Some firms have now made percolators and water heaters with fuse-nut or safety fuse devices which melt if overloaded or allowed to heat up without any liquid in them to be heated. You must not let a percolator “perc” without any water in it. People complain more about good percolators because their heating element burns out, either because they do this or because they have it connected up with too many other devices. Even if you do the right thing in these respects, don’t forget to disconnect the electricity by pulling out the plug. Don’t get your electricity heating pad wet. In fact, don’t wet any electric appliance carelessly or you may have a short circuit. Remember that electricity, magic as it is, can burn as well as any flame, so don’t let your curtains blow against a red hot electric radiator and then blame it on the electricity which after all is your servant if you make it so by right treatment. Always ask your salesman to what the device purchased should be attached. Some things are designed for the ordinary lamp socket, and others need different connections. Many electric appliances have the pilot light to tell you whether your electric current is on or off. Yet it is wise to be your own pilot and remember what you are doing. Do not leave your electrical installation entirely to your architect. Watch what is happening. Remember you need as many outlets as you possibly can afford; the more you have the better lighting you can have, the better electric comforts you can have. If you have few outlets you are very prone to overload your circuit, and in the future as more electric devices come into being you will have to pass them up. Outlets consume no electricity but are simply entrances where electricity can be located as soon as the appliance is connected up with it and turned on. Above all, have your electric installation put in by the most responsible and experienced people you can get to do it. When you buy appliances always ask what voltage they require and find out what your own voltage is before you buy; also find out whether you have D. C. or A. C., and if A. C. find out what phase and cycle. These things will save you time and money and free you from any apprehension of calamity from the use of electricity. There is much left unsaid in this chapter. It would take a book by itself to say everything. CHAPTER II KEEPING OUT OF HOT WATER There is never any magic about household equipment. You must not expect to do the impossible. If you have a dishwasher you must not expect it to do any more processes of washing than you expect of your player piano of playing. The dishwasher is to wash, the piano to play. Many women have said, “I think a dishwasher is a nuisance, you have to stack your dishes, hand-scrape pots and pans, carry water by the pailful and then have the job of cleaning the dishwasher itself. The only thing it does is to wash off some of the dishes.”