Has got an education in England? Translator? Similar to the truth. "Hotly". He can to write to Thomas Edison the letter, receive the answer, read. And not only to translate, but - to understand. He is capable to use articles from special American magazines.

Those historic figures about whom A.V. Kaminsky wrote, or the British (William Ewart Gladstone, Daniel Defoe, Robert Owen, James Watt), or Americans (Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Edison, Samuel Morse) . All listed historical personalities spoke English.

Mechanical engineer: confirms qualification and education; he understands scientifically technical questions.

The elected official (member) of zemstvo: he is inclined to policy, questions of social design.

Journalist: knows taste of literary bread.

Heroes of biographic essays of A.V. Kamensky or from the sphere scientifically technical (James Watt, Thomas Edison, Samuel Morse), or social and political (Abraham Lincoln, William Gladstone, Robert Owen); Daniel Defoe is the English writer and the publicist.

Educational and intellectual levels of "A.V. Kamensky from "All-Russian Family Tree"" allow to write him a biographic essay about Edison.

It seems that the website "All-Russian Family Tree" contains exact information about A.V Kamensky, the author of seven biographic essays published by Florenty Fedorovich Pavlenkov in the book-series "Life of Remarkable People" ("LRP").

The member of zemstvo: the old-fashioned respectability sounds barely perceptible in this phrase.Also - as we will see further - similar to the truth.

"Education in England" - "The member of zemstvo" - "mechanical engineer" - "the journalist, the translator" - "the writer, the translator from English" - "literary works weren't the main livelihood"?

On FEB website: ENI "Dictionary of Pseudonyms" (ФЭБ: ЭНИ 'Словарь псевдонимов') we read (http://feb web.ru/feb/masanov/man/04/man07154.htm):

"Name: Kamensky, Andrei Vasilyevich (1843 - not earlier than 1898) - the journalist, the translator, employee of magazine "North Messenger" ('Сев. Вестник') (1897-98)

Pseudonyms: Aston; Aston, К."

We will sum up the result: if to be guided by Wikipedia and by the website (electronic library) Lib.Ru, A. V. Kamensky "has written seven biographic essays for F. Pavlenkov's library ("Life of remarkable people")". Names of the published books written by A.V. Kamensky are provided in Wikipedia, in the article "Life of Remarkable People (1890-1924)". One of the books: Kamensky A. V. "Edison and Morse".

The period of publication of all books of A.V. Kamenskiy, published by F. F. Pavlenkov, in the book-series "Life of Remarkable People": from 1891 to 1893. One of the books - "Edison and Morse" - was reprinted in 1900.

3. Restless talent and omnipotent people. The Law of Crushing of Talents

We will return to the biographic book by A.V. Kamensky about Edison.

First, the old-fashioned author's respectability attracts attention. The author at the beginning of work informs the reader on those information sources, which have been used by him when writing the biography.

It appears, at the request of F.F. Pavlenkov A.V. Kamensky personally addressed in writing to T. Edison with a request to specify those editions, which can serve as reliable material for the description of his life.

In English wrote? Edison has read, has understood, hasn't laughing out, has accepted in seriousness, has reacted?

(Not bad the publisher F.F. Pavlenkov worked! Excellent authorial cadres, wise instructions. All the businesslike. All to be honest. Accurately. The level of the 22 century).

Kamensky have received the answer. As I understand, Edison has dictated, and the secretary has deciphered, has printed, has signed and has sent by mail. "His extensive correspondence is servicing (now by means of a phonograph and the typewriter) by the personal secretary, the former companion on telegraph service, Griffin, who is engaged as well in financial affairs of Edison" (Kamensky A. V. "Edison").

Not bad T. Edison and his employees worked!; the efficiency, innovation and also attention and respect for the potential biographer are demonstrated. (Level of the 22nd century).

"In his reply, which was dictated, with using the device "phonograph", and then was signed by his secretary, Edison kindly provided the information requested, namely: "Biography", compiled by Kassel, the French brochure 'Edison, sa vie et oeuvres' by Duerer, and several articles in different periodicals, which served as material for the present essay.

Besides, the author used the American edition "Edison and his inventions", Chicago, 1889, articles about Edison in the magazine "Scientific American" and, for information about the device of a phonograph and other devices of Edison, - the new American edition "Experimental Science" by Hopkins." (If to accept that A.V. Kamensky has got an education in England, then it is clear that he knew English. And he translated the French brochure personally? Competent, educated people ... Their parents and they, not for nothing N. Gogol read ...).

Secondly, A.V. Kamensky in the this book (and in other essays) presents some generalizations in old-fashioned style.

The inventors described by A.V. Kamensky - both Watt, and Morse, and Edison - were successful creatively and financially. After the period of difficulties of each of them have met success. So the more interesting some reflections of A.V. Kamensky about the typical difficulties met by talent in practical activities.

For example, he mentions the "General rule", "that in any everyday case assiduous, zealous mediocrity always gets the advantage over a restless talent."

Very few of the businessmen standing at the head of different companies, can guess talent in the person.

In the forefront mostly there is an ability to be pleasant, an everyday tact, self-confidence, the known share of impudence, and the ability to serve the strong.

Restless, nervous, recalcitrant talent rarely possesses these virtues; but still he has to run, push, shake among and with others, crush himself around these omnipotent people - in seeking to be recognized.

Why not to call this "the general rule" "The Law of Crushing of Talents "?

It is important not that "the crushing" itself is existing, but that, what are existing those, who may be crushed.

Compare to the quote from A.V. Kamensky's essay "William Ewart Gladstone: His life and political activity": "...Success in life here depended in all the generations, known to us, primarily from the outstanding energy and initiative, and not on the goodwill of the powerful persons of this world, the legacy of the fathers or transactions with the conscience."