Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1890-04-16
The American Home.

Nothing strikes an observing American
upon his first visit TO Europe with greater
force than the lack of those comforts and
conveniences in the dwellings OF even the
wealthiest classes which in his own coun-
try are considered indispensable necesii-
ties. We are quick 10 seize upon the
latest discoveries in science aud the arts
which can in any way render our homes
more attractive or the cares of house
keeping less burdensome, while the more
conservative Europeans are content To
live as their fathers did before them, and
would consider it Sacrilegious extrava-
gance to tear UP the floors or walls of
their dwellings for the purpose of intro
ducing steam or water pipes The eli
mate of England is damp and cold, but
the almost universal way of warming Is
by open fre-places of soft coal, which
usually develop much more smoke than
heat. Hot-air or steam furnaces are
practically unknown, and the only means
of heating railway carriages Is by cans OF
hot water placed upon the floor Under
favorable circumstances, these will some
times prevent the soles of ones feet from
freezing, but their influence rarely ex-
tends any further. Only the very wealth
lest persons abroad allow themselve, the
luxury of a private bath room, and the
idea of set bowl with hot and cold water
aucets in a sleeping chamber is n refine
ment of effeminacy and extravaganza at
which even monarch would hesitate.
The houses Of London are provided with
a tank, into which the water Is allowed
TO flow for a certain length of time every
day, after which it is turned off, and
there is no more 20 be had until the visit
of the water company's official the next
day. The bedroom candle, 10 which
such constant allusion is made in foreign
novels, is no figure of speech, but avery
disagreeable reality, for gas is rarely or
never introduced into sleeping-rooms.
A modern American house, with all the
recent Improvements, Is a most wonder
full affair, and an inspection while being
constructed gives one good idea OF the
extent to which the arts and sciences are
applied to minister to our comfort. Tho
space between the walls is crowded with
tubes and pipes of every description.
5 cam. gas, hot and cold water are car
ried to all parts of the building, speaking
tubes and ventilating- are con-
nected with every room, while great
cables of insulated wire as large as
ships hawser illustrate the manifold uses
to which electricity may be put Call
bells, automatic gas-lighting, AMI in
candescent lamps are only a few Of these
applications. and the day is not far dis
tant when some simple form of electric
motor TO run the sewing machine and
furnish a supply of power for many other
purposes will be found in every first
class dwelling rs regards sanitary and
drainage arrangements. their construc-
ton ha becomea science in itself Take
it altogether, the American householder
has no cause to regret his lot. A recent
writer has said that in some things we
are immeasurably ahead Of them, and
in no respect is this more true than in
our domestic arrangements. II may be
safely said that there is not royal palace
in all Great Britain or Europe which IS
rs luxurious, or even comfortable as the
house of the average American Of moder-
ate means, and in 10 country in the world
is the greatest blessing of life-a happy
and comfortable home-so readily within
ihe reach of all rs in our own land.