New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-02-23
HOUSE WILL SHED WORK
Arnold Bennett Having a Model
Labor Saving Place Built.
LIKE HOME IN THE CARD"
Architect Instructed to Realize
nti-Servant Devices De-
scribed in Authors Novel
From nc TrIbune.. correspondenll

(From The Tribuue's Correspondent
London. Feb. 15.-Arnoid Bennett has
grown tired of Paris and will soon return
To England 10 live in house az Thorpe.
near Colchester. which Will as nearly As
possible, realize the labor saving devices
described in his novel The card.
The hero of The card il a self-mads
man. who cannot help feeling ashamed of
the humble cottage in which his mother
insists on remaining, refusing TO move
into larger house because she could not
bear to have servants about her. so
ne uses his ingenuity and builds
house go cleverly fashioned that the work
of Keeping II clean can be done In quar-
ter of the usual time, and then by STRAIT
egy makes his old mother move into II.
Mr.. Benefits architect, ever since re-
ceiving the commission 10 remodel the
house at Thorpe. has been busily reading
The Card" especially the passages
which describe how Denry. the hero.
shows old Mrs. Machin. his mother. over
;; what is TO he her new house:
That is a funny doorstep" she 70
marked 10 kill time.
IT'S OF marble" said DERRY.
What's that for?" asked his mother.
80 much easier TO keep Clean" said
Denny.
We'll" said Mrs. Machin, ITS pretty
dirty now, anyway"
Quite Simple to Clean.
quite simple to clean,' said Denry.
bending down. You just turn this tap
at the side. You see, It's so arranged
that 1t sends Il fiat jet along the step.
! Stand off a second"
He turned the tap. and the step vas
washed pure in a moment.
How Is II that that water steamer
Mrs. Machin demanded.
Because It's hot" said Denry. did
you ever know water steam for any other
reason"
Hot water, outsider"
Just as easy to have hot water out
side as inside. isn't TT" asked Denry.
We'll. / never" exclaimed Mrs Machin.
But this automatic step cleaner was
only the beginning. Everything was ar
ranged so that you could clean II easily.
In the kitchen the electric light blaZed
upon walls tiled in gray and floor tiled
in black and white. There was gas
taps The woodwork was dark Earthen-
ware saucepans stood on a shelf. The
cupboarIs were full OF gear. chiefly in
earthenware.
Denny began TO exhibit to his mother a
, tank provided with lodges and shelves
and grooves, In which h. said that
everything except knives could be- washed
and dried automatically.
Old Mrs Machin had never seen any
thing like IL in her life.
| He led her into the hall. which was
radiantly lighted.
ms quite warm here" said Mrs.
Machin.
The whole house is heated BY steam.
said Denny. mo fireplaces."
NO hreplaces." '--
mo. no fireplaces. No CRATES to polish.
ashes to carry down. Goals TO carry up.
mantlepieces to dust. fire irons 10 clean,
| Tenders To clean or chimneys TO sweep"
Gas for Emergencies.
And suppose you want a bit OF fire all
OF a sudden in summer
Gas stove in every room for emergen-
! cies" said Denny
And IN every room and on every land
ing was something intended To save laoor.
! In each bedroom two aluminium taps
poured hot and cold water respectively
into a marble basin. and below the mar
bic basin was a sink. No porterage or
water anywhere In the house.
The bedsteads were Of black enamelled
iron and very light. The floors were COW
cred with linoleum. with few rugs that
could be- shaken with one hand. The
walls were painted gray enamel. s.,.
There were no sharp corners anywhere.
! Every corner. every angle between wall
and floor and wall and wall was rounded
to facilitate cleaning. And every wall,
floor, ceiling and fixture could be washed,
and all the furniture was enamelled and
could be wiped with a cloth In moment,
instead OF having 10 be polished with
three cloths and many odors In day
and a half.
And then came the woman's comment
why" she said II could run this
house without a servant and have mysels
tidy by 10 o'clock I'm the morning"
Mr.. Bennett does not intend to DO his
own homework at Thorpe. His aim 10 to
save needless labor by his servants.