business of the highest importance.

"But he has permitted me to express his deep and sincere interest in all
you young people, and I am adding, on my own responsibility, three
expressions of his which now seem to have maximum force because he has
used them:

"'Never mind the milk that's spilt.'

"Genius is one per cent. _in_spiration, and ninety-nine per cent.
_per_spiration.'

"'Don't watch--don't clock the watch--oh!--_don't_ watch the CLOCK!--'
Why, Mr. Edison, I thought you--I have just been explaining why you
couldn't come--and now (with a laugh) here you are!

"There was a hearty chuckle and another voice said:

"I know it's mean to make you a victim of misplaced confidence, but it
came across me like a flash that I couldn't do a better thing for the
Boy Scouts and Girls Scouts and all the 'good scouts,' old and young,
than to broadcast a good word for my friend Marconi. So I have run up
here to speak to the Radio Boys after all. I know it's a shame, but--"

"Nothing of the sort, Mr. Edison,--not on your life!" (It is the more
familiar voice of Mr. Meadowcroft now.)

"Wait, let me introduce you: Boys and girls, you are now 'listening in'
with Thomas Alva Edison, who said, like the young man in the parable, 'I
go not,' then he changed his mind and went. He is here--not to give you
any message for or about himself, but to express his regard for the man
to whom all Radio Boys and Girls owe so much. Mr. Edison has come on
purpose to say a word to you."

When the room was in a silence so solemn that those present could hear
their own hearts beat, the voice the company now recognized as Mr.
Edison's came through with trumpet clearness:

"I have great admiration and high regard for Marconi, the pioneer
inventor of wireless communication. I wish you all the happiness that
Comes through usefulness. Good night."

"Mr. Edison--one moment! In the name of the millions who are not
'listening in' on this, won't you please write this sentiment so that it
can be seen as well as heard?"

"All right"--came through in Edison's voice. A brief pause ensued
and--"Thank you, Mr. Edison," from Mr. Meadowcroft in a low tone, which
he immediately raised:

"Mr. Edison has just written the words you have heard him speak to be
broadcast, as it were, to the young eyes of America."[A]

Hearty cheers followed this closing announcement, but as the speakers
they had heard were not aware of this, the demonstration soon ceased.
Ex