Year: 1859

BY HENRY WARD BEkCHBR.


The following capital article by Henry Ward
Beecher. on "Modern Conveniences and First
Glass Houses" we take the liberty of transfer
ring from the Independent for the benefit OF such
of our readers as do not see that paper:


There are many persons who suppose that
neople who live in tirst-class houses, with all
modern improvements, must of course be puff
ed M. and that they become quite grand in their
own ewes tbs true, sometimes, that fine houses
have proud people in them. But we suspect the
same of yery poor tenements. We can imagine
a pride so reluctant of discipline, and so ndoce,
as to survive in spite of the experience OF first
class house.


When we moved into capacious brown-stone
dwelling. our better nature, with great simplic
ty. whispered, Beware of temptation" And
with an ignorance quite as simple, we supposed
that the thieves of grace would be found lurking
in large rooms, at ambush behind cornices re-
produced from old Rome, or in stately appear
anoes How little did we suspect that these
were harmless, and that very different elements
we're to moth our patience.


But let little preliminary exultation OF new
man in new place be forgiven, ye who are now
established Remember your own household
fervor on first setting up, while we recount our
economic joys, and anticipations OF modern con-
yeniences that would take away all human care
and speed life upon down-hil path, where il
was to be easier to move than to stand still !
EVERYTHING was admirable The attic had
within it a tank SO large as better to be called
reservoir. Down from it ran the serviceable
pipes to every part of the dwelling. Each chain
ber had its invisible water maid in the wall
ready to spring the floods upon You by the mere
turn of your hand then the bathroom, with
tub. douche, shower, and indeed various and u
niyersal squirt-up, down, and promiscuous.-
The kitchen, too-the tubs with water waiting
TO leap into them, the long cylinder by the side
of the fire, as if the range had its baby wrapped
up. and set perpendicular in the corner to nurse
But, greatest of all admirstions was the furnace
This. too, was interfrsmed with the attic tank
For il was hot water furnace. For time
this was our peculiar pride. The water flowed
down into system of coiled tubes, which were
connected with the boiler surrounding the fur
mace fire. The idea was, when the water go
as hot as it could we'll bear, that it should frlsR
ont OF one end of the boiler into the pipes, anC
round through the whole system, and come
back into the other end cooled of, Thus com
plete arterial system was established-the boiler
being the heart, the water the blood, the pipes
at the hot end the arteries, and the return plpe
at the cool end the veins-the whole inclosed II
brick chamber, from which the air warmed by
this liquid heat was given OFT to the dwelling
1t was a day of great glory when we thought tn
chill in the air required lre In the furnace
The fact was that we wanted to play with ou
net. and were half vexed with the old conserva
tive thermometer, that would not come doWl
and admit that it was cold enough for fire.
| IL ftor r1s 4,
have been so eager.


| In the first place, we never could raise enougl
heat to change the air in the house more thai
from cold to chill. We piled in the coal, ant
watched the thermometer; ran down for coal
| gain, and ran back to watch the thermometer
We brought home coal, exchanged glances owe
the bill with the consulting partner, and mad
silent estimates of the expenses OF the who'll
Winter, if this was but the beginning. Blu
there was the old red dragon in the cellar de-
vouring coal remorselessly, with his long iro
tail, folded and coiled, in the furnace chamber
without heat. Thus for series OF weeks, w
fired off the furnace in the cellar at the ther
mometer in the parlor, and never hit But W
did accomplish otLer things Once the fire wa
driven so hard that steam began to form an


rumble and blow off, very innocently; but tn
girls did not know that, and took to their heel
for fear of being blown up. When the caus
was discovered the remedy was not easy, for tn
furnace bottom was immoyeable and tre coul
not be let down. But one JOAN OF AFRO assaile
the enemy in his own camp, and threw buck
ct of water into the fire. This produced severa
effects; it put out the fire, it also pnt out s.
much gas, steam and ashes that the maiden wa
quite put out also. And more than all, it crack
ed the boiler. But this we did not know til
some time afterwards. There were few day
of comparative rest. The weather was mild on
of doors, and cold within. 1t was soon reporte'
that one of the pipes was stopped up in tn
chamber, for the water would not flow. Tn
plumber was sent for. He was already well &C
ouainted with the way to the house. He brougb
upon hiuself laugh of ridicule by suggesting
that the water had given out in the tank! Wa
ter given out2 We turned inwardly pale behin'
tue outward red Of laughing. We thought w
had pocket-ocean up stairs. up we marched
climbed up the sides, peered down to the dirt.
bottom of au emptied tank Alas, the who'll
house was symmetrcAlly connected. Every
thing depended upon this tank; the furnace il
the cellar, the range in the kitchen, the laundr,
department, all the washing apparatus of tn,
the chambers, the convenient china closet sink
where things were to be washed without golnt
down stairs, the entry closets, and almost every
thing else, except the door-bell, were made t
90 by water, and now the universal motive pow
er was gone! A new system of convenience
was now developed. We stationed an Irish en-
gine at the force pump to throw up water int
] the tank from the street cistern. Blessings bt