The Washington herald., 1908-01-26
The FRENCH ELECTRIC VILLA
House at TToyes, Wherein Electric
ity Performs Household Duties.
Push Button Rings He'll and Lights
Way-shOes Cleaned as One
steps Inside Door.

The wonderful electric house. ths
Villa Feria Electra, which has been
built by NJ Georgia KHap at Troyes,
France. clearly defines the part which
electricity is destined 10 play in the
home of the future II not an exact type
Of what most houses viii be in fifty or q
hundred years time. IT AT any rate SHOWS
progress. says "Electro-Notes"
From the exterior there is nothing IN
usual about the house. unless It is the
total absence Of d chimney. The gates
cannot be opened from the outside, but
as soon as the electric bell IS touched
the portal swings slowly open and mys-
teTiOus voice, which seems q Amanats
from q small iron box near the gate, bids
you enter. Stranger than anything else,
the voice has apparently recognized you
and calls you by name If YOU are a friend
Of the family. If visitor arrives after
dark the same push button that rings the
bell VIII light up tse way. The gate
swings in place as soon as you start
toward the house. ~ Knap. apprised
electrically OF your coming. VIII be found
in the vestibule awaiting you.
With the first step Inside the house a
small device automatically cleans the
soles Of the visitors shoes.
Although tie house is museum Of
electrical inventions and ConvenienCes.
the lining table is the greatest wonder
No servants wait upon the diners At the
touch Of a hidden switch the table IL
flooded iu many colored lights, Besides
each plate Is a little glass and metal
cylinder. which becomes small electric
radiators at the touch of button. Foot
warmers are also located under the tabls
opposite each chair
At the head of the table is a circular
desk. its center traVersed by a curious
metal strip. with a groove like a miniature
tramway At the touch of a button the
disk in front Of NJ Knap disappears as il
by magic, and in its place appears a
steaming tureen Of soup. which rapidly
travels 20 the seat occupied by Nine.
Knap. while the sections close quickly
and noiselessiy If the ladle happens to
be rather awkwaTdly placed the tureeR
swings around and places the spoon al
most in her hand. All this is done by
the press Of a finger on two buttons un-
der the husbands control.
After waiting for Nine Knap to taks
what soup she wants the tureen passes
of its own accord around the groove in
the table in front Of each guest until all
have been served. After il has completed
the journey it disappears as magicaIly as
it came. In a few minutes a receptacIs
for dirty dishes appears and waits
patiently for its load. There is no rattle
of crockery. no danger from careless SER
wants. no noise and 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 a cool, sweet scented
breeze fans the guests The air is scented
and cooled by passing over perfumed
water.
After the dinner the visitors are in
vited TO inspect the wonderful house.
The first place visited is always ths
kitchen. Here everything is done by
electricity FIXED 10 the walls are
switches, meters. &c. for controlling the
apparatus The electric heat is applied
direct, and it only takes few minutes
to prepare the food. The dishes are all
Of aluminium easy 10 clean. and each
designed especially for its work On the
kitchen table are a number Of electrical
utensils including a mincing machine.
a miniature churn for producing fresh
butter. a coffee grinder, buffer and
polisher, and even an electric dish
washer. There was also shown ths
motor-driven apparatus which waited on
the table so nicely.
In the laundry the clothing is washed.
dried and iroEed by electricity The guest
chambers are heated and lighted and
ventilated by the current Electric bells,
telephones, and eigar-lighters abound. Il
Il
wants IN the basement of visitor at the
front gate. BY a series of mirrors. ths
owner of the house can see his guest
standing in the street. With the tele-
phonic apparatus he can talk with him
fron the den, and at the press of a
finger the gates swing open or shut