ELECTRICITY IN THE HOUSEHOLD
Electrically Equipped Houses--Cooking by Electricity--Comforts and
Conveniences.
Science has now pressed the invisible wizard of electricity into doing
almost every household duty from cleaning the windows to cooking the
dinner. There are many houses now so thoroughly equipped with
electricity from top to bottom that one servant is able to do what
formerly required the service of several, and in some houses servants
seem to be needed hardly at all, the mistresses doing their own cooking,
ironing, and washing by means of electricity.
In respect to taking advantage of electricity to perform the duties
of the household our friends in Europe were ahead of us, though America
is pre-eminently the land of electricity--the natal home of the science.
We are waking up, however, to the domestic utility of this agent and
throughout the country at present there are numbers of homes in which
electricity is employed to perform almost every task automatically
from feeding the baby to the crimping of my lady's hair in her scented
boudoir.
There is now no longer any use for chimneys on electrically equipped
houses, for the fires have been eliminated and all heat and light drawn
from the electric street mains. A description of one of these houses
is most interesting as showing what really can be accomplished by this
wonderful source of power.
Before the visitor to such a house reaches the gate or front door his
approach is made known by an annunciator in the hall, which is connected
with a hidden plate in the entrance path, which when pressed by the
feet of the visitor charges the wire of the annunciator. A voice comes
through the horn of a phonograph asking him what he wishes and telling
him to reply through the telephone which hangs at the side of the door.
When he has made his wants known, if he is welcome or desired, there
is a click and the door opens. As he enters an electrically operated
door mat cleans his shoes and if he is aware of the equipments of the
house, he can have his clothes brushed by an automatic brush attached
to the hat-rack in the hall. An escalator or endless stairway brings
him to the first floor where he is met by the host who conducts him
to the den sacred to himself. If he wishes a preprandial cigar, the
host touches a segment of the wall, apparently no different in
appearance from the surrounding surface, and a complete cigar outfit
shoots out to within reach of the guest. When the gong announces dinner
he is conducted to the dining hall where probably the uses to which
electricity can be put are better exemplified than in any other part
of the house. Between this room and the kitchen there is a perfect
electric understanding. The apartments are so arranged that electric
dumbwaiter service is operated between the centre of the dining table
itself and the serving table in the kitchen. The latter is equipped
with an electric range provided with electrically heated ovens,
broilers, vegetable cookers, saucepans, dishes, etc., sufficient for
the preparation of the most elaborate house banquet. The chef or cook
in charge of the kitchen prepares each dish in its proper oven and has
it ready waiting on the electric elevator at the appointed time when
the host and his guest or guests, or family, as the case may be, are
seated at the dining table. The host or whoever presides at the head
of the table merely touches a button concealed on the side of the
mahogany and the elevator instantly appears through a trap-door in
the table, which is ordinarily closed by two silver covers which look
like a tray. In this way the dish seemingly miraculously appears right
on top of the table. When each guest is served it returns to the kitchen
by the way it came and a second course is brought on the table in a
similar manner and so on until the dinner is fully served. Fruits and
flowers tastefully arranged adorn the centre of the dining table and
minute electric incandescent lamps of various colors are concealed in
the roses and petals and these give a very pretty effect, especially
at night.
Beneath the table nothing is to be seen but two nickel-plated bars
which serve to guide the elevators.
Down in the kitchen the cooking is carried on almost mechanically by
means of an electric clock controlling the heating circuits to the
various utensils. The cook, knowing just how long each dish will require
to be cooked, turns on the current at the proper time and then sets
the clock to automatically disconnect that utensil when sufficient
time, so many minutes to the pound, has elapsed. When this occurs a
little electric bell rings, calling attention to the fact, that the
heat has been shut off.
Another kitchen accessory is a rotating table on which are mounted
various household machines such as meat choppers, cream whippers, egg
beaters and other apparatus all electrically operated.
There is also an electric dishwasher and dryer and plate rack
manipulator which places the dishes in position when clean and dried.
The advantages of cooking by electricity are apparent to all who have
tested them. Food cooked in an electric baking oven is much superior
than when cooked by any other method because of the better heat
regulation and the utter cleanliness, there being absolutely no dust
whatever as in the case when coal is used. The electric oven does not
increase the temperature nor does it exhaust the pure air in the room
by burning up the oxygen. The time required for cooking is about the
same as with coal.
The perfect cleanliness of an electric plate warmer is sufficient to
warrant its use. It keeps dishes at a uniform temperature and the food
does not get scorched and become tough.
Steaks prepared on electric gridirons and broilers are really delicious
as they are evenly done throughout and retain all the natural juices
of the meat; there is no odor of gas or of the fire and portions done
to a crisp while others are raw on the inside. In toasting there is
no danger of the bread burning on one side more than on the other, or
of its burning on either side and a couple of dozen slices can be done
together on an ordinary instrument at the same time. The electric
diskstove, flat on the top, like a ball cut in two, can be also utilized
as a toaster or for heating any kettles or pots or vessels with flat
bottoms.
Very appetizing waffles are made with electric waffle irons, because
the bottom and top irons are uniformly heated, so that the irons cook
the waffles from both sides at the same time.
Electric potato peeling machines consist of a stationary cylinder
opened at the top for the reception of the potatoes and having a
revolving disk at the bottom. The cylinder has a rough surface or is
coated with diamond flint, so that when the disk revolves the potatoes
are thrown against the sides of the cylinder and the skin is scraped
off. There is no deep cutting as when peeled by a knife, therefore,
much waste is avoided. While the potatoes are being scraped, a stream
of water plays upon them taking away the skins and thoroughly cleansing
the tubers.
Among other electric labor savers connected with the culinary department
may be mentioned floor-scrubbers, dish-washers, coffee-grinders, meat
choppers, dough-mixers and cutlery-polishers, all of which give
complete satisfaction at a paltry cost and save much time and labor.
A small motor can drive any of these instruments or several can be
attached and run by the same motor. The operation of an ordinary snap
switch will supply energy to electric water-heaters attached to the
kitchen boiler or to the faucet. The instantaneous water heater also
purifies the water by killing the bacteria contained in it.
The electric tea kettle makes a brew to charm the heart of a
connossieur. In fact all cooking done by electricity whether it is the
frying of an egg or the roasting of a steak is superior in every way
to the old methods and what accentuates its use is the cleanliness
with which it can be performed. And it should be taken into
consideration that in electric cooking there is no bending over hot
stoves and ranges or a stuffy evil smelling smoky atmosphere, but on
the contrary, fresh air, cleanliness and coolness which make cooking
not the drudgery it has ever been, but a real pleasure.
Let us take a glance at the laundry in the electrically equipped house.
There is a large tub with a wringer attached to it and a simple
mechanism by which a small motor can either be connected with the tub
or the wringer as required. The washing is performed entirely by the
motor and in a way prevents the wear and tear associated with the old
method of scrubbing and rubbing done at the expense of much "elbow
grease." The motor turns the tub back and forth and in this way the
soapy water penetrates the clothes, thus removing the dirt without
injuring or tearing the fabric. In the old way, the clothes were moved
up and down in the water and torn and worn in the process. By the new
way it is the water which moves while the clothes remain stationary.
When the clothes are thoroughly washed, the motor is attached to the
wringer and they are passed through it; they are completely dried by
a specially constructed electric fan. Whatever garments are to be
ironed are separated and fed to a steel roll mangle operated by a motor
which gives them a beautiful finish. The electric flat iron plays also
an important part in the laundry as it is clean and never gets too hot
nor too cold and there is no rushing back to replenish the heaters.
One is not obliged to remain in the room with a hot stove, and suffer
the inconveniences. No heat is felt at all from the iron as it is all
concentrated on the bottom surface. It is a regular blessing to the
laundress especially in hot weather. There is a growing demand in all
parts of the country for these electric flat-irons.
Electricity plays an important role in the parlor and drawing-room.
The electric fireplace throws out a ruddy glow, a perfect imitation
of the wide-open old-fashioned fireplaces of the days of our
grandmothers. There are small grooves at certain sections in the
flooring over which chairs and couches can be brought to a desired
position. When the master drops into his favorite chair by the fireplace
if he wishes a tune to soothe his jangled nerves, there is an electric
attachment to the piano and he can adjust it to get the air of his
choice without having to ask any one to play for him. In the
drawing-room an electric fountain may be playing, its jets reflecting
the prismatic colors of the rainbow as the waters fall in iridescent
sparkle among the lights. Such a fountain is composed of a small
electric motor and a centrifugal pump, the latter being placed in the
interior of a basin and connected directly to the motor shaft. The
pump receives the water from the basin and conveys it through pipes
and a number of small nozzles thus producing cascades. The water falling
upon an art glass dome, beneath which are small incandescent lamps,
returns to the basin and thence again to the pump. There is no necessity
of filling the fountain until the water gets low through evaporation.
When the lights are not in colored glass, the water may be colored and
this gives the same effect. To produce the play of the fountain and
its effects, it is only necessary to connect it to any circuit and
turn on the switch. The dome revolves by means of a jet of water driven
against flanges on the under side of the rim of the dome and in this
way beautiful and prismatic effects are produced. The motor is noiseless
in operation. In addition to the pretty effect the fountain serves to
cool and moisten the air of the room.
The sleeping chambers are thoroughly equipped. Not only the rooms may
be heated by electricity but the beds themselves. An electric pad
consisting of a flexible resistance covered with soft felt is connected
by a conductor cord to a plug and is used for heating beds or if the
occupant is suffering from rheumatism or indigestion or any intestinal
pain this pad can be used in the place of the hot water bottle and
gives greater satisfaction. There is a heat controlling device and the
circuit can be turned on or off at will.
There are many more curious devices in the electrically equipped house
which could they have been exhibited a generation or so ago, would
have condemned the owner as a sorcerer and necromancer of the dark
ages, but which now only place him in the category of the smart ones
who are up to date and take advantage of the science and progress of
the time.