, 1885-01-30
IN DAILY USE
4 NEW Workers. HOUSE FULL OF
ELECTRICITY.
A Paradise OF Dainty Desices-speetaais
Of the Burning h Landseer by
Electrical LIght-Propheey
OF the FUTURE


"
proverbial philosopher, who natched light
ming from tho skies and the scepter from the
hnnd Of Solomon, had been one Of the in
vited guests at tho house OF E II. johnson,
the other evening. he might have been as
astounded rs Macaulay's New Zsnlandsr In
the streets OF modern London. Mr.. Johnson
Is a practical enthusiast Zeal and knowl.
edge go not tandem with him, but as a
team. Others have lighted their houses with
slectricity, but he has turned bis into a Pan
dorn's box, "a Paradise OF dainty devices
A Christmas tree stood on his second floor.
Its top nearly touched tho ceiling and its
roots were set In q hollow PEDESTAL. The
tree was hung with tinsel, toys and candies.
II the candles on IL had been lighted and 1t
had remained stin, 1t would have been like
other Christmas trees. But instead It kept
turning on its base, and six times with
every revolution two score tiny electric
lights OF rcd and purple and white twinkled
out Of the evergreen branohes- All the even
ing the six score lamps went through their
polychromnfic psrmutatlons, except when
the Kaleidoscope was stopped to explain its
mechanism. 1t was then seen that the tree
was simply an entertaining part OF Mr. John
sons practical plan Of lighting his house by a
dynamo machine in the cellar. same cur
rent that supplied a sixteen-candle lamp
ran the motor causing the tree to ~rsvolve,
and rlso by an automatic device brought
into cult the little lamps, which were
e~nveloped in French tissue paper. @What
an attraction for a show window some one
said. why notf' replied Mr. johnson
add to the colors and then surround the
whole pageant with mirrors and multiply
them indefinitely
@Your fire looks comfortably tonight, "
remarked a guest at an open CRATE that
rndiated a mellow light II call that my
Sellers fire. said Mr.. johnson. HYou sec
/ have concealed a few electric lamps there
in pine shavings l intend to put them
inside Of cannel coal covered with ~isinglass,
to make the effect more realistic. We don't
mood n fire as we uso the exhaust steam
that runs my machine TO heat the house.
ut Is the spectacle Of the burning bush
ove1n again, remarked a well-read observer.
"But more easily ~extinguished," and the
host pressed a concealed button, and the
light disappeared
On the parlor floor he showed various con
trivances, as useful as they were ingenious,
for lowering the lights at will singly or in
groups. IAN the wires on this floor run back
TO those safety catches In tho window seat, Z"
added Mr.. johnson. Il have thus provided
against the possibility Of being left in
darkness by making each series Of lamps on
the chandeliers independent Of each other.
II want TO show my Landseer by the cleo
trio light he continued. The nearest lamp
was unscrewed from its socked and suspended
by a wire inside OF a tall porcelain vase.
The current being applied a picture OF an
Alpine shepherd surrounded by his dogs was
displayed in graphic relief like a cameo.
Nothing could surpass the fidelity with which
the light revealed the minutest shading Of
the artists brush.
That Is the only true way to show a paint
ing said the host mo arrangement Of
lights upon a anvas can produce 50 purely
natural an effect Every artist who sees
this Is enrnptured by IT, Bm~iard-players
ara equally pleased with the lighting Of my
table" he continued, leading the way to the
billiard-room in the basement. "These two
lamps are adjusted and the light Is so re-
fiected from tho ceiling that 1 defy you TO
find q shadow on the table either under the
cushions or the balls. You would suppose
that with a 30horse- powor engine nearly
under this room some noise or trembling
might be perceived "a few Of the more
curious went below. Even after entering
the cellar the throbbing was 50 slight as to
be almost impercaptiblol The floors arc
we'll cemented. and I have muffied the walls
as you see, but the engine runs 50 smoothly
that it might almost be BOT up anywhere. 1
run that pump by an electric motor, and
keep the upper stories amply supplied with
winter. As T. heat, I have enough steam
left over after making my light to heat the
house thoroughly. Several of my ~neighbors'
houses are wired for the light, and ! intend
10 supply them with it shortly
At the lunch table later in the evening,
Mr.. johnson was asked to prophesy on the
future OF the electric railway. II don't like
to prophecy unless I know" be said AStill
my opinion Is that within two years one di-
vision Of the elevated road will be operated
by electricity. The problem has been
worked out, except in details. To furnish
the power in sufficient quantities is a matter
OF course with the demonstration hat have
already been made in electric lighting. But
just as in that business there are manifold
devices for the regulation and use OF the cur
rent, the outcome OF hard experience, and
not to DO dispensed with in the commercial
sense Once get the electro-motive force
under control and absolute safety Is secured.
Each section Of the track can be so isolated
that a collision will be impossible. To light
the cars from the same source that supplies
their motion is easy. Oh, we arc only in the
infancy Of this science" said the electrician,
as he lit his cigar by an electric lighter.