Actually, his "menial job" at the Lab paid more than most people made, and he was always supported generously by his father (to the tune of $40-50 per week, today's equivalent of $1000-$2000 or more), as were most Edison relatives and friends. If you were a true friend of Edison, you would not starve. Edison houses & farms for his children - he was no cheapskate.
I believe that Thomas,Jr inherited his mother's poor health and below-average intelligence. The children of Mina didn't suffer the same fate. ----- Original Message ----- From: "BruceY" <[email protected]> To: <phonolist at yahoogroups.com> Cc: <RODDER781 at aol.com>; "Antique Phonograph List" <phono-l at oldcrank.org> Sent: Saturday, May 03, 2008 7:50 AM Subject: [Phono-L] Thomas Edison Jr. > http://members.aol.com/TAEdisonJR/edisonjr.htm > > I had never read this before. What a mostly wasted and tragic life, a part > of the Edison History that most people are not aware, riddled with > tragedy, neglect, fraud, depression & disappointment . Well worth the > short read, it gives insight into the sometimes unhappy fate of inheriting > a famous name. > > Bruce
