AN ELECTRIC VILLA.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 66, 11 December 1907, Page 3

AN ELECTRIC VILLA.

Accustomcd as we, are to tales of wonderful scientific achievement it is still often hard to credit a great deal that is gravely told, and an Arabian Nights sort of story that comes from America sounds too marvellous to bo tme. It is the story of tho guest who arrives at a strange mansion, where he is served by invisible servitors with a magnificent repast, lighted'by them to his room, and put to bed by an army valets, a story'familiar in fairy-talos sinco the days of Cupid and Psyche. Tho iew scene for the story is in America, and tlio experiences of the guest, as related by Mr. Fred Lees in the Now York "Architectural Record" do not go beyond thfc dining-room, but as far as they go they are moro lvonde;ful ; than tho Arabian Nights,' bccause they seem to bo truo.

Tho Villa Feria Electra is the name of this fairy .house, which Mr. Leos visited first in the evening. Ho rang, and suddenly, a shaft of light' was projected through tho opening full on his faco. It continued to follow ~.him. At tho same time tho alloy was lit up and a clear sonorous voice said, "I see you now 1 .- , Allo.w mo to open tho gjtes for you."' Something moved'underneath his feet on entering tns, house. Tho soles of his feet were being automatically cleaned of mud by . an electric door-mat sot in'motion by the opening of the door. ' Tho dinner table was no ordinary one. Between the central epergne and the guests was an elliptical' band of metal, in which was a deep groove, like a miniaturo railway line. ,'At one end was a circular disc likewiso traversed by the groove and opposite each guest was a glass and metal On tho host's right hand were a number of black; and. white electric buttons—servants who waited upon the party. Turn a switch and the tablo .was flooded with multioooured light, while the. glass aiid metal oylinders in front of each person..-became incandescent., Thp. cylinders were electric radiators capablo. of _ increasing tho ...warmth, of the room in a few minutes. . There' wero! also electric footwarmers, . which were set to work with a touch of the foot. At the beginning of tho meal a disc opposite the host opened .and a tureen of soup appeared through- the opening, and . travelled .to the seat occupied by a lady. Tho ladlo happened to bo rather aiykwardlv placed, ; and she was a,bout to reach it, when the tureen swung round and placed the ladlo almpst in her hand. When \she had taken' what soup she wanted, the tureeiApassed on. >her . i tll " ers > made a second circuit before it disappeared. All the guests whiVt, 8 L ' P a< i e u ® P ,atcs a-receptacle which succeeded the tureen. The room got rather warm, ami when it reached a tem°n d^ re6S , !t was ' ventilated automatically, and a g<jntlo breeze scented bv The kitehen with • numerous switchboards „-/™ d Crf » L The ccok ™S "tensils were of aluminium, and an apparatus the cookmc so that everything was done lo the oWtlr °° ok . sets needle and putsl the electnc motor m motion. At the time teHin^iJ i +w ot + °u Stolls ' ancl a be " ri;, g s cftv is «H tho "i°. rk Is done- Electriht ,m lit? for ,?r ryt '" ng ' cveu f or washing up .dishes, fifty pi CCO s of which tho dried!" 0 - 4° ?S - -t" 3 -° SECOIIds (cashed and rimrinir -VrK" announced by tho bell arid afk, Jbn goes ; t( ? tho telephone a ra,,rtLn -f thcre ' a " f ™ effective arrangement of mirrors called a neriscono gets a clear image of who is there. There is no need to fear fire, for when the temp°ra-. bllfs in S th ß bn 3 ce l ta, - n P° int a 'l Dens in the house are set ringing. Another house Mr. Knap has designed has Btill further advantages. It hasi double" walls wi7it^ P le J l ? u f co °l lll summer and warm iu winter and between them, all the Dines conduits, and wires, etc., nece-3«r" fZ P tt' PKH? by the - n,Cre tou ei»ng of" buUoi? Part of tho space is utilised for a tuhnlnr „i«'