Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-02-04
EIES


Schenectady can boast of the
only twentieth century home in
g9sHIfV the state of New York, il not in
V33a&V the United States. The residence
is the home of II. w. Hillman, promi-
nent official in the General Electric COM
pany's mammoth works in that city. and
the modern house in Douglass road Is en-
tirely without a chimney. The only pipe
of any kind through the roof or sides OF
the house is the ventilating pipe from the
bath rooms, compelled by the city ordi-
nance.
When. the residence was erected, only a
short time ago, relates the New York
Herald, Mr.. Hillman insisted that no pro-
vision be made for a chimney, much TO
the architects surprise. This was done,
and Mr.. Hillman now enjoys the distinc-
ton of living in the only chimneyless house
in the city The secret is electricity.
Everything In this twentieth century home
is accomplished by electricity-the cooking,
the laundry work. the lighting and heat
ing and a number of minor things that
continually surprise a visitor.
Electricity is the genius of the house.
the unseen servant who faithfully and
tirelessy does the work, cooks the food,
makes the heat and light.
On a visit to this wonderful residence
the servant answers the ring of the cleo
trio bell and the door mysteriously swings
open as the servant enters the hall. not
withstanding the fact that it was securely
locked but the moment before. AS one
enters the reception room the lights flash
up soft behind the ground glass globes,
having been turned on by the servant from
a concealed switch in the hall. The room
is heated with a large luminous radiator,
which diffuses a soft glow and pleasant
heat from the three radiator lamps, which
are the heating element of the novel
stove There can be no loss of oxygen in
the room with this heating apparatus; nor
is there the slightest odor. Every room in
the house is heated in this strange yet per-
feet manner.
The host appears, and after a few min
utes' chat visitors are invited to the now
city of partaking of an electric prepared
luncheon. The lights flash up in the dining
room, homelike, with its pleasant harmony
OF color, shining silver and white linen.
On the table stand an electric coffee per-
colator, This is an ornamental affair of
copper heavily nickel plated, with a glass
top wherein the coffee is ready to serve.
Two small wires into the base tell the
secret of the heating apparatus. On the
| sideboard a Welsh rareblt is steaming in
an electric chatting dish. OF a truth there
never was a better cup of coffee or a bet
ter tasting rarebit.
After luncheon the guests are cheerfully
| invited TO make an examination of a few
| of the principal wonders of the electric
house.
| OF course the kitchen is the chief place
| Of interest, where a fire is the most essen
| tial thing. Most wonderful is the fact that
the kitchen range is of heavy oak. In de-
| sign II bears a resemblance to the mission
style Of furniture, not unlike a heavy table
with a shelf next to the floor and a high
back. Upon this unique stove steam and
| bubble a number of utensils containing
fragrant and appetizing viands. A water
heater is boiling, vegetables are steamng.
meat Is broiling, other strange dishes arc
steaming and without any apparent fire.
Other utensils, such as the electric griddle
for baking cakes. electric frying pans Of
various sizes, combination electric cereal
cooker, etc. stand about not in use.
Switches at the back of the stove control
the heat. On shelf beneath is the cleo
trio oven, which works perfectly The
| kitchen is heated by electricity.
| The laundry is the next room to be Wis
tied, Here the water is heated by cleo
| tricity and we see the electric fatiron.
which is always an even temperature from
the start to the finish of the work.
| The water for the bath is heated by cleo
tricity Table lamps light the library and
| other rooms; luminous radiators heat the
guest chambers. dozen other wonders
performed by the same mysterious force
surprise us at every corner.
On the way out one stops in the reception
room and lights ones cigar at an electric
! cigar lighter suspended from the ceiling
This cigar lighter must not be confused
with other electric cigar lighters on the
market, as there is no blaze OF any kind
The light I'm this apparatus comes from In
candescent wires embedded in porcelain
and covered with thin sheet Of mica
Only little way from the Hillman resi-
denee is another residence, Of Colonial
architecture, with wide ehimneys 'front.'
Ing every side Of the house-a striking con-
trast with the modern house beside it and