The moving spirit of this haunt by day and night is well described as an
overgrown school-boy. He is a man of a slim, but wiry figure, about
five feet ten inches in height. His face at this period was juvenile
and beardless. The nose and chin were shapely and prominent, the mouth
firm, the forehead wide and full above, but not very high. It was
shaded by dark chestnut hair, just silvered with grey. His most
remarkable features were his eyes, which are blue-grey and deeply set,
with an intense and piercing expression. When his attention was not
aroused, he seemed to retire into himself, as though his mind had
drifted far away, and came back slowly to the present. He was pale with
nightwork, and his thoughtful eyes had an old look in serious moments.
But his smile was boyish and pleasant, and his manner a trifle shy.
There was nothing of the dandy about Edison, He boasted no jewelled
fingers or superfine raiment. An easy coat soiled with chemicals, a
battered wide-awake, and boots guiltless of polish, were good enough for
this inspired workman. An old silver watch, sophisticated with
magnetism, and keeping an eccentric time peculiar to it, was his only
ornament. On social occasions, of course, he adopted a more
conventional costume.
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