The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1912-09-26
HOUSEHOLD ELECTRIC DEVICES
NO LONGER CLASSEO AS
LUXURIES

II is characteristic OF American PEG.
pie to class everything new as a lux.
any. regardless Of lis economic values
This was strihing,y true when the
first electric heating and cooking de
vices were offered 10 the public. They
only smiled when The enthusiastic in
ventors told of the co~ntriyarce. econ
omy and safety OF the electrical de-
yices-and bought them for wedding
presents, Christmas gifts and gradua-
ton rememorances, just as they would
purchase a diamond ring or a string Of
pearls.
1t takes time 70 educate people to
the true values Of anything new. The
old way is always the best-until time
has proven 70 the contrary. Some
years ago the first electric fatiron was
offered TO the public and the house
wives refused TO buy It, preferring to
stand sweltering over a hot stove,
running back and forth after hot irons
and burning up expensive coal and gas.
They would not believe hat the iron
was very cheap, that it cost less to
operate and that the ironing could be
done quicker and better by electricity.
Today the electric iron is a household
necessity and they are sold by the hun
dreds Of thousands every year. This
is also true Of the electric toaster, the
electric percolator, the chatting dish
and everything else electrical from
the mOtor-driven ice cream freezer to
the electric fan.
The first cost OF an electric fatiron
is but a little more than for a set of
six old fashioned irons. The electric
iron is fully guaranteed and will last
& life time. For five cents an hour it
will DO the family ironing and it is
always hot and always ready for work.
The electric iron is a necessity now.
a few years ago when the electrical
engineers began 10 talk about electric
cooking the skeptical public answered
that it was too costly-it was a lux.
ury suitable only for the rich. In vain
did the salesman talk Of the great
of cooking, of having the |
electric range ready at the pressure |
OF a finger, of cooking without wasting
haot without ochnc cnAt - o.r-:z-I
OF the great safety of electricity
the public would not believ-.
Today electric cooking is common
enough. Time has proven that the
new way is the best. 1t is a fact that,
when the first kitchen ranges were
made, housewives laughed end stuck
to the fireplace and the Dutch oven
They argued that the way of their
grandmothers was best and cheapest.
But a few years served to convince
them that the kitchen range was a
hundred times better than the open
and brick ven 1t was quicker
and more economical. The gas stove
had to pass through this same stage
Of evolution and now the electro range
is coming into its own
Housewives are convinced it is bet
ter to have the fire ready at the touch
Of a finger, hat it is cleaner to cook
without fuel, without dirt and ashes.
on open flame. They are
adopting modern methods in the
kitchen, saving time. steps and money.
An electric range costs about the
same as a good coal range and it costs
40 more to operate them when the
question OF dirt and convenience is
considered.
Twenty years ago electric lights
were installed only in the homes of
he well-to-do. now there is no cot TOO
humble TO be lighted by electricity.
We all know that it gives 4
better light, that it really costs no
more, that 1t is more healthful and
'astly more convenient.