Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-04-28
EOW SCIENCE HAS HELPED
DenvsniOnoeI Of Modern Hems Rsultius
frSm Careful RsssarOb.
blGTEO. COOLED, LIGHTED AND CLEANED
Ha@AAnoEy Does ~ ali ThrOuah Air,
oas aAA Electraotty ana the
DruagSFy T. GOae from
HauasksopinGs


Of the scientist and the mechanic. The
machinery at the command of the modern
housekeeper would be amazing were it less
generally employed. So numerous are the
conveniences introduced into the house by
the modern builder for the comfort Of the
family that the rising generation look upon
them as a matter of course, and even the
housekeeper whose girlhood knew no such
luxuries has come to count them neces-
stiles. And they are necessities 70 the
modern scheme of living.
One by one these conveniences have
been introduced until the modern "model"
house is something remarkable to contem-
plate. In fact, II would be difficult to
imagine how more could be done.
The modern apartment house probably
affords better examples Of luxurious equip
ment for housekeeping than even the most
pretentious homes, although many homes
are beginning to borrow this equipment
where It is practicable. Down in the cell
lar or the subcellar Of many of these mod
ern structures there are groups of ma
ohinery that is never idle, furnishing power
and supplying these innovations in house
keeping. In other houses where the vibra-
ton might prove annoying at night, power
full storage batteries are provided TO silently
carry on the work while people sleep.
New way of Sweeping.
Few now are unfamiliar with that throb-
bing ohurning, noisy machine, as mysterious
as a circus wagon In its exterior and not
greatly unlike it in appearance, that not
long since attracted a crowd OF curious
spectators whenever 1t took UP its position
IN front OF a building or house and ran its
lines OF hose into the doors or windows
Tho "housecleaning machine II came to
be called by small boys and others whose
curiosity impelled investigation. But when
the marvel was reported to the mother and
housewife, In nine cases out OF ten that
patient one cautioned her boy to keep away
from the thing. and perhaps against being
over-credulous and resumed her round Of
sweeping and busting quite resigned to the
inevitable Friday cleaning and those two
weeks of discomfort to the entire family
the annual spring and fall housekeeping.
The office building was the first to employ
this substitute for the broom and buster
and carpet heater, and 1t is an amazing fact
that II had been successfully employed
there for several season before there was
any considerable demand for 1t in private
houses. Today It is so generally used that
the car is engaged weeks ahead, while the
majority of the more pretentiOus of the
modern homes are equipped with vacuum
cleaning apparatus. Such a plant is as
much a part Of the equipment of the new
Dfflce building and apartment houses as the
heating plant or the Illuminating system
The building is piped as for water OF gas
and in each room there is a stop to which
a flexible hose may be attached, long
enough to reach TO the furthermost corner
of the room. The vacuum is controlled by
splgot, and It is only necessary to pass the
tafp fnPn
or about the bric-a-brac and every particle
of dust is drawn up into the hose. carried
} Int the pipe and down to the cellar, where
It may be shoveled up and taken away.
Several Omaha homes are so equipped.
The cleaning OF the air is another luxury
not uncommon in many of the larger east
ern hotels and apartment houses. All the
air circulated through these buildings is
first passed through machine that cleanses
1t Of all dust and impurities.
Keeping n House Cool.
The house refrigerating system is an
other Of the modern marvels that while not
generally used promises to become popular
This, too, originated in the apartment
house, where tall buildings frequently in
terfere with the circulation of air or the
breeze, and it is perhaps most practicable
there. The house is plped much as the
cold storage houses are, though not so
extensively. The coils are arranged in
side the wall up next the ceiling and are
protected in a way that insures against
damage TO the walls. The cooling fluid
is forced through the pipes. cooling the
walls and so lowering the temperature
of the room as desired, this being regu-
lated by a stop that may be turned on
or of just as heat is regulated. The same
III.
the nuisance incidental to the delivery of
ice and insuring an even temperature
quite Independent of outside conditions or
hindrances.
Electricity in the Home.
Nothing has prohted more by the intro
duction of electricity than the modern
home. The electric light is one OF the
continued delights of the housekeeper and
Tor her convenience 1t has been put into
every nook and corner until there Is no
longer need of single dark place in the
house. The electrolier as means of il
Elimination Is scarcely less a 10Y as a
decorative feature. The drop light or read
ing lamp is no less an ornament while
the swinging bulb may be carried about
in any part OF room or into the depths
of the blacklist closet without danger, and
anchored TO hook or a nail while neces-
sary In some OF the newer houses the
closets are equipped with electric lights
which turn on or on automatically as
the door opens or closes. Sockets are also
provided In shadowy places In the cellar
or attic 70 which bulb on a long wire
may be attached when desirable.
For cooking purposes electricity and
gas are quite as practical as for illuminate
Ing. In the modern kitchen the coal range
Is becoming more and more a stranger
and In Its place, the clean, quick and
quite as economical gas or electric range
has come. Even the warming oven has
been perfected to the point where the
top OF the old stove is no longer missed
The possibility OF interruption In the cleo
trio current prejudiees many in favor Of
gas for all purposes, and except for the
danger Of fire from contact with the fame
It is as convenient as electricity. A cold
room is no longer excusable in any house
piped for gas. for the little gas heater
can quickly overcome this dificulty.
Phones in the House.
The convenience and the value Of the tel
sphone can only be estimated by those
comparatively few occasions when this