Rensselaer Republican, Volume 22, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 December 1889 — THE AMERICAN HOME. [ARTICLE]

THE AMERICAN HOME.

It is a Wonderful Affair, When Contrasted With Foreign Homes. Nothing strikes an observing American upon his first visit to Europe with greater force than the lack of thost conveniences in the dwellings of ever the wealthiest classes which in hit own Country are considered indispensable necessities. We are quick tt seize upon the latest discoveries ii science and the arts which can in anj way render our homes more attracLive, or the cares of housekeeping les. burdensome, while the mare conserva tive Europeans are content to live as their fathers did before them, anc would consider it a sacrilegious ex travagance to tear up the floors oi walls of their dwellings for the pur pose of introducing steam or waler pipes. The climite of England if damp and cold, the almost uni versal way of warming is by open fire places of soft? coal, which usu Jly d a velop much more- smoke thsrn heat Hot air or steam furnaces are practi cally unknown, and the only means o heating railway carriages is by cans o hot water placed upon the floor. Unde' favorable circumstances, these wil sometimes prevent the soles of one’; feet from freezing but their influencr rarely extends. A modern American house, with al the recent improvements, is a mos wonderful affair, and an inspectior while being constructed gives one t good idea oi the extent to which th« arts and sciences are applied to minis ter to our comfort. The space betweei the walls is crowded With tubes anc pipes of every description. Steam gas. hot and cold water are carried t< i all parts of the building, speaking ' tubes and ventilating shafts are con ; nected with every room, while grea I cables of insulated wire as large as i ship’s hawser illustrate the manifolc uses to which electricity may be put Call bells, automatic gas lighting anc incandescent lamps are., only a few o these applications, and the day is no far distant when some simple fqrm o electric motor to run the sewing machine and furnish a supply of powet for many other purposes wilVbe fount in every first-class dwelling. As re gards sanitary and drainage arrange ments, their construction has become a science in itself. Take it altogether the American householder has n< cause to regret his lot A recem writer has said that in some things we are measurably behind the Europeans but in many things we are immeasura bly ahead of them, and in no respect ii this more true than in our domestb arrangements. It may be safely sai< that there is not a royal pal ice in al Great Britain or furope which is at luxurious, or even as comfortable ai the house of the average American o moderate means, and in no country ic the world is the greatest blessing a life —a happy and comfortable home--80 readily within the reach of all—at 1 in our own land.—Popular Scientist News.