Inventions; Science; Technology -- Social aspects; Technology and civilization
Before the visitor to such a house reaches the gate or front door his
approach is made known by an annunciator in the hall, which is connected
with a hidden plate in the entrance path, which when pressed by the
feet of the visitor charges the wire of the annunciator. A voice comes
through the horn of a phonograph asking him what he wishes and telling
him to reply through the telephone which hangs at the side of the door.
When he has made his wants known, if he is welcome or desired, there
is a click and the door opens. As he enters an electrically operated
door mat cleans his shoes and if he is aware of the equipments of the
house, he can have his clothes brushed by an automatic brush attached
to the hat-rack in the hall. An escalator or endless stairway brings
him to the first floor where he is met by the host who conducts him
to the den sacred to himself. If he wishes a preprandial cigar, the
host touches a segment of the wall, apparently no different in
appearance from the surrounding surface, and a complete cigar outfit
shoots out to within reach of the guest. When the gong announces dinner
he is conducted to the dining hall where probably the uses to which
electricity can be put are better exemplified than in any other part
of the house. Between this room and the kitchen there is a perfect
electric understanding. The apartments are so arranged that electric
dumbwaiter service is operated between the centre of the dining table
itself and the serving table in the kitchen. The latter is equipped
with an electric range provided with electrically heated ovens,
broilers, vegetable cookers, saucepans, dishes, etc., sufficient for
the preparation of the most elaborate house banquet. The chef or cook
in charge of the kitchen prepares each dish in its proper oven and has
it ready waiting on the electric elevator at the appointed time when
the host and his guest or guests, or family, as the case may be, are
seated at the dining table. The host or whoever presides at the head
of the table merely touches a button concealed on the side of the
mahogany and the elevator instantly appears through a trap-door in
the table, which is ordinarily closed by two silver covers which look
like a tray. In this way the dish seemingly miraculously appears right
on top of the table. When each guest is served it returns to the kitchen
by the way it came and a second course is brought on the table in a
similar manner and so on until the dinner is fully served. Fruits and
flowers tastefully arranged adorn the centre of the dining table and
minute electric incandescent lamps of various colors are concealed in
the roses and petals and these give a very pretty effect, especially
at night.
Beneath the table nothing is to be seen but two nickel-plated bars
which serve to guide the elevators.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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