Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1857-09-26
NJ | sc f L L A n Y.
EXPERIENCE IN A HOUSE WITH
MODERN IMPROVEMENTS.
BY HENRY WARD BEEcnrr.

BY HENRY WARD BEECHtE.
he following capital article by Henry Ward
Beecher, on Modern Conveniences and First
dent:
There are many persons who suppose tina,
people who live in irslcass houses, with all
modern Improvements, must of course be much
puiied up. and that they become quite grand in
their own eyes. 1t is true. sometimes. hat fine
houses have proud people in them. But we
suspect the same of very poor tencments. We
can imagine a pride so reluctant of discipline,
and so ndocile, rs to survive in spite of the en-
perience of first tclass house.
When we moved into capaclous hrOwn-stone
dwelling, our better nature, with great simplicity,
whispered, - Beware of temptation" And with
an ignorance quite as simple, we supposed that
the thieves 0t grace would be found lurking in
large rooms, at ambush behind cornlces repro
duced from old Rome, or in stately appearances I,
How little did we suspect that these were harm
less, and that very different elements were TO
moth our patience.
But let little preliminary eXultaton of a
new man in a new place be iorgivcd. We who are
now established Remember your old house
hold fervor on first setting mp, while we recount
convenenceS. that would take away all human
care, and speed life upon a down hill PATH where
it was to be easier to move than 10 stand stIll
Everything was admirable The attic had with
in il tank so large as better to be called res
ervoir Down from it ran the servlceahe pipes
to every part of the dwelling, Each chamber had
its invisible water maid IN the WALL ready to
spring the floods upon you by the mere iurn 0t
your hand then the bathroom, with tub, douche,
shower, and indeed various and universal squirt
up, down, and promiscuous. The kitchen, too
- the tubs with water walling to leap into them
the long cylinder by the side Of the fire, as il
the range had its baby wrapped up, and set per-
pendicular in the corner to nurse. But greatest
OF all admrations was the furnace This. too
was interframed with the attic tank, for it was
hot water furnace For a time, this was our
peculiar pride. The water flowed down into a
| system OF coied tubes, which we're connected
with the boiler surrounding the furnace fire
The idea was when the water got as hot as il
could well bear, that it should trSk out OF one
end of the bniler into the pipes, and round
through the whole system, and come back into
the other end cooled off Phus complete ar.
teral system was estabshcd-thc boiler being
the heart the water the blood, the pipes at The
hot end he arteries. and the return pipes at the
cool end the veins the whole enclosed in brick
chamber. from which the air warmed bv ihl.
liquid heat was given off TO the dwelling 1t wa'
A day Of great glory when we thought the chil
in the air requiled fire in the furnace. The
fact was, we wanted TO play with our pet, anC
were half vexcd with the old cons ,rvatlve ther
momeier, that would not come down and admi
that it was cold enough for fire. However
we do not recollert ever afterwards to have beer
so eager
In the first place we never could raise enough
heat 10 change the air in the hunse more thar
from cold to chill We piled in the coal, ant
watched the thermometer; ran dow for Goa
again, and ran back to watch the thermometer
We brought home coal, exchanged glance
over the bill with the consulting partner, an,
made silent estimates of the expenses of tn,
whole winter, if this was but the beginning Blu
there was the old red dragon in the cellar de
vouring coal remorselessy, with his long irol
tail. folded and coiied in the furnace chamber
withlui heat. Thus, for a series OF weeks. W,
fired of the furnace in the cellar nj the ther
mometer in the parlUr, and never hit. But W
did accomplish other things. Once the fire wa
driven so hard that steam began to form and rum
bic and blow off, very nnnccnly; hut the girl
did not know that, and took to their heels 70
fear of being blown up. When the cause wa
discovered, the remedy was not easy, Tor III
furnace bottom was inmovahr, aud fire coul
not be let down. Bur one Joan of Are assalle
the enemy IN his own camp, and threw buckle
OF water into the fire. his produced severa
effects it put out the fire. it also put ont 5
much gas steam and ashes, that the maiden wa
quite put ont also And more than all, it crack
ed the boiler. But tins we did not know ii
h, some time afterwards. There were few day
OF comparative rest The weather was mild OF
of doors, and cold within. Il was soon reporte
that one OF the pipes was stopped up IN the chan
Der. for the water would not hnw The pluml
, er was sent fur. He was already well acquain
ed with The way to the house. lie brought NJ
d on himself laugh Of ridlcue by suggesting 'hi
l. the water had given out III the tank waite
p given out? We turned inwardly pale helm
the outward red of laughing We Thought "
had pocket'ocesn up stairs. Up we marched
climbed up the sides, pecred down to the dirt
bottom of an empted tank Alas, the who
i house was symmetrically connected Ever.
o thing depended upon this tank the furnace
AZ tho nallap In, b;tnha,, tba a,