Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1892-12-02
ELECTRIC YELTIES
DEVICES THAT ARE PUT INTO
NEW YORK HOUSES.
Kitchen Work Done by Them-One
Which Lights the Railways
When the Front Door
is Opened.

cream IS lIOIeh anu COhSO BiVu"N ~
electricity. Electrical meat choppers
are in use, and there is an electrical
griddle for cooking cakes. In the
electrical teapot, which is gaining popu-
larity, the heat is sent through the wire
in the enamel on the bottom of the
vessel. Electrical curling irons for the
hair, which are also ornaments for the
bureau, and electrical stoves, whose cur
rent may be turned on in the morning
before dressing aud will quickly heat a
a room, are used in many houses.
The tendency nowadays among the
builders of the finer class Of houses is to
do away with plain fixtures and chande-
liers where electric illuminations are
concerned, as they take up considerable
space aud an even distribution of light
is not obtained therefron.
Wherever houses are being redecorated
in the city the electric lamps are now
put at the intersection Of the panels, or
10 the centre of the panels, placing the
lamps in the ceiling aud covering them
with fancy glass shades.
Many night circuits are put in private
houses for the use of the sick and in
case of fire. The switch is at the head
OF the bed, and is independent OF the
ordinary lighting system iu use ia the
house.
An electrical device that has its at
fractions works when the front door IS
opened at night. a. once the Railways
of the house are lighted, aud continue
lit when the front door is closed. The
light may be shut of later i;om the bed
room.
Elevators are ruu by electricity in
private houses, heat is regulated auto
matically, and electric foot warmers are
preferred to the hot bricks OF o!den
time.
For the sumner months brackets are
arranged on the heads of bedsteads in
which the fans connected with electric
motors keep the sultry air in a pleasant
condition OF agitation.
Electric motors arc also used in many
fashionable houses OF the city in the
winter for forcing ait over a coil OF hot
steam pipes and up through the aue'.
In the summer the air is forced over ice,
and thence up through the Aue3 to dit-
ferent parts Of the house.
The most interesting house, 10 an
electrical way, is undoubtedly that OF
Edward II. Johnson, West Fifty sixth
street. By pressing a push button in
the name plate near the doorway after
ringing, the vestibule is lit up, also the
main hall, each stair landing and the
owners bedroom. This night service
has no connection with the regular SER
vice in other parts Of the house.
In the ballroom on the ground aOor
the decorations are in the Moorish style,
the brackets, swinging lamps and Ian
tiers are perfectly harmonious, and sew
eral of the lights are set within panels
in the ceiling. There is a charming
music aIcove hidden, the pocket OF
which is within the woodwork Of col
umn, and is practically invisible when
the door is closed. Among the remark
able features Of electric lig ting in the
ballroom is fine painting on porcelain
Of "Electricity." In the center female
6gure is holding aloft the incandescent
light, and from clouds On each side oil
her two cuDids are curyiug on long
distance telephone talk. Ia the box in
which the picture is set are inclosed a
number Of small incandescents. Wnen
these are switched on they display the
painsings to excellent advantage, aud
also diffuse a soft light throughout the
room. In the billiard room four
pieces of brass covered tubing on
the ceiling emerge radically from a
central junction-box. There is a hex-
ible cord holding lamp with a plain
porcelain shade at the bent outer end OF
each piece of tubing. There is an elec-
trio elevator in the house which serves
not only for carrying passengers, but
also all supplies to the kitchen, which
is at the top Of the house. There isn't
a bracket or fixture of any sort in the
drawing-room, but it is completely
lighted. The frost lamps are set in the
ceiling panels in fue tulip cups, and
the decorations are white aud gold.
Moreover, each of the ornamental lamps
in the room has not only light under
its canopy, but also one iu the body OF
the hand painted vase. Consequently,
the whole lamp is luminous and the
effect Of the mellow radiance is delight.
fully enhanced by mirrors. Every wire
is in an insulated tube, aud may be
drawn in OF replaced when desired
without disturbing anything on the floor
or walls. A wire may be run up
under a table at the side or through
a central leg and then put through
a small hole in onyx, wood or marble
to the lamp, and it can be taken of
whenever it Is necessary without any in
convenience. An interesting feature OF
the library is disclosed BY pressing but.