Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-02-20
THE FRENCH ELECTRIC VILLA.
Wonderful House at Troyes, France,
Wherein Electricity Performs House
hold Duties.

.... hold Duties. .t.
The wonderful selectric house, tho
Villa Feria Electra, which has been
built by NJ. Georgia KNAPP at Troyes,
France, clearly defines the part which
electricity is destined to play in the
horne of the future Ii not an exact
type Of what most houses will be in
fifty or hundred years time, it at any
rate shows progress, says Electro
Notes.
from the exterior there Is nothing
unusual about the house. unless 1t is
the total absence Of q chimney The
gates cannot be opened from the out
side. but as soon as the electric bell is
touched, the portal swings slowly open
and a mysterious voice, which seems to
emanate from Il small iron box near
the gate bids you enter. Stranger than
anything elst, the voice has apparently
recognized you and calls you by name.
If you are friend Of the family, rs
visitor arrives. after dark the, sa{no
push button that rings the bell ;Will
light up the way. The gate swings in
place as soon as you start toward Che
house NJ. KNAPP, apprised electrically
of your coming, will be found intfhc
vestibule awaiting you. "a
With the first step inside the house
a small device automatically cleans
the soleS ofIhe visitors shoeS- -r-
Although the house is a museum Of
electrical inventions and convenienceS,
the dining table is the greatest NQpder.
No servants wait upon the, diners At
the touch of the hidden switch. the
table is flooded in many colored lights.
Beside each plate is a little giass and
metal cylinder, which becomes 'snBall
electric radiators At the touch 1i a but
ton FootwnrmerS are also locAted
under the table opposite each chair.
At the head of the table is circular
desk, its center traversed by curious
metal strip. with a grove like q ninia-
turc tramway. At the touch OF but
ton tire desk in front Of NJ. KNAPP dis
appears rs il bv magic and in its place
appears 4 Stcaming tureen Of soup,
which rapidly travels to the seat oc-
cuyiyf1 by Nine. Knapp. while the sec
tons lose quickly and noiselessly. If
tho ladle happens TO be rather awk-
wardly placed the tureen swings
around and places the spoon almost in
her hand. All this Is done by the press
Of a finger on two buttons under, the
husbands control.
After aiting for Nine. KNAPP 10 TAX"
what soup she wants the tureen passes
OF It's own accord around the groove in
the table in front of each guest Until
all have. been served After it has
| completed the journey it disappears as
masica!ly as il came. In a. few min
! utes a receptacle for dirty dishes arp
! rears and waits patiently for its load
| There is no rattle Of crockery. no dan
! ger from careless servants. no noise
! and no confusion Of walters. In this
! wonderful way all the food, from the
| delicious julienne to the coffee and
! cigars. is served. If the room becomes
! slightly overheated the inventor presses
another button and 4 cool. sweet
| scented breeze fans the guests. The
| air is scented and cooled by passing
| over perfumed water.
| After dinner the guests are invited
to inspect the wonderful house. The
first place visited is always the kitch-
en-. Here everything is done by cleo
tricity. Fixed to the walls are
switches. meters, etc, for controlling
the apparatus. The electric heat Is
! applied direct and it only takes few
minutes to prepare the food. Tho
dishes are all OF aluminium, easy to
clean. and each designed especially
for its work. On the kitchen table are
| number of electrical utensils. in
Guiding a mincing machine. q minia-
ture churn for producing fresh butter,
| coffee grinder, a buffer and polisher
and even an electric dish washer
There was also shown the motor-drfv-
en- apparatus which waited on the
| table so nicely.
In the laundry the clothing is
washed, dried and ironed by electricity
| The guest chambers are heated ami
| lighted and ventilated by the current.
Electric bells. telephones and cigar
| lighters abounded. A simple electrical
| device notifies the servants in the
| basement Of visitor at the front gate.
| Ey a series Of mirrors the owner IF
the house can see its guest standing
| i'll the street. With the telephoric
apparatus he can talk with him from
the .ie: and at the press OF & finger ne
gates swing open or out.
| =