The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1885-02-20
IN DAILY USE.
A NEW WORKERS. HOUSE FULL OF
ELECTRICITY.
A Paradise of Dainty Devices-Spectacie
of the Burning Bush-A Landseer by
Electrical Light-Prophecy
Of the Future.
New York Tribuue.1

New York Tribunel
II Benjamin Franklin, the electrician and
proverbial philosopher, who spatched light
ming from the skies and the scepter from the
hand Of Solomon, had been one Of the in
vited guests at the house of Z. H. johnson,
the other evening, he might have been as
astounded as Macaulay's New Zealander in
the streets OF modern London. Mr.. johnson
is practical enthu siast. Zeal and knowl-
edge 90 not tandem with him, but as
team. Others have lighted their houses with
electricity, but he has turned his into Pan
dora's box, "a Paradise Of dainty devices"
A Christmas tree stood on his second floor.
Its top nearly touched the ceiling and its
roots were set in hollow pedestal. The
tree was hung with tinsel, toys and candies.
II the candles on it had been lighted and 1t
had remained still, it 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 red and purple and white twinkled
out of the evergreen branches All the even
ing the six score lamps went through their
polychromatic permutations, 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
dynamo machine in the cellar. The same cur
rent that supplied a sixteen-candle lamp
ran the motor causing the tree to revolve,
and also by an automatic device brought
into circuit the little lamps, which were
enveloped in French tissue paper. "What
an attraction for a show window" some one
said. "Why not" 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 guest at an open CRATE that
radiated mellow light Il call that my
Sellers fire." said Mr.. johnson. "You see
have concealed few electric lamps there
in pine shavings l intend to put them
inside of camel coal covered with isinglass,
to make the effect more realistic. We don't
need fire as we use the exhaust steam
that runs my machine to heat the house.
at Ii the spectacle of the burning bush
over again, remarked a well-read observer.
@But more easily extinguishsd," and the
host pressed 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. "All the wires on this floor run back
added Mr.. Johuson. 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.
Il want to show my Landseer by the cleo
tric light" he continued. The nearest lamp
was unscrewed from its socked and suspended
by a wire inside of tall porcelain vase.
The current being applied a picture Of an
Alpine shepherd surrounded by his dogs was
DISPLAYED In graphic relief like cameo.
90 Nothing could surpass the fidelity with which
the light revealed the minutest shaiing of
the artists brush.
THAT is the only true way to show a paint
ing said the host mo arrangement Of
lights upon a canvas can produce so purely
natural an effect Every artist who sees
this is enraptured by it. Billiard-players
are equally pleased with the lighting of my
table," be continued, leading the way to the
billiard-room in the basement "These two
lamps are adjusted and the light IL SO re-
fected from the ceiling that l defy you to
find q shadow on the table either under the
cushions or the balls. You would suppose
that with a 30-horse power engine nearly
under this room some noise or trembling
might be perceived" IA few Of the more
curious went below. Even after entering
the cellar the throbbing was 30 slight as to
be almost imperceptible.l "The floors are
well cemented, and have muffied the walls
rs you see, but the engine runs so smoothly
that 1t might almost be set up anywhere. I
run that pump by an electric motor, and
keep the upper stories amply supplied with
water As for heat, / 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 l intend
to supply them with IL shortly"
At the lunch table later in the evening,
Mr.. johnson was asked to prophesy on the
future Of the electric railway. Il don't like
10 prophssy unles, know" he said. "Still
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 matter
of course with the demonstrations that 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 be dispensed with in the commercial
sense Once get the electro o-motive force
under control and absolute safety Is secured.
Each section Of the track can be 50 isolated
that collision will DO impossible To light
the cars from the same source that supple,
their motion is easy. Oh, we are only In til,
infancy Of this scienc.," said the electrician,
as he Lit his cigar by an electric lighter.