Contrary to Common Sense

Already the bugs were in it. In the hot summer of 1885, while Mr. Edison rested at home in Woodside Villa, New York, taking perhaps the only self-prescribed vacation of his life, as he was still somewhat debilitated after the death of his first wife, they came buzzing all over the house — for bugs, like viruses, must be quick, and take advantage of any passing weakness to get their start. — On 16 July, he wrote in his diary, “…I learned the girls how to make shadow pictures by use of crumpled paper — We then tried some experiments on mind reading which were not very successful, think mind reading contrary to common sense…” — But the bugs buzzed in the parlor, trying to read his mind.

William T. Vollmann, You Bright and Risen Angels