days, the Everingham and Balcom farms. While in the village a number of old time friends called to greet Mr. Edison and renew acquaintance.