The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-06-16
The Wonder of Electricity.

The nineteenth century may fit
tingly be termed the century of
steam and electricity. The progress
made in the construction of steam
machinery was splendidly illustrated
at the Philadelphia exhibition.
During the coming fall an exhibition
will take place at Paris, where all
the nations of the earth will be rep
resented by their inventions in the
field of electricity. The great hall
of the Industrial Palace at Paris will
be filed with these wonders of the
world. In the center of the hall
there is to be found a small lake, on
which diminutive steamer will lay
submarine cable according to the
Kolas system. In the rooms under
the hall the visitors can witness the
manufacture of all sorts oftelegraph
wire and all electric apparatus
known; also the manufacture of iso-
lators, telegraph posts and all other
paraphernalia incident to tele-
graphy. Over the hall a lighthouse
is to be constructed and operated ac-
cording to the Serrin system. Tele-
graphers will be at work at all the
different instruments. and during
the evening the whole exposition
builing will be illuminated with
electric lights. All the different sys-
TENS of electric light will be tested.
A dynamo-electric engine of 1900
horsepower will serve as a genera
tor. In another pavilion the fire
and police telegraph will be exhibit
ed, also the electric signals and
breaks used by railroads further
more, all the electric apparatus reg
istering the speed of railroad trains
and the amount of steam used in
propelling them. In the upper halls
of the palace the telephones will be
on exhibition, several of which are
to be located in separate rooms and
brought in connection with the
grand opera house and the Theatre
Francois, so that the music, song and
defamation may be heard by the
visitors. In another room the tele-
phone system of Herr will be exhib-
tied to the public, where they can
talk per telephone to their friends in
Lyons, Orleans, etc.
In series of eightrooms, arranged
according to Paris household fash
ion, everything will be done with
the aid of electricity. They will be
Illuminated by electricity, the cook
ing will be done over electric lamps,
and electricity will heat iron plates,
to keep meals warm as long as de-
sired. Any of the lamps can be ig-
nited by simply pressing little but
ton. The meals from the kitchen
below are sent up by dumb-waiter
moved by electricity, and the friends,
physicians, servants, ETC., are sum-
moned by the electric telephones.
In the parlor are clocks, electric can
delabras, figures and other play
things moved by electricity. In the
billiard room the game is marked by
an electric indicator. In the music
room a piano is played by electricity,
and electric hair brushes are to be
found in the sleeping apartments.
The door bell is rung by the aid of
an electric machine, and if an I'M
welcome visitor pulls the bell-knob
a second time he is admonished by
an electric shock, the strength of
which can be controlled, to desist
from further attempts at disturb
ance. In other rooms will be ex-
hibited many electric playthings, too
numerous to mention, such as dolls
marching about by electricity, magic
lanterns, etc.
On the first of August the exhlpi-
ton will be opened, and visitors can
take ride on an electric elevated
railroad on the Siemens system,
which has just been successfully in
troduced to the Berlin public from
Marty to the palace of exhibition.