Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 06.djvu/747

* EDISON. 649 EDMUND. the latter of these devices was employed exten- sively ill the earlier iiislruineiits. In ISTS Edison brought out his phonograph with the tiiifoil cylinder, and about this time tlie megaphone. The most-used of all Edison's inventions, and the one that required the most careful research and experimenting to secure its perfection, was that of the incandescent light, which, lirought out in 1871», was publicly exhibited in ISSO. This new light soon achieved a remarkable success, and the inventor was fully occupied in improving the lamps themselves and the dynamos for gener- ating the current. Mr. Edison also worked on the question of electric traction, but his achieve- menis here, while attended with some success, were not so remarkable as in other fields. In ISSO his laboratory at Orange was built and furnished a commodious workshop for his later experiments. Here the kinetophonograph was developed, and the instrument in its well-known form of the kinetoscope was made a commercial success. Among his commercial ventures have been the magnetic treatment of iron ore and a plant for the manufacture of Portland cement. Edison has received numerous honors at inter- national expositions and from foreign govern- ments, among which are his appointment as a chevalier of the Legion of Honor from" France in 1S78. and as a commander in 1SS9. In 1892 he received the Albert Medal of the Society of Arts of Great Britain. Edison as an inventor stands unique among those men of the nineteenth century who have applied scientific discoveries to the ordinary uses of man. His boldness in over- coming experimental difficulties, and his success- ful achievement of what might be termed all but impossible, sectired for him the name of Wizard. In considering his life and work, how- ever, the distinction must be made between the pure scientist with mathematical and philosophi- cal knowledge, and the ingenious inventor who can apply a scientific truth to a practical end. Of this latter class Edison stands at the head. For a life of Edison, consult Dickson, Life and Inventions of Thomas A. Edison (New York, 1894 ), a popular biography which leaves con- siderable to be desired. EDISTO ISLAND. One of the 'sea islands' so famous for long-staple cotton,' on the South Carolina coast, about 2.5 miles southwest of Charleston (Map: South Carolina. D 4). The soil is fertile, and the vegetable trade of the island with the North is considerable. Popula- tion, about 40(1. EDISTO RIVER. A river in the southern part of South Carolina, formed near Branchville by the union of its north and south forks (Map: South Carolina. D 3). It flows southeast, then south, and divides into the North and South Edisto about 1.5 miles from the coast. These arms embrace Edisto Island, and reach the At- lantic southwest of Charleston Harbor and just north of Saint Helena Soiind. The river is about 150 miles long, and i« navigable two-thirds of this distance. EDITIO PRINCEPS, .•-dtsh't-o prin'sPps, The Latin term for the first edition of a book. The term is especiallv used with reference to the first printed edition of a Greek or Latin author. See IxrtXAnuT.A. EDLTJND, ed'loond, Erik (1819-88). A Swed- ish physicist. He was born in the Province of Xerike, and was educated at L^psala. In ISoO he became professor of physics at the lloyal Academy of Sciences in Stockholm, and in 1858 was instrumental in securing the introduction of meteorological stations in Sweden. lie con- ducted these observatories until 1873, when a central meteorological station was erected. His scientific researches were confined chicfiy to the theory of electricity. His publications include 1 hcorie des phcnomines elvctrigiies (1874), in which he discusses unipolar induction, tracing the origin of electricity to the rotation of the earth and of the higher strata of the atmosphere. The meteorological observations made by Edluiul from 1858 to 1873 were published in fourteen volumes by the Academy of Sciences of Stock- holm. EDMONTON, ed'mon-ton. A town in the District of .lberta. Xortliwest Territories, Cana- da, on the Saskatchewan River and the Canadian Pacific Railroad, 191 miles northeast of Calgary (Map: Northwest Territories, G 4). Coalmin- ing is the principal industry. Alluvial gold, platinum, silver, and timber are found in the vicinity. It is in a fertile agricultural district, and is an important fur-trading station. A picturesque stockaded fort of the Hudson Bay Company dominates a hill above the town. Edniimton has a meteorological station in daily comnuinication with the United States Weatlicr Bureau, and is, statistically, the storm centre of the Northern States of America. Population, in 1891, 2000; in 1901, 2626. EDMONTON. A town of Middlesex, Eng- land, seven miles north-northeast of London. It is the suburban residence of many London merchants. Charles Lamb is buried in the churchyard, and the Bell Inn figures prominently in Cowper's humorous poem of "John Gilpin." Population, in 1891, 25.381; in 1901, 46.899. Consult Robinson, The History and Antiquities of Edmonton (London, 1810), ED'MUND, or EADMTJND (AS., defender of property) (c.922-46). King of the English from 940 to 946. He was the son of Edward the Elder, and the grand^^on of Alfred the Great, and succeeded his brother, .^ilthelstan, on the throne. Three years before his accession he had shown remarkable bravery in the battle with the Danes at Brunanburh (q.v.). Soon after he be- came King, a revolt broke out in the North, and Olaf, or Aulaf, the leader of the Danes from Ireland, was made King. For a time the revolt was successful, and the Danelaga (q.v.) was revived under a second Olaf and Ragnar; but about 944 Edmund subdued both kings. In 945 he conquered Cumbria, and gave it to Malcolm of Scotland to be held in military service. Ed- mund was slain by an outlaw, Jlay 26, 946, while at a banquet. Consult Green, Conquest of Eng- land (London and New York, 1883). EDMUND, or EADMtTND (c.981-1016). A king of the Engli-li. known as Iron.sidb. He was the son of Ethelred II., and half-brother of Edward the Confessor. He is celebrated chiefly as the great^ opponent to Caniite and Uie Danish partv during the latter part of bis fatlicr's reign. On the death of Ethelred. in 1016, the Danes pro- claimed Canute King of England, but the citi- zens of London declared for Edmund, who drew together his forces and engaged Canute at Pen, in Somarsetshire, and at Sherston, in Wiltshire.