The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1886-07-02
IN DAILY USE.
A NEW Workers. HOUSE FULL OF
ELECTRICITY.
4 Paradise of Dainty Dcvices-Spectacle
Of the Burning Bush "A Landseer By
Electrical Light-Prophecy
OF the Future
rNeT York Tribune.I

New York Tribune.
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
yited guests at the house Of E. n. johnson,
the other evening, he might have been as
astounded as Macaulay's New Zealander in
the streets Of modern London. Mr.. johnson
is q practical enthusiast. Zeal and knowl-
edge go not tandem with him, but as q
team Others have lighted their houses with
electricity, but he has turned his into a Pan
dora's box, "a Paradise Of dainty devices
A Christmas tree stood on his second floor.
It's top nearly touched the ceiling and its
roots were set in hollow pedestal. The
tree was hung with tinsel, toys and candies
If the candles on it had been lighted and it
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 a
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 show window" some one
said. "Why nOtP 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 a mellow light. Il call that my
Sellers fire." said Mr.. johnson. "YOu see
l have concealed a few electric lamps there
in pine shavings 1 intend to put them
inside of camel coal covered with isinglass,
to make the effect more realistic. We don't
need q fire as we use the exhaust steam
that runs my machine to heat the house.
at is the spectacle of the burning bush
over again. remarked a well-re1d observer.
"But more easily exiting uished," and the
host pressed concealed button, and the
light dis appeared.
On the parlor floor he showed various con
trivances, as useful as they were ingenious,
for lowering the lights at viii singly or in
groups. "All the wires on this floor run back
to those safety catches in the window seat,
added Mr.. johnson. II have thus provided
against the possibility of being left in
darkness by making each series of lamps on
81 want TO show my Landseer by the cleo
trio light" he continued. The nearest lamp
was unscrewed from its socked and suspended
by wire inside of tall porcelain vase.
The current being applied 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 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 Cnraptured by it. Billiard-players
are equally pleased with the lighting of my
table," he continued, leading the way to the
billiard-goom In tho basement "These two
lamps are adjusted and the light is so re-
hected from the ceiling that defy you to
find 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 so slight as to
be almost imperceptible.l "The floors are
well cemented, and have muffled the walls
as you see, but the engine runs so smoothly
that 1t might almost be set up anywhere. /
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 1 intend
to supply them with it shortly"
At the lunch table later in the evening,
MIR. johnson was asked to prophesy on the
future of the electric railway. 81 don't like
to prophesy unless / 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 las been
worked out, except in details. To furnish
the power in sufficient quantities is a 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-motive force
under control and absolute safety is secured.
Each section of the track can be SO isolated
that collision will be impossible To light
the cars from the same source that supplies
their motion is easy. Oh, we are only in the
infancy of this SCIENCE" said the electrici"
as he lit his cigar by an electric lighter.