LIBRARY 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA 
 DAVIS 
 
''''Electricity became the agent for Fourth of July 
 
 celebrations, and the old style fire-works 
 
 were abandoned. " 
 
Looking Forward 
 
 The Phenomenal Progress 
 of Electricity in 1912 
 
 BY 
 
 H. W. HILLMAN 
 
 ILLUSTRATED BY 
 
 W. L. GREENE 
 
 VALLEY VIEW PUBLISHING COMPANY 
 
 NORTHAMPTON, MASS. 
 1906 
 
COPYRIGHT, 1906, 
 
 BY 
 
 H. W. HILLMAN 
 
 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 
 
 PUBLISHED NOVEMBER, 1906 
 
 Ta.rn.thro,> 
 
WRITINGS OF H. W. HILLMAN 
 
 Paper Read Before the 
 
 Ohio State Electrical Association at Cleveland 
 in 1900 
 
 Paper Read Before the 
 
 Pacific Coast Electrical Transmission Association 
 at San Francisco in 1900 
 
 Paper Read Before the 
 
 National Electric Light Association, held at time 
 of Buffalo Exposition in 1901 
 
 Paper Read Before the 
 
 Association of Edison Illuminating Companies 
 at Newcastle, N. H., in 1904 
 
 Paper Read Before the 
 
 Michigan State Electrical Association at Detroit 
 in 1905 
 
DEPICATED TO 
 
 THE MEMORY or 
 
 EDWARD BELLAMY 
 
 WHOSE MARVELOUS IMAGINATIVE ABILITY 
 
 WAS ADMIRED BY THE PEOPLE 
 
 IN ALL PARTS or 
 
 THE WORLD 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 When in the consideration of the welfare of 
 all nations of the earth a book is written like 
 Bellamy's "Looking Backward/' the people 
 of the world not only admire the author's 
 prophecies, but they try to bring about those 
 conditions which are of daily help in the pur- 
 suit of happiness and prosperity. 
 
 The last generation has brought about many 
 new conditions in our daily living. The dawn 
 of another generation has introduced to the peo- 
 ple conveniences never before enjoyed in any 
 part of the world. 
 
 It is, therefore, preeminently fitting that all 
 the citizens of the earth should prepare for the 
 year 1912. On the morning of Decoration Day 
 in that year, those living shall witness the end of 
 a quarter of a century, counting from the year 
 of Bellamy's book in 1887. 
 
 The purpose of the author in writing this 
 book, LOOKING FORWARD, was to attract the 
 attention of the people to the many evidences 
 of ideal conditions which now exist, that were 
 prophesied by Bellamy; also to present to the 
 people the many evidences of other new condi- 
 tions destined to greatly favor the domestic, 
 social and industrial relations of the people in 
 the pursuit of their daily vocations. It was the 
 intention, likewise, to impress upon the readers 
 not only the marvelous progress of electricity, 
 but the very great share which the electrical 
 industry and its representatives have taken in 
 the endeavor to bring about improved conditions 
 for the people in general. 
 
 The writer anticipates criticism of a generous, 
 
PREFACE 
 
 wholesome character, and even from engineers 
 of well-known electrical ability, but calls atten- 
 tion now to the wonderful growth of the electric 
 street railway, born as late as 1887 ; to the rapid 
 progress of the telephone; and last, but not 
 least, the phenomenal extension of the electric 
 motor drive. 
 
 The older people take pride in the accomplish- 
 ments of this generation. They have enjoyed the 
 many advances in the electrical 'arts, even as 
 related to the industrial world, but now as we 
 approach an era when domestic relations are 
 closely associated with the modern electrical 
 conveniences, they will, even more fully, enjoy 
 the progress following such advances in the arts. 
 
 The younger people will be more closely 
 associated with electricity in the 'home, the 
 school, the college, the work-shop, the mercantile 
 and industrial world. In the morning of life 
 they will cherish the interesting and beneficial 
 electrical associations; at noontime in their 
 earthly career they will profit from the oppor- 
 tunities which electrical contrivances will afford 
 them in 1937, and as the evening of life 
 approaches, the year 1962 will find them watch- 
 ing their grandchildren living under the many 
 ideal conditions which surely must exist at that 
 time. 
 
 The author believes that quarter-century 
 records, at least, should be made in book form, 
 covering the domestic and industrial conditions 
 of the people of the earth. Thus, by such 
 records, shall the people be guided toward the 
 earliest and greatest pursuit of happiness and 
 prosperity which all have a right to enjoy. 
 
 H. W. HlLLMAN. 
 
 Schenectady, N. Y., July 24, 1906. 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS 
 
 Chapter I. 
 II. 
 III. 
 IV. 
 
 V. 
 
 VI. 
 
 VII. 
 
 VIII. 
 
 IX. 
 
 X. 
 
 XI. 
 
 XII. 
 
 XIII. 
 
 XIV. 
 
 XV. 
 
 XVI. 
 
 XVII. 
 
 XVIII. 
 
 XIX. 
 
 XX. 
 
 XXI. 
 
 XXII. 
 
 XXIII. 
 XXIV. 
 
 XXV. 
 XXVI. 
 
 Tom Appleton's Promotion. 
 
 The Electrical Club. 
 
 The College Ball. 
 
 The Electron Pacific Ex- 
 press. 
 
 Rebuilding San Francisco. 
 
 The Electrical Convention. 
 
 The Automobile Ride. 
 
 The Steamship Electrania. 
 
 Electrical Works, Rugvale. 
 
 Evening in English Home. 
 
 Air Ship Excursion. 
 
 The Roses. 
 
 In Paris. 
 
 Evening with Emperor. 
 
 Submarine Paintings. 
 
 Electricity in Switzerland. 
 
 Under the Alps Mountains. 
 
 Eruptions, Mt. Vesuvius. 
 
 Electricity Down on the 
 Farm. 
 
 The People and the Elec- 
 trical Companies. 
 
 Millville, The Electric City 
 of the World. 
 
 The -Dentist 'and Prof. 
 Stoenmitz. 
 
 Electric Arc Lighting. 
 
 The Electrical Co-operative 
 Improvement Associa- 
 tion. 
 
 The Wedding. 
 
 Twenty-Five Years After. 
 
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 Frontispiece: "Electricity became the agent 
 for Fourth of July celebrations, and the 
 old style fire-works were abandoned/* 
 
 Page 25: "With these last words, they said 
 4 Good-bye/" 
 
 Page 106: "He clutched the steering wheel 
 with a grip of iron." 
 
 Page 155: "The silence was interrupted by a 
 noise, which startled them all." 
 
 Page 210: "Gently, softly and gracefully, they 
 glided along over the water." 
 
 Page 310 : Portrait, Edward Bellamy. 
 
CHAPTER I. 
 
 TOM APPLETON 's PROMOTION. 
 
 "For God's sake, throw off that switch!" 
 This order was given in a very loud tone, and 
 could be heard distinctly above the noise of re- 
 volving electrical machinery, which was being 
 tested on this particular night, at the works of 
 the Glendale Electric Company. 
 
 Tom Appleton came out of his office in a 
 hurry, knowing that something was wrong. He 
 showed no signs of excitement, and in a calm 
 tone called to the messenger who was rushing 
 past him: 
 
 "What's the matter?" 
 
 1 ' Oh ! Mr. Appleton ; a man has gotten on the 
 lines, on the arc lighting test, down at the 
 other end of the building. Gome, quick!" 
 
 While this message was being delivered, they 
 had gotten half way down the room, and Tom 
 was soon at the scene of the trouble. He saw 
 at a glance that the proper aid was being given, 
 and the man was beginning to show signs of 
 life. 
 
 "How about the ambulance?" Tom asked, 
 turning to his assistant. 
 
 "It will be here directly, as we telephoned 
 immediately after the shock." 
 
 Not for a second had they stopped working 
 over the poor fellow, and the results were so 
 encouraging that when the ambulance arrived 
 
 9 
 
10 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 he was gently placed in it and driven to the 
 hospital. 
 
 A half hour later Tom Appleton was busy 
 investigating and questioning the various men 
 in the testing department, with a view of 
 locating the responsibility for the accident. 
 
 "What do you think about it, Jim?" he said 
 to his assistant. 
 
 "Well, from all I can gain in carefully talk- 
 ing with the boys who were around there, 
 that fellow Sheldon is the one to blame/' 
 
 "Please telephone him to come in and see me 
 immediately," said Tom. 
 
 Several more young men were questioned, and 
 all reported the same thing; that a notice was 
 plainly visible on the switchboard to the effect 
 that a man was working on the line, and yet 
 they saw Sheldon carelessly go up to the board 
 and deliberately throw the switch which nearly 
 cost the man his life. 
 
 These young men were excused, and Sheldon 
 was ushered into the office. After taking a seat, 
 Tom turned to him and said in a quiet voice: 
 
 "Well, Sheldon, this is rather -a serious of- 
 fense against you this time. You know how the 
 company feels about a matter of this kind. It 
 was merely by the slimmest chance that this 
 man's life was saved. Several times before this 
 you have been so careless that bad mistakes 
 have resulted, and it is understood in the man- 
 ager's office that you are here only on probation. 
 What have you to say?" 
 
 "I haven't anything to say," answered Shel- 
 don, "except that I am tired of this - - test- 
 ing room, -and I shall be glad to get out. It is a 
 dog's life, anyway. My father's got money, and 
 I don't care about staying here any longer." 
 
APPLETON'S PROMOTION 11 
 
 "All right," said Tom, "I regret to make 
 such -a report to the general manager, but your 
 statement forces me to do so. That will be all. ' ' 
 
 The next morning there was considerable stir 
 when the report of the accident was placed 
 before Manager Hammond, and he was exceed- 
 ingly provoked over the attitude of young Shel- 
 don. Instructions were issued -at once that he 
 should be discharged from the company. At 
 the same time, the manager sent for Tom Apple- 
 ton, requesting that he should call in his office 
 about two o'clock. 
 
 That morning Tom had left the testing de- 
 partment as usual, about six o'clock, and on 
 the way up to his room had stopped in at the 
 hospital to see how the invalid was getting 
 along. He was pleased to find him in good 
 spirits and physically all right, except for some 
 bruises on the head caused from the fall at 
 the time of the accident. After assuring him 
 that upon his return to work some form of 
 promotion would be found for him, Tom went 
 along to his room, to secure his usual day's 
 sleep. 
 
 At this point the reader may be interested 
 to know more about Tom Appleton. He was 
 born in the small town of Northington, Mass. 
 His boyhood days had been spent there in the 
 Connecticut Valley. There was no swimming 
 pool along the banks of the old Connecticut 
 River with which he was not familiar. At an 
 early age he became a member of the Northing- 
 ton Canoe Club, and many happy summer days 
 were spent paddling up and down the river 
 banks, and sailing along those shores which he 
 loved so well. 
 
 He attended the grammar schools in North- 
 
12 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 ington, but at the early age of twelve was 
 obliged to leave and commence work in the office 
 of a manufacturing plant located there in the 
 town. 
 
 While his schooling had given him but <a 
 limited education, his evenings were spent in 
 studies of a general character, and coupled with 
 a good presence, earnest manner, and a frank, 
 honest face, he was soon promoted to a responsi- 
 ble position. For several years, he was associated 
 with that company, receiving a salary which 
 permitted him to live comfortably, free from 
 debt, and gradually increase a bank account 
 of no mean amount. 
 
 However, he became restless, being anxious 
 about his future prospects there in the factory, 
 and having heard a great deal about electrical 
 engineering and the extensive field which the 
 electrical business offered for a young man, he 
 determined to concentrate his studies along 
 the lines of electrical engineering. The Scrat- 
 ton School of Correspondence offered splendid 
 inducements for the electrical course, and the 
 terms were easily within the reach of any young 
 man of ordinary means. Soon after he com- 
 menced these new studies, the rapidity with 
 which he became acquainted with electrical 
 terms and with engineering knowledge was sur- 
 prising. It was not long before he knew all 
 about the electro-magnet. He could fix the 
 electrical door-bells at home, when they were 
 out of order. He could intelligently answer 
 his little sister's questions as to why the trolley 
 made the electric cars go so fast. He became 
 quite familiar with the electric generators, 
 switchboards and transformers at the Local 
 Electric Lighting Plant, and even volunteered to 
 
APPLETON'S PROMOTION 13 
 
 explain about the electric meter and why the 
 monthly bills were high or low; usually to the 
 general satisfaction of the neighbors kind good 
 souls, to appear as if they understood his expla- 
 nations, because of pride for their neighbor's 
 boy who would soon become an electrical engi- 
 neer. 
 
 These years were of very great value to the 
 village boy, and many a time since then has 
 he thought of the Scratton Correspondence 
 School, and the easy manner in which they made 
 it possible for him to learn the rudiments of 
 magnetism and electricity, thus fitting him for 
 duties in later years of a very important char- 
 acter. 
 
 They furnished him books for specializing on 
 electrical engineering, also small printed leaf- 
 lets with questions relating to electrical mattters, 
 which leaflets were mailed to Scratton regularly 
 two or three times a week. They promptly 
 corrected the lessons and returned the leaflets to 
 him with advice and encouragement, marking 
 him excellent or otherwise, according to the ac- 
 curacy of his answers. It is only just to state 
 that he was so earnest in his studies, and took 
 such a deep interest in the course, that marks 
 of a high degree of excellence were frequently 
 returned to him. And all of this interesting 
 and valuable data and knowledge was within 
 the reach of Tom Appleton for only a very 
 small portion of his weekly salary. His father 
 had been unable to send him to college because 
 of the expense involved; yet in the two years' 
 course with the help of the Scratton Corre- 
 spondence School, he was able to accomplish 
 more than many of the collge boys with their 
 four years' course, and other special advantages. 
 
14 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 The course was finished, a diploma had been 
 presented to him, and the school had secured 
 for him a position in the Electrical Testing De- 
 partment of the Glendale Electric Company, of 
 Millville, N. Y. It was a happy day for him 
 when the letter was received offering him a posi- 
 tion in that wonderful Electric Works. He had 
 been told that Thomas A. Edmunds, the great 
 inventor of the incandescent lamp, the phono- 
 graph, and the storage battery, had lived there 
 in Millville, and personally worked there in the 
 shops where he was to be located. He had left 
 Northington with a sad heart and with tears 
 flowing freely, but the future had so much in 
 store for him, and the works at Millville offered 
 such vast opportunities, that he took up his new 
 position with great interest and enthusiasm, 
 glad at heart from day to day, and cheerful at 
 all times. His letters home told of the wonderful 
 machinery that was under construction. He 
 said there were at least 100 buildings in the 
 Glendale Electric Works, and it was only a part 
 of their factory organization; that they had an 
 electric plant at Lundale, Mass., where more 
 than 10,000 people were constantly employed. 
 Also at Harrington, in New Jersey ; and, all told 
 they employed approximately 50,000 people in 
 connection with the design, manufacture, and 
 sale of electric material. 
 
 During the first few weeks of his first experi- 
 ence at Millville, he had appreciated the train- 
 ing which the Scratton Correspondence School 
 had given him, and as the months rolled by the 
 tremendous extent of the business appalled him. 
 Thousands of horsepower of electrical machinery 
 passed through the testing department daily, 
 and the thorough method of testing and inspect- 
 
APPLETON'S PROMOTION 15 
 
 ing was of very great interest. Almost every 
 day lie was elbow to elbow with the prominent 
 engineers who had designed the apparatus, and 
 opportunity was offered to study not only the 
 testing, manufacturing, and inspecting of elec- 
 trical apparatus, but he was able to note partic- 
 ularly the design of the machinery. 
 
 During a certain period, everybody was talk- 
 ing about the steam turbines for the large Power 
 Company at Niagara Falls. Later on, it was 
 the electrical apparatus for the Subway in New 
 York City. In that testing department all ap- 
 paratus for the Philadelphia and Atlantic City 
 Electric Railroad was tested. The motors for 
 the Chicago City Railroad passed through this 
 young .man's hands for a certain class of test- 
 ing, as well as large alternators, switchboards, 
 and transformers for the San Francisco Power 
 Company. So the days went by, filled with valu- 
 able knowledge and experience. 
 
 At first it seemed as if this young man was 
 favored with a great degree of luck; but, upon 
 careful consideration, it was simply an oppor- 
 tunity which comes to any young man who is 
 sufficiently thoughtful to take advantage of the 
 Scratton Correspondence School in its elec- 
 trical Course and then follow up the study in a 
 representative electrical manufacturing con- 
 cern. 
 
 Tom Appleton possessed, first, a good char- 
 acter. He was honest and industrious, also am- 
 bitious. He was sufficiently well read to know 
 and appreciate the opportunities in the electrical 
 business. Having established such a founda- 
 tion, it was comparatively easy to take advan- 
 tage of the benefits of the Scratton School and 
 
16 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 then the opportunities of the Glendale Electric 
 Company's Works. 
 
 He had been working in the testing depart- 
 ment for about a year, when a promotion was 
 offered which placed him in charge of a test. 
 This work he handled so well that in another 
 year he was given the position of foreman of 
 the night test, which carried with it a good 
 salary and brought him closely in touch with 
 the works management. He was in this position 
 when the accident occurred, referred to early in 
 the chapter. 
 
 This was in the year 1907, which will be long 
 remembered as a year of great aggressiveness in 
 the commercial field of the electrical industry. 
 
 Before describing Tom's career we had left 
 him, on the way to his room. Upon arriving he 
 went to bed immediately, and was in a very deep 
 sleep when the landlady knocked on the door. It 
 was with difficulty she awakened him, but finally 
 succeeding in doing so, and stated that there was 
 a message from the works manager. Tom hur- 
 riedly dressed and went downstairs, where he 
 received and read Manager Hammond's note, 
 requesting him to call at his office about two 
 o 'clock. 
 
 Promptly at two Tom was at the general office 
 and five minutes later he was ushered into the 
 manager's private office. As he entered Mr. Ham- 
 mond looked up and said pleasantly: 
 
 ''Well, Tom, I am glad that last night's acci- 
 dent did not cost us the life of a man. I was 
 surprised and greatly provoked at the attitude 
 of that fellow Sheldon, and I'm glad he is now 
 out of the company. He was a dangerous man 
 to have in the works. ' ' 
 
 "Yes," said Tom, "I am glad to be relieved 
 
APPLETON'S PROMOTION 17 
 
 of the responsibility of having him in my de- 
 partment. ' ' 
 
 "How is the man who was hurtt" asked Mr. 
 Hammond. 
 
 "He is doing even better than I thought," 
 replied Tom. "I stopped in at the hospital this 
 morning, on my way home. His head is bruised 
 somewhat, where he fell, but I think he will be 
 out in a few days." 
 
 * * Tom, how would you like to go into the engi- 
 neering department?" asked Mr. Hammond. 
 
 "I have been thinking for some time," said 
 Tom, ' ' that I should like to be transferred to the 
 engineering department. ' ' 
 
 "Well," said Mr. Hammond, "I guess it can 
 be arranged. We are sorry, Tom to have you 
 leave the testing room. Your work has been 
 very satisfactory." 
 
 Tom thanked him, and after one or two minor 
 questions were answered, he left the office. 
 
 About the same time, Frank Sheldon had 
 reached New York, and had just finished lunch- 
 eon with his father, at their Fifth avenue home. 
 The dining-room was filled with costly furni- 
 ture, and elaborate decorations were exhibited 
 on the walls and ceilings. Everything about 
 the house indicated that Frank's father was a 
 very wealthy man. 
 
 Frank was welcomed by his parents in a 
 hearty manner, but one of the first questions his 
 father asked was, "Well, Frank, how are you 
 getting along on the test ? ' ' 
 
 "Oh, very well," Frank replied; "just now 
 the work is slack, and I was asked to take a few 
 weeks off. I'm rather glad of it, as the work is 
 tiresome and monotonous to me." 
 
 "I am sorry for that," said his father; "it 
 
18 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 does not seem to me that the work .should be 
 slack. The general business of the electrical in- 
 dustry never was better; I hope that after you 
 have rested at home for a couple of weeks, you 
 will return feeling better and enjoy the work. 
 To tell the truth, I was expecting you would 
 have been promoted by this time. The oppor- 
 tunities are fine in those works and as soon as 
 you become an electrical engineer, I will place 
 you in a good position in connection with some 
 of my large electrical properties. " 
 
 With this statement, he retired to his private 
 office, where several men were waiting to talk 
 with him. 
 
 Mr. Donald Sheldon was a man about fifty 
 years of age. Tall and slim in form, with rather 
 wide shoulders and a strong business counte- 
 nance, he would pass for a good looking man. He 
 was married young, had settled down in New 
 York, and for thirty years had led a very busy 
 life, the last ten years dealing particularly in 
 electrical companies. Everybody, including 
 Frank and his mother, considered him to be a 
 very wealthy man, but like many other apparent- 
 ly successful business men, Donald Sheldon had 
 been able to live from year to year in grand 
 style, always possessing good standing and 
 credit. Some years before, business troubles 
 had worried him, but as he squeezed out of each 
 tight place from time to time, he became hard- 
 ened to such conditions, and now while he was 
 having a hard time to hold all his deals together, 
 yet he kept it to himself, and neither Frank nor 
 his mother knew that in a few short years they 
 would be practically penniless. 
 
 Frank Sheldon had applied himself fairly 
 well in the high school, and succeeded in getting 
 
APPLETON'S PROMOTION 19 
 
 into Amherst college; but notwithstanding the 
 earnest talks with his father, and the appeals 
 from his mother, he would not continue after 
 the third year. In the first place, he was exceed- 
 ingly lazy, and he did not like to apply himself 
 to the tasks necessary in order to be graduated 
 with honors. So he left college, and through the 
 influence of his father a position was given him 
 in the testing room of the Glendale Electric 
 Company. He had no appreciation, whatever, 
 of his obligations to his father. He possessed no 
 sentimental regard for his mother's feelings. 
 He failed to appreciate that he did not have the 
 necessary qualifications to enter the testing de- 
 partment of the Electrical Company, and was 
 admitted simply on account of his father's in- 
 fluence. It was this same carelessness of man- 
 ner and principle which led him to absolute fail- 
 ure in the works, and then to deliberately lie 
 to his father and mother about it. 
 
 He and his mother sat there at the table for 
 a long time after his father left, discussing many 
 matters pertaining to Frank's personal welfare. 
 One thing in particular interested his mother, 
 and that was to get Frank married well. 
 
 "You are now getting along toward twenty- 
 three years of age, and ought to be thinking 
 about a wife. How about Evelyn Tyler?" 
 
 "I should like vey much to marry her," 
 said Frank, "and I don't see any reason why 
 she should not be glad to be my wife. Father 
 is very wealthy, and I shall, of course, have that 
 money some day." 
 
 Alas! Frank Sheldon, your careless, mean 
 ideas are to get you into trouble all too soon. 
 Neither you nor your mother stop to think how 
 thoroughly unqualified you are to be the hus- 
 
20 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 band of such a noble, high-minded girl as Eve- 
 lyn Tyler. 
 
 One block above the Sheldon residence was 
 the Tyler mansion. Luncheon was finished, and 
 in her mother's boudoir, Evelyn and her father 
 were talking in a manner entirely different from 
 the conversation which had taken place that 
 morning in the Sheldon home. The Tyler family 
 was an exceedingly happy one. Evelyn was an 
 only child, but she possessed the most delightful 
 disposition, and, with kindly, gracious manners, 
 was beloved by everybody. Nature had favored 
 her with an attractive figure, above the medium 
 height, well designed to attract attention by a 
 commanding presence. A face, which might not 
 be called handsome, was indicative of unusual 
 intellectual character, and a great degree of re- 
 finement. The features were more than passing 
 fair, if not perfect. She had large black eyes, a 
 wealth of fluffy hair, and with a most kindly ex- 
 pression, she might well be termed a charming 
 young girl. 
 
 While quite like her girl friends in many 
 other respects, Evelyn possessed one character- 
 istic somewhat unusual for her sex. It was an 
 earnest desire to study and learn all about elec- 
 trical matters. Her father had been associated 
 with the electrical business since 1884, and when 
 a little girl she had evinced a great interest in 
 traveling about the country with him. He had 
 taken pains to show her the apparatus in the 
 many stations he visited. At the age of twelve 
 she could talk quite intelligently about alter- 
 nators, motors, switchboards, transformers, met- 
 ers, arc lamps, etc. Her father was very much 
 pleased, as he loved the electrical business and 
 was entirely wrapped up in it. He would bring 
 
APPLETON'S PEOMOTION 21 
 
 home books and bulletins relating to new devices 
 and their applications, and they talked over 
 such matters together, with great interest to 
 themselves and much benefit to Evelyn. She had 
 finished school, and now at eighteen years of age 
 was planning to enter the girl's college, at 
 South Holly Falls, Mass. Her mother and father 
 were talking the matter over with her this par- 
 ticular afternoon. 
 
 "I have learned, father, that the college has 
 a complete electrical course, and I am. sure I 
 should like to take that course more than any 
 other. " 
 
 "I think it is all right, Evelyn," said Mother 
 Tyler; "there are so many electrical appliances 
 coming into use nowadays in the home that it is 
 highly important for a young woman to study 
 and know all about them. ' ' 
 
 "I understand," said Mr. Tyler, "that that 
 college makes a specialty of educating girls to 
 know all about housework, cooking, etc., as well 
 as training them in many other intellectual 
 ways. ' ' 
 
 "Yes," said Evelyn; "and I am so pleased 
 with the idea that I wish, father, you could go 
 up to Northington and see if we could not rent 
 a house there. They say it is a beautiful spot, 
 delightfully located on the banks of the Con- 
 necticut River." 
 
 "Well, we will all go up there together next 
 Friday afternoon, if you would like," he ans- 
 wered. 
 
 "Yes, indeed, father, I would be awfully 
 pleased; and so would mother, I am sure." 
 
 Mother Tyler nodded assent, and the next 
 Friday they all went to Northington to select 
 the house. 
 
22 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 In the old Appleton house at Northington 
 there was great rejoicing. Tom's letter had 
 been received telling them all about his promo- 
 tion, the larger salary he was to receive, and his 
 plans for sending his sister E ethyl to college at 
 South Holly Falls. There was surely happiness 
 in the old home that night. The dream of her 
 life was to be realized, and Eethyl Appleton was 
 the proudest girl in the whole of Northington. 
 
 Tom thought she was the best and sweetest 
 girl he had ever known. Her love and admira- 
 tion for him was also of an unusual sort. Tom 
 was nearly twenty-five, and he had always con- 
 sidered Eethyl as his little sister, yet she was a 
 girl of eighteen summers. 
 
 Before Tom had left home to go to Millville 
 his sister had been one of his constant compan- 
 ions. They were very frequently seen on the 
 street together. She often met him at the office 
 and they walked home together. On Sunday 
 mornings Tom and Eethyl never failed to walk 
 to church together. From Sunday school they 
 returned walking beside each other, and again in 
 the evening the neighbors could tell the exact 
 time of day because of the regularity with which 
 Tom and Eethyl went by to the Sunday evening 
 service. 
 
 When Tom was studying the electrical course, 
 his sister took the keenest interest in his prog- 
 ress. She familiarized herself with a great 
 many of the electrical terms, tried to appreciate 
 what different devices were designed to do, and 
 Tom explained to her the many devices, and 
 told her his plans for the future. A few years 
 later, when he had to leave home, it nearly 
 broke her heart, for she loved him more than 
 anyone knew. But they made the best of it, and 
 
APPLETON 'S PROMOTION 23 
 
 corresponded freely, so that as time went on 
 E ethyl became well acquainted with Tom's work. 
 He sent her the electrical magazines, and ad- 
 vised her what electrical articles of manufacture 
 were most popular. One summer when Tom 
 was home he wired the old house, and then after 
 returning to Millville he sent samples of electri- 
 cal devices to E ethyl for her room, and for the 
 convenience of his mother; such articles as the 
 electric chafing dish and the hair curler were 
 exceedingly interesting at first, but when Tom 
 sent a pipe lighter and electric shaving mug for 
 his father, and E ethyl saw the extent to which 
 these devices might be used in the home, she 
 thought of making a special study of electrical 
 engineering at college. She wrote to Tom about 
 it, and whenever he came home they talked 
 about it, and he made up his mind that in some 
 way he would arrange for her to attend college 
 and take the electrical course. 
 
 Therefore the Appleton household was the 
 scene of much rejoicing, not only because of 
 Tom's success and recent promotion, but because 
 he had written to Eethyl that now she could 
 arrange to attend college. 
 
 Such was the situation when the Tyler family 
 had moved into the old Denniston place on the 
 hill, and settled there <as one of the neighbors of 
 the Appleton family. Eethyl had seen Evelyn 
 Tyler pass the house several times, but had not 
 had a good opportunity to speak with her. One 
 afternoon, however, she was just leaving the 
 house to go downtown when Evelyn came along 
 at the same time. They spoke to each other and 
 then walked along together. Evelyn thought 
 that Eethyl was lovely. She had talked to her 
 mother about having seen her on the street, and 
 
24 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 was very anxious to meet and talk with her. 
 Now that they had actually become acquainted, 
 her impressions of E ethyl were even more favor- 
 able. They walked on together, and became 
 more and more in sympathy with each other 
 when learning how closely their plans for col- 
 lege work compared. Evelyn told about her am- 
 bitions ; how her father and mother had come up 
 to Northington to look for a house, and to ar- 
 range for living there while she attended South 
 Holly Falls college for girls. Then Eethyl told 
 about her brother Tom, his connection with the 
 large electrical works at Millville, and her un- 
 ceasing interest in the subject of electricity. 
 They thought how wonderful that they should 
 be thrown together so naturally. They each 
 vowed that there was a divinity shaping their 
 ends, and helping them on toward the promo- 
 tion of high ideals. 
 
 Finally Eethyl asked, "How do you like the 
 new home here ? ' ' 
 
 "We think it is lovely," replied Evelyn. "It 
 was a surprise to all of us to find the house fully 
 wired for all kinds of electrical appliances. In 
 fact, it is not only wired, but the landlord had 
 equipped the kitchen with an electric outfit ; the 
 laundry has a washing machine operated by an 
 electric motor, and is equipped also with an elec- 
 tric flat-iron. In the pantry a small motor is 
 installed for cleaning silver, sharpening knives, 
 turning the ice-cream freezer, and such things. 
 Oh ! you must come up and see us, and meet my 
 mother and father. " 
 
 "Yes, I will be glad to do so," said Eethyl. 
 "In our house many of the convenient devices 
 have been sent home to us by Tom, but it is get- 
 ting quite common for landlords to equip their 
 
With these last words, they said, 'Good-bye. ' " 
 
APPLF TON'S PROMOTION 25 
 
 houses as you have stated. They rent much 
 easier. In fact, it is difficult to rent a house, or 
 to sell one, which is not electrically equipped." 
 
 "Yes, I know father has often said that his 
 houses piped for gas only were not desired by 
 the class of people who wanted that particular 
 kind of a house in that neighborhood. He said 
 that some years ago he had to have them all re- 
 wired in order to keep them rented. " 
 
 "Do you not think the location up on the hill 
 is lovely?" asked Eethyl. 
 
 "Yes, it is most 'delightful. My bedroom 
 faces the East, and I am awakened each morn- 
 ing by the sun streaming into the room. We 
 have already named the house * Valley View/ 
 as the scene from our piazza down over the Con- 
 necticut Valley .is beautiful. We all sit there 
 on the veranda in the evening, and just bubble 
 over with enthusiasm for the location, the house, 
 the stable, the city, and everything hereabout. 
 We have been here too short a time to meet 
 many people, but I am sure that you and I will 
 become friends. You will come over a little 
 while this evening just to meet mother and 
 father. I want them to see you and know you. ' ' 
 
 So with these last words, they said good-bye. 
 Eethyl had to go in a different direction, and 
 they parted with the understanding that she 
 would call and meet Evelyn's parents in the 
 evening. 
 
 When Evelyn returned home about five 
 o'clock, her mother was on the veranda. She 
 could hardly wait to tell her all about the meet- 
 ing with Eethyl. 
 
 "Mother, you must see her and know her. She 
 is the loveliest girl! We walked all the way 
 downtown together, and talked every minute." 
 
26 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 "I guess that's right," said her father, as he 
 came out of the house, and listened to the last 
 few words. 
 
 "I am so pleased," continued Evelyn; "her 
 brother Tom is to send her to college, and she 
 has selected South Holly Falls seminary for 
 girls. We can now feel sure that we have not 
 made any mistake in our selection, father." 
 
 "No, Evelyn, I am very well pleased," said 
 her father, "but you must accept the credit for 
 it all. You and your mother. I have not en- 
 joyed myself so much in years as during this 
 past week." 
 
 They had tea served out on the piazza. The 
 birds sang sweet choruses in the woods near by, 
 as if to emphasize their earnest desire to wel- 
 come such good people in that, their own section 
 of this country. The hens had commenced one 
 by one to locate themselves in the old apple tree 
 on the west side of the house, preparing to roost 
 for the night. Across the valley the shadows 
 were deepening, the purple colored mountains 
 were fast losing all but their general outline, 
 and the darkness of night was stealing over that 
 beautiful scene. One by one the electric arcs 
 were lighted, and from the Valley View resi- 
 dence there was a glorious vision before them, 
 illustrating the marvelous progress of electric 
 illumination. 
 
 Up the pathway came E ethyl Appleton. She 
 was dressed in white, with a light shawl thrown 
 around her shoulders for protection against the 
 night air. As she came on the veranda Mrs. 
 Tyler noticed what a dear, sweet face she pos- 
 sessed, and she was glad at once that Evelyn 
 had such a companion near them for her asso- 
 ciate. 
 
APPLETON'S PROMOTION 27 
 
 "Eethyl, we do not need any introduction," 
 said Mrs. Tyler. " Evelyn has told us all about 
 you, and we are glad to have you call and make 
 your acquaintance." 
 
 This was said in such a motherly tone as to 
 put Eethyl at ease the first thing, and when 
 Father Tyler arose and took her by the hand, 
 she felt that s"he had been favored to meet such 
 a lovely family. 
 
 "I understand you have a brother in the great 
 electrical works at Millville," said Mr. Tyler. 
 
 "Yes," said Eethyl; "he has been there for 
 several years." 
 
 "It is a large plant," he continued. "I was 
 once through it, and was very much impressed 
 with its size and the organization. Of course, 
 Evelyn has told you we are all interested in 
 electricity. ' ' 
 
 "Yes, it was a great pleasure to know that 
 she is to attend college and take the electrical 
 course. Perhaps we shall get on even faster by 
 studying together. I am to take the electrical 
 course, also." 
 
 Eethyl did not stay late, but before leaving 
 they all went with her over each room in the 
 house, and enthusiastically explained about each 
 new device. Here was a luminous radiator in 
 the dining-room, a shaving mug in the bath 
 room, the heating pad, the cigar lighter in the 
 den, and all manner of conveniences. At the 
 back door, the switch turned on the light in the 
 stable. They even showed her the electric run- 
 about, and the way the electrical company had 
 installed the rectifier for charging the batteries. 
 
 And after Eethyl had said good night and ar- 
 rived home again, her mother and father listened 
 with the utmost interest to her story of the 
 
28 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 visit, and how not only Evelyn, but her mother 
 and father seemed as pleased to meet her. She 
 told them, too, of the message she brought, re- 
 questing her parents to come up and see them 
 and be neighborly. 
 
 This then relates the manner in which the 
 two girls became acquainted, and the following 
 chapters will indicate how firmly they main- 
 tained that friendship. 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 
 THE ELECTRICAL, CLUB. 
 
 Five years have quickly rolled by, and it is 
 commencement time at the South Holly Falls 
 college. On this particular morning in June, 
 1912, Evelyn Tyler was over in the electrical 
 laboratory taking a last glance at the place 
 where she had spent four very happy years. 
 Scientific instruments surrounded her on all 
 sides. The voltmeter and the ammeter, so com- 
 monly used in her work, lay there on the shelf, 
 face upward, almost ready to speak out and let 
 her know that they, too, had keenly enjoyed as- 
 sociation with her. She gave one lingering 
 glance and then passed out, taking the well worn 
 path over the campus to her room. 
 
 She had no idea whatever of the surprise that 
 was awaiting her. The Electrical club, con- 
 sisting of about twenty girls, had gathered there 
 in Evelyn's room, and as she entered they sa- 
 luted her cordially with cheers. She was actually 
 commanded to sit down in her own room and 
 await their wishes. Requesting silence, E ethyl 
 Appleton, who had been asked to make the 
 speech, arose and said: 
 
 "Evelyn, you have been the President of this 
 Electrical club ever since its organization, four 
 years ago. Through your energetic efforts and 
 leadership it has been a grand success. We have 
 all benefited from its associations. From the 
 
30 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 start we admired our President, and from year 
 to year this admiration increased to a very close 
 friendship, which has now ripened into a love 
 which we fondly cherish. We desired to show 
 our affection and love in some substantial man- 
 ner, and have, therefore, selected as a token 
 some devices which will be connected with your 
 daily life. In behalf of the Electrical club of 
 the South Holly Falls college, I present you 
 with these pieces." At this point she removed 
 a silk covering, disclosing a beautiful silver elec- 
 tric dining-room service. 
 
 The incident was so entirely unexpected that 
 Evelyn was not only taken by surprise, but was 
 overcome with emotion. She was fully capable 
 of responding to such a speech, but her heart 
 was full and overflowing with appreciation for 
 the love which these girl friends were exhibiting. 
 Her eyes filled with tears, and before anyone 
 was hardly aware of it, they were all sobbing 
 and talking at the same time. The formal re- 
 sponse was never made, but the girls of the 
 Electrical club had ample evidence on that morn- 
 ing that Evelyn Tyler most heartily appreciated 
 their gift. Time and time again she looked 
 over those dainty pieces, and assured the girls' 
 that she would use them almost daily at her 
 home, and that they would always remind her 
 of the happy days and evenings spent at that 
 dear old college. 
 
 Before parting they had a more or less infor- 
 mal meeting of the club, and each pledged her- 
 self to the other that they would continue to 
 take a very active interest in electrical matters, 
 even though the college course had been finished 
 and they were leaving the scene of actual electri- 
 cal training. 
 
 "The best evidence I can give of my inten- 
 
THE ELECTRICAL CLUB 31 
 
 tions," said Evelyn, "would be to tell you that 
 I am going to San Francisco next month to at- 
 tend the meeting of the National Electrical As- 
 sociation. You will remember that my father 
 is President of that organization." 
 
 A young lady from South Carolina said: "As 
 you know, I joined our local Woman's Club 
 sometime ago, and am taking particular interest 
 in the cooking class. I have promised to give a 
 series of lectures this fall, explaining fully each 
 and every electrical device used in the kitchen, 
 its cost compared with old coal and gas devices, 
 etc. You can count on me, Evelyn, to keep up 
 this spirit of enthusiasm." 
 
 "My way of aiding the cause," said another 
 young lady, "is in connection with one of my 
 friends who is to be married soon. She intends 
 to start housekeeping at once, and we have talked 
 the subject over very carefully. She says 
 that she would not think of having any coal or 
 gas devices in her house." 
 
 Just then Eethyl Appleton spoke up, and said 
 that her brother Tom was so enthusiastic in 
 connection with the electrical business that she 
 surely would keep up her study and work for 
 the industry. 
 
 This reference to Tom Appleton reminded 
 Evelyn that she and Eethyl were to meet him 
 at two o'clock in Springvale, and they were to 
 have an afternoon's auto ride to Northington. 
 Just before breaking up the meeting, Evelyn 
 gave them a last parting word. 
 
 "Do not forget, girls," she said, "that we are 
 the representatives of an industry which has an 
 important bearing on the home life of our coun- 
 try. It is not merely the electrical device itself 
 in which we are selfishly interested, but our aim 
 has been, it is now, and will continue to be, that 
 
32 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 of promoting the introduction of conveniences 
 in the homes, the saving of time and labor in 
 connection with household duties. So long as 
 the women of this country continue to do the 
 housework, just so long shall we urge that the 
 duties in the kitchen shall be made as light and 
 easy as possible. It has been about five years 
 now since the great electrical flat-iron campaign 
 was started here in this country. At that time 
 we were just about considering what college we 
 should attend. You will remember the first 
 meeting we held to discuss what policy this club 
 should adopt regarding the subject. Thankful 
 we are that an aggressive policy was adopted, 
 and this club has been instrumental through its 
 college paper, its letters, and magazine articles, 
 in widely spreading the advantages of the elec- 
 tric iron among the homes. Yes, we have not 
 only been an active party in the campaign, but 
 we have had the pleasure of watching the grand 
 results of our efforts. From year to year the 
 campaign continued. Residences and small 
 homes, which were not wired for electricity when 
 the campaign started, have been equipped for 
 using electricity, and now in this year of 1912 
 there is hardly a home in the country, which is 
 not favored with an electric flat-iron. 
 
 "Girls, do not be discouraged if you are ac- 
 cused at times of being masculine and bold be- 
 cause you are taking such an active interest in 
 the electrical industry. Why shouldn't you do 
 so? Your everyday life is associated with elec- 
 trical matters. In your home there is not a 
 room in the house but which has some device 
 operated by electricity. Three times a day our 
 meals are cooked by electricity. In sickness and 
 in health we are surrounded by these devices 
 
THE ELECTRICAL CLUB 33 
 
 which are inseparable with our daily lives. 
 Therefore, why shouldn't we watch the advances 
 in the art, the growth of the industry, and insist 
 that we are rightfully selected to pass upon 
 what devices shall be introduced in our homes. 
 All of these electric household devices we have 
 seen universally introduced in all parts of the 
 country and all classes of homes, but the subject 
 of universal cooking and baking by electricity 
 has been our pet hobby. When we first consid- 
 ered it, you remember how mountainous it 
 looked, and some of us almost felt that we could 
 not ascend the steep heights which the subject 
 seemed to require. But the electrical art, girls, 
 is a wonderful art. Its hidden secrets are nu- 
 merous; they are unfolded to us gradually, and 
 the ways and means have been forthcoming 
 which have enabled us to surmount the difficul- 
 ties. Those interested in the electrical business 
 were naturally the first people in the world to 
 appreciate the advantages of cooking and bak- 
 ing by electricity. The industry being spread 
 over the entire country, the experience was dis- 
 tributed among several thousand homes. We 
 all know what happened a year or two later, 
 how the Woman's Club in every city and town 
 took up the subject and became intensely inter- 
 ested, and as the years rolled by there has been 
 a gradual introduction of the electric cooking 
 system. I received this morning a telegram 
 from a friend in Chicargon as follows: 
 
 " CHICABGON, June 16th, 1912. 
 " Miss EVELYN TTLEB, 
 
 "South Holly Falls College, Mass. 
 
 " I learn that Chicargon Edmunds Electrical Company has today 
 reached the one thousand mark in connection with installation of 
 electric kitchen equipments. Wish you much success connection 
 with finishing your electrical course and graduation exercises. 
 (Signed) CLARA NEWMAN." 
 
34 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 Here the girls applauded vigorously, and it 
 was some time before Evelyn could finish. In 
 closing she urged them to frequently read Bel- 
 lamy's "Looking Backward/' to keep saturated 
 with his ideas of improvement in social and in- 
 dustrial life ; but, above all, to cherish those noble 
 ideals which tend to promote convenience, pleas- 
 ure, and happiness in the home. 
 
 With these parting words, the girls left 
 Evelyn's apartments, while she and Eethyl 
 made preparations to leave for Springvale. 
 
 While the above mentioned meeting was going 
 on, Tom Appleton had been speeding along in 
 his electric car on the old Westvale turnpike. 
 He had left Millville the afternoon before, with 
 his new Edmunds Electric Touring Car, and 
 had had one of the pleasantest and most success- 
 ful trips imaginable. Arriving at Springvale 
 about one o'clock, and not expecting the girls 
 before two, he drove over to the Mansion House 
 and had a quick lunch. Having finished, he 
 sauntered out into the lobby and lighted a cigar. 
 There was nothing in particular running 
 through his mind except that he was soon to see 
 his sister, and was getting nearer his own home 
 again. It was always a source of much happiness 
 to him to make periodical visits to the old home, 
 but there was nothing in his mind on this par- 
 ticular afternoon to warn him that in the future 
 he would be attracted there for a reason which 
 had not even entered his thoughts before. 
 
 He looked at his watch, and seeing that it was 
 nearly two, threw away the cigar, and walked 
 up the stairway to the ladies' room. There were 
 the girls just entering, and as his sister Eethyl 
 caught sight of him, she rushed over and threw 
 her arms around his neck, giving him such a 
 
THE ELECTRICAL CLUB 35 
 
 fond embrace that there was no question about 
 the deep affection which they felt for each other. 
 Tom asked immediately about his father and 
 mother, and, receiving a reply that they were 
 very well, he turned to greet his sister's friend, 
 Evelyn Tyler. A picture met his sight which 
 Tom remembered through all his life. He saw a 
 girl of twenty-two summers, standing there be- 
 fore him whose height was above the average, 
 exhibiting a form that was tall and commanding. 
 But Tom was impressed particularly with the 
 face and the eyes. Evelyn Tyler possessed a 
 countenance full of intelligence and indicative 
 of a high degree of refinement, and when she 
 smiled and looked straight at Tom with those 
 large black eyes, he felt a new sensation never 
 before experienced. While Tom had never made 
 a practice of noticing ladies' gowns, he caught 
 himself secretly admiring the stylish and dainty 
 manner in which this young lady was dressed. 
 These thoughts passed through his mind 
 instantly, but his sister noticed that he was 
 slightly embarrassed, and was glad when 
 Evelyn said: 
 
 "Mr. Appleton, I am greatly pleased to meet 
 you again; Eethyl and I have been looking for- 
 ward to this ride with much pleasure, ever since 
 she received your letter. ' ' 
 
 "It is a pleasure to me also/' said Tom; "I 
 have come all the way from Millville, alone, and 
 shall be delighted to have company the re- 
 mainder of the way. If you are ready, we can 
 start any time." 
 
 So they went down the front stairs, and there, 
 in front of the ladies' entrance, was the electric 
 touring automobile. It was a handsome car- 
 riage, designed to please the most artistic taste, 
 
36 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 Tom expected that the two girls would take 
 seats behind, but Evelyn said, if he did not 
 mind, she would like to sit in front and talk' to 
 him. They, therefore, started, seated side by 
 side, with E ethyl in the back seat, and Tom, who 
 had mastered the control of ten and fifteen thou- 
 sand horsepower steam turbines, handling all 
 manner of tests on them with ease, was now so 
 embarrassed and flustered, he could hardly 
 answer the questions which Evelyn was firing at 
 him in quick succession. 
 
 "How do you like the electric auto for tour- 
 ing?" she asked. 
 
 "It is splendid," said Tom; "I would not go 
 back to the old style automobile for anything." 
 
 "I should think it would be fine," continued 
 Evelyn. "I have used an electric runabout for 
 two or three years, and am thoroughly in love 
 with it." 
 
 "The other day," said Tom, "I was looking 
 over some old automobile magazines, printed 
 several years ago, and it is amusing to note what 
 troubles were experienced with the old rubber 
 tires. You will remember that as soon as the 
 new Edmunds battery came into general use, 
 the electrical manufacturers commenced most 
 extensive investigations and experiments on au- 
 tomobile tires. The new battery, you see, made 
 it worth their time and attention to improve 
 the tires. The tires nowadays are so durable 
 and inexpensive that the people do not realize 
 what a great advance was made when the new 
 tire came out." 
 
 "Yes, I know ! My tires never give any trou- 
 ble. Father often says they are like the old 
 metal rim tires which were on our coach. They 
 never wore out, as I remember." 
 
THE ELECTRICAL CLUB 37 
 
 Tom still continued: "There is every reason 
 why the electric automobile should win out. The 
 battery question and the tire question solved, 
 left only the motor for consideration. Now the 
 electric motor has been universally adopted for 
 all classes of work, in the factory, the home, and 
 in mercantile life. By reason of the survival of 
 the fittest, it has replaced the gasoline motor. 
 Therefore the gasoline motor could not live for 
 automobiles only. It could not compete with 
 electric motors. It was a case of enormous pro- 
 duction of the electric motors, ever increasing in 
 quantities for all kinds of applications, in all 
 phases of life, against the limited production of 
 gasoline motors for a very limited demand. Of 
 course, it took some years to see this state of 
 things brought about, but it is now plain to note 
 why the electric car has won out. The people 
 know and appreciate all the advantages which 
 it possesses, and as the electrical companies 
 placed charging electrants freely in all parts of 
 cities and prominent country roads, the electric 
 automobiles boomed beyond expectation. " 
 
 * ' How far have you traveled without recharg- 
 ing?" asked Eethyl. 
 
 "I have gone one hundred and twenty-five 
 miles, but my usual practice is to charge as 
 often as every hundred miles, when touring. " 
 
 They were now passing the Springvale race 
 track, and Evelyn was telling him all about the 
 last football game there, between Harvard and 
 Yale. Eethyl chimed in occasionally with some 
 amusing incident, and before Tom knew it, he 
 was really enjoying himself heartily. After 
 many years of continual confinement in connec- 
 tion with business, it did not come easy to him 
 to drop the subject and have a real jolly good 
 
38 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 time. But these two young ladies were exceed- 
 ingly entertaining, and Tom found himself chim- 
 ing in with them and laughing and talking as 
 freely with Evelyn Tyler as if he had enjoyed 
 her acquaintance for years. 
 
 It was with the keenest pleasure that he lis- 
 tened to her accounts of historical happenings 
 there in the Connecticut Valley during the old 
 Indian War times. Tom had read of them dur- 
 ing his school days at Northington, but Evelyn 
 had recently been studying and reading about 
 that section with unusual interest, and she had 
 grown to fondly love that beautiful valley and 
 all its historical associations. From her bed- 
 room window at home she could see the Con- 
 necticut River as it curved gracefully around 
 the bend from the Hatvale shores, down past the 
 old Holly Bridge, and on beyond was the famous 
 " Ox-bow," where the waters had gradually 
 worn away the banks on the Northington side, 
 and given to that part of the river the above 
 name, due to its peculiar shape. Then for a 
 stretch of several miles it flowed gently on to- 
 ward the old Hockanom Ferry. It was here on 
 this beautiful spot that the Northington boys 
 had built the home of the Canoe Club. Many 
 were the happy days spent along the banks of 
 that dear old river. 
 
 Tom loved these old scenes, and as they 
 reached a point where Mt. Tong and Mt. Hall- 
 ypke could be seen in the distance, he told the 
 girls about his many thrilling experiences dur- 
 ing boyhood days, when with his chums he 
 roamed the mountains from base to summit and 
 from end to end. 
 
 As their road was so close to the Mountain 
 Park, Tom suggested that they stop awhile and 
 
THE ELECTRICAL CLUB 39 
 
 go up on the mountain. This pleased the girls 
 also, and they soon reached the grove and 
 were strolling around among the trees, watching 
 the people, and particularly the small children 
 that were having such a good time romping and 
 playing on the grass. 
 
 ''What a great benefactor the electric railway 
 has been/' said Evelyn! "Think of the thou- 
 sands of poor people who come to this park with 
 their families, for a fare of five cents each way, 
 who cannot afford any other means for leaving 
 the city and getting a breath of air. I come here 
 often just to watch these people, and see the 
 happiness which their faces show they are ex- 
 periencing. " 
 
 "What is that building over there?" asked 
 Tom. 
 
 "That is the theater," replied Evelyn. "For 
 ten cents extra the people can see vaudeville en- 
 tertainment of a high class. It is exceedingly 
 popular. You would wonder how the railway 
 company could offer it for such a small sum un- 
 less you can appreciate the enormous crowds 
 who patronize the place." 
 
 Eethyl here suggested that they take the side 
 line and go on up to the station, where the 
 Electric Incline Railway would enable them to 
 ascend the mountain. No sooner said than 
 done, they were on their way. It seemed to 
 Tom that only a few short years had made a 
 great change up in that section. He told them 
 about the old stage road, and how tiresome and 
 tedious a trip it then was to go up the moun- 
 tain, but now as they stepped into that com- 
 fortable car, and commenced to ascend with ease 
 and pleasure, once again there came across 
 Tom's mind how great and important was the 
 
40 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 subject of electricity. While many years 
 earlier there had been inclined railways, elec- 
 tricity was the first power to bring the poor 
 people to such places for an insignificant sum, 
 and afford them pleasure and amusement which 
 had previously been accorded to the wealthy 
 families only. 
 
 It was a perfectly clear afternoon. For miles 
 and miles the beautiful Connecticut Valley lay 
 stretched out before them, exhibiting a pano- 
 ramic view delightful to the eye, and dear to the 
 hearts of those in whose minds lingered tender 
 memories of happy childhood days associated 
 with those regions. 
 
 They took supper there on the veranda of the 
 Mountain House, and were favored with one of 
 the most gorgeous sunsets ever witnessed. From 
 their seats could be seen the Montreal Electric 
 Express, a through electric train, wending its 
 way along, making neither noise nor smoke, 
 bound for New York City by way of Spring- 
 vale. 
 
 "Whenever I see one of those trains/* said 
 Tom, "I cannot help but think of the marvel- 
 ously rapid growth of the electric railway busi- 
 ness. It is fair to state that the industry started 
 in 1887, and in twenty-five years practically all 
 the cities and towns in the country have the 
 electric system of transportation on the streets, 
 while the steam railroads are changing over from 
 steam to electric power so fast we can hardly 
 keep pace with their progress. ' ' 
 
 "Do you happen to remember, Mr. Appleton," 
 said Evelyn, "that Bellamy's ' Looking Back- 
 ward' was published just about the same time 
 that the commercial introduction of electric rail- 
 ways was being announced to the world? If 
 
THE ELECTRICAL CLUB 41 
 
 his book had been published a year or two later, 
 probably another chapter, at least, would have 
 dwelt upon the future in respect to railways/' 
 
 "I do not think that anyone at that time 
 could have prophesied that the electric railway 
 in 1912 would have become so popular among 
 all the classes of people/' answered Tom. 
 
 " There comes the scintillator, " said E ethyl. 
 
 Just then the lights were turned low on the 
 pavilion, and a series of five searchlights sent 
 their streams of illumination into view. Steam 
 pipes were located some thirty feet in the air, 
 and as the many jets emitted forth their vol- 
 umes of steam, the various colors from the scin- 
 tillator made beautiful clouds of all shades, ever 
 changing as the signals for proper color com- 
 binations were given. 
 
 The policy of the proprietor of this Mountain 
 House, was to furnish night illumination scenes 
 from the scintillator at least one night each 
 week, and the display apparatus was always on 
 exhibit in connection with holiday festivals. 
 
 "I remember," said Tom, "when this 
 scintillator was invented, and commercially 
 introduced. It was only a few years ago. One 
 of the first exhibitions was given at a seashore 
 resort near Boston, and it was exceedingly 
 popular. Enormous crowds came to the beach 
 on the trolley ears and automobiles, to spend 
 the evening, and witness the beautiful illumina- 
 tion displays. The newspapers commented 
 very favorably upon the invention, and prophe- 
 sied even at that time that scintillators 
 would be adopted by all up-to-date summer 
 resorts, mountain houses, and wherever the 
 people congregated for an outing, or an even- 
 ing of pleasure. I remember distinctly, attend- 
 
42 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 ing the Jamestown Exposition, where 100 
 searchlights were used in connection with a 
 grand illumination scheme. It was the most 
 marvelous exhibit of illumination which I had 
 ever witnessed. " 
 
 Tom told the girls all about Prof. W. D'A. 
 Rhine, the inventor of the scintillator, and his 
 wonderful reputation as an illuminating engineer. 
 He said that not more than a year after the 
 first exhibition of the scintillator near Boston, 
 Prof. Rhine's engineering ingenuity had created 
 various schemes representative of the introduc- 
 tion of fireworks displays, and that the next 4th 
 of July he produced the most spectacular 
 exhibit of fireworks by means of the electrical 
 scintillator, without using powder, or any of 
 the ordinary devices which had been common 
 for years in connection with fireworks exhibi- 
 tions. The results of this wonderful display 
 led electrical papers, and the public press 
 throughout the entire country, to disseminate 
 information about the wonderful illumination 
 scheme, so that the following year, electrical 
 companies in general arranged their plans so 
 that electricity became the agent for 4th of 
 July demonstrations, and the old style fireworks 
 were abandoned in connection with large 
 demonstrations and illumination exhibitions. 
 
 An hour later they were again speeding along 
 the old River Road, enjoying the silvery moon- 
 light, and as the rays were reflected upon the 
 calm and peaceful waters, it exhibited a view 
 seen only on rare occasions. 
 
 As they left Evelyn at her door, she thanked 
 Tom so kindly, and in such a gracious manner, 
 he vowed to himself that the ride was ended all 
 too soon. 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 THE COLLEGE BALL. 
 
 It was a happy group seated around the 
 breakfast table the next morning. All kinds of 
 questions were being fired at Tom, and kept 
 him so busy talking that Mother Appleton soon 
 insisted upon giving him time to eat a little 
 breakfast, at least, especially as he was to have a 
 long vacation with them. 
 
 Tom's father had always listened with a 
 great deal of interest to anything said about 
 the electrical industry, but on this particular 
 visit there seemed to be a great many matters 
 of unusual interest to them both. The old gas 
 plant there in the city had been abandoned 
 entirely. Some time ago it had been purchased 
 by the local electrical company, and all its 
 customers for both liqrht and heat were now 
 favored with the electrical appliances. Tom 
 explained to his father how his position en- 
 abled him to know what was going on all over 
 the country in respect to electric lighting and 
 gas companies. 
 
 "You see, father, the new incandescent lamp 
 was developed and introduced to the people 
 in 1907. It did not take long to see the ad- 
 vantages which this new lighting device pos- 
 sessed over gas. It was designed by the inven- 
 tors to produce the same illumination for one- 
 third of the cost. The people were tired of 
 
 43 
 
44 LOOKING FOBWARD 
 
 using gas, and had been anxiously waiting for 
 some such great invention to be introduced. As 
 soon as the new lamps were on the market, every 
 branch of the electrical industry became 
 acquainted with the situation. Wiring con- 
 tractors saw the opportunities for increasing 
 their business by advertising the new lamp, 
 and dealers in supplies also became aggressive. 
 It was impossible to hold back such a radical 
 departure in the field of illumination. Hence 
 the gas companies all over the country com- 
 menced to fear for the future of the gas busi- 
 ness. 
 
 " Another reason/' said Tom, "the electrical 
 companies studied carefully the needs and con- 
 veniences of the people. In 1907 they produced 
 devices for home use which were exceedingly 
 attractive. They were simple in design, sold 
 at a low price, and cost only a small sum to 
 operate. Having been attracted in his own 
 home by such devices, the merchant requested 
 them in his business ; the physician recommended 
 them in his profession: the manufacturer used 
 them in his factories and mills; and as gas 
 was not used for motive power, but the electri- 
 cal companies had been foremost in electrical 
 motors for years, you see how natural it was 
 to supply light, heat and power by electricity." 
 
 "Come," said Eethyl; "quit talking shop, 
 and let's talk about the college ball tonight. I 
 understand that Evelyn has decided to go with 
 Frank Sheldon, but she tells me it will posi- 
 tively be the last time." 
 
 "Who is Frank Sheldon?" asked Tom, trying 
 to conceal the start which her announcement 
 had given him. 
 
 "Don't you remember him? Evelyn says he 
 
THE COLLEGE BALL 4S 
 
 told her that he worked on the test, some five 
 years ago, at Millville." 
 
 "Let me see! Sheldon, did you say? It 
 seems to me I do remember the name now." 
 He did not tell her the circumstances which 
 resulted in his discharge from the Glendale 
 Works, but asked why Evelyn did not like him. 
 
 "Well," said Eethyl, "in the first place, she 
 does not think he has any ambition, and lately 
 she believes that his character may be ques- 
 tionable. Their families have lived near each 
 other in New York City for many years, and 
 Evelyn has kept company with him because of 
 old associations." 
 
 Eethyl seemed to be wound up this particular 
 morning, and told Tom a great many things 
 about Evelyn which made him feel more and 
 more that he should like to be better acquainted 
 with her. The splendid character of the girl 
 appealed to him. Eethyl had told him that 
 Evelyn's home life was beautiful. Her mother 
 and father simply worshiped her. She was 
 always doing something for others which not 
 only indicated an unusually kind disposition, 
 but likewise, in many cases, showed depth of 
 thought of no mean degree. 
 
 M While we have been at school the Tylers 
 have continually kept three and four girls in 
 their kitchen. At first I could not understand 
 it, bu* one day I was talking with Mrs. Tyler, 
 and she told me that the plan was Evelyn's. 
 She trained them herself to skilfully use the 
 electric outfit, and when one of them had been 
 there a year, a position was secured for her as 
 demonstrator in the employ of some electrical 
 company or large department store. She has 
 personally helped to educate them, and has 
 
46 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 boarded and paid them good wages for the 
 purpose of placing the girls in positions where 
 they could not only earn more money, but get 
 an education, a better idea of life and under- 
 stand the new manner in which kitchen work 
 might be considered if the housewives and the 
 kitchen girls would educate themselves to- 
 gether on the subject for the best good of both. 
 
 "I never saw such a girl/* said Eethyl; "she 
 goes down in the afternoon and talks to the 
 classes in the Woman's Club, and before return- 
 ing she makes a call on some sick woman or 
 child in the parish. Her father told me the 
 other day that he guessed he would have to 
 purchase electric pads and water heaters by the 
 gross, if Evelyn continued to leave them wher- 
 ever she visited." 
 
 "What did Ev I mean Miss Tyler say to 
 that?" said Tom, coloring a little in spite of 
 himself. 
 
 "She smiled," replied Eethyl, pretending not 
 to notice his embarrassment. "But she is not 
 extravagant in other ways. She simply likes 
 to visit among the parish people and being fond 
 of electrical articles, also fully appreciating their 
 value, she leaves them freely among such 
 families. They all know her and love her. If 
 they return to New York to live, she will be 
 missed around here by a great many of the poor 
 people." 
 
 So Tom got a good idea that morning of 
 Evelyn Tyler and her daily life. What his 
 sister had told him about her acquaintance with 
 Frank Sheldon set him to thinking. He began 
 to wonder if there could be any hope for him, 
 but this thought was quickly put aside. He had 
 to help his father and mother. His sister would 
 
THE COLLEGE BALL 47 
 
 need some assistance from him, and then again 
 Evelyn Tyler was rich, highly cultured, a Fifth 
 Avenue girl, whose parents would naturally 
 desire her to marry into an equally wealthy 
 family. No, he must not leave any room for 
 such thoughts in his mind, but be thankful that 
 through the friendship of his sister he could 
 be near her occasionally, hear her talk and 
 laugh, and feel again the pleasant sensation 
 which had crept over him yesterday when they 
 had ridden together in the same seat, and 
 enjoyed each other's society as if they had been 
 old acquaintances of many years' standing. 
 
 He thought, however, that he ought to go 
 downtown right away and get some new dan- 
 cing slippers and a tie. Surely he must look 
 well tonight, although, as the thought came to 
 his mind, he felt slightly vexed for allowing 
 himself to anticipate the occasion so much. He 
 had attended a ball before, and surely his mind 
 had not been so stirred up as the thoughts of 
 tonight's reception had stirred it. 
 
 At any rate he started down to the city, 
 walking the entire way in order to see what 
 improvements had been made in the city's 
 streets, the houses, etc. 
 
 Having reached Main street he made his 
 purchases, and was about to turn his steps 
 homeward again, when a voice called to him 
 from the curbing: "Mr. Appleton, are you 
 going home?" 
 
 He turned around, and there before him 
 stood Evelyn Tyler, just about to step into her 
 electric phaeton and start for home. Tom felt 
 that he had never seen such a handsome girl 
 in his life, and made up his mind instantly that 
 he must not get so flustered and excited ; but he 
 
48 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 threw back his shoulders, and answered that he 
 was about leaving for home, and would enjoy 
 riding up with her very much. Assisting her 
 to a seat, he sat down beside her, and they 
 started off toward home. 
 
 "I wanted to tell you/' she said, "how much 
 I enjoyed our automobile ride yesterday." 
 
 "I am glad you did/' replied Tom, at the 
 same time screwing up sufficient courage to add 
 further, "I also enjoyed the trip a great deal, 
 and I did not expect to have the pleasure of 
 riding with you again so soon." 
 
 "Do you attend the National Convention at 
 San Francisco ?" she asked. 
 
 "Yes," answered Tom; "I have been re- 
 quested to attend as a delegate from our Com- 
 pany. I think I shall take my sister along, if 
 she will go." 
 
 "Oh, that will be splendid," exclaimed 
 Evelyn; "we can all go together. Won't that 
 be lovely!" 
 
 Tom was thrilled with pleasure at this an- 
 nouncement, as her presence on such a long trip 
 would give him just the opportunity he had 
 been seeking. He would see her every day, and 
 as the object of their tour was an electrical 
 convention, there was a good excuse to talk with 
 her freely on electrical matters. He simply 
 answered her, however, by stating that it would 
 be very pleasant, and they continued on their 
 way talking constantly of one thing and 
 another. 
 
 Taking the reader back a little, to see what 
 Frank Sheldon has been doing. After leaving 
 Millville, he went home as stated, and about the 
 only important matter on his mind was a 
 determined desire to marry Evelyn Tyler. In 
 
THE COLLEGE BALL 49 
 
 this purpose his mother shared his intentions, 
 and not only took unusual interest in watching 
 his advancement, but frequently urged him to 
 greater effort in his suit. He had seen Evelyn 
 at many functions and she ihad occasionally 
 attended receptions with him, so that opportun- 
 ities were offered him to follow up his suit. The 
 first time he talked to her on the subject it was 
 quite in the form of a business proposition. 
 He mentioned the great wealth which would 
 come into his possession some day; the many 
 years they had lived near each other as 
 neighbors, and ended by stating that, as he loved 
 her, he thought she would naturally like to 
 become his wife. It amused Evelyn, and she 
 was able to laugh it off, and tell him kindly that 
 she could not think of such a thing as she was 
 about to enter college, and would not have time 
 for anything except the studies in which she 
 was deeply interested. 
 
 Again, later, he referred to the subject in a 
 more persistent manner, but Evelyn told him 
 very frankly that she had only a friendly regard 
 for him, and if he continued in his intentions 
 she would be inclined to drop even their 
 friendly relations. 
 
 When he asked her a month ahead of the 
 date for the college ball if she would accompany 
 him, she had hesitated and put him off until 
 the last .few days, finally accepting his invita- 
 tion, with her mind fully made up that it would 
 be the last time she would accompany him 
 anywhere. Her parents had talked the matter 
 over with her, and they all agreed that it was 
 best for her to inform him definitely that she 
 entertained no more than an ordinary friend- 
 ship for him, and he could not hope for any- 
 thing further. 
 
50 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 Prank Sheldon had done nothing for about 
 a year after going back to New York from 
 Millville, but finally his father insisted that he 
 should not remain idle. He was, therefore, 
 placed in charge of an electric property in 
 Western New York State, but he did not re- 
 main with that company more than a year. He 
 was constantly in trouble with the employees 
 and his associates. Some of them resigned 
 rather than go to his father about their trouble 
 with him, but finally he decided he did not 
 like the electrical business anyway, and would 
 not work at it any longer. For another period 
 therefore, he was idle again, and finally his 
 father placed him at the head of one of his gas 
 interests at Hollywood, Mass. He had been 
 there about a year, when, on this particular 
 day, the reception at the college was the oc- 
 casion for his being in Northington. He had 
 just come from the Mansion House bar when 
 he saw Tom Appleton taking a seat beside 
 Evelyn Tyler and driving away with her in the 
 electric phaeton. He saw her talking and 
 laughing with him in a manner indicative of great 
 interest and pleasure, and at once there arose 
 in his mind a feeling of jealousy. He had never 
 liked Tom Appleton anyway, since the time of 
 the accident, when he had been discharged in 
 disgrace from the Glendale Works. 
 
 The present situation was relieved somewhat 
 when he considered that, at any rate, she would 
 be in his clutches in the evening at the ball, 
 and he would, in some way, make her promise 
 to become his wife. 
 
 The day continued to be filled with sunshine, 
 and unusual happiness was exhibited by 
 Evelyn Tyler as she flitted to and fro over the 
 
THE COLLEGE BALL 51 
 
 house, making the last hurried touches in con- 
 nection with her toilette. Her mother noticed 
 it, and said: 
 
 "Evelyn, I am glad you are so happy tonight. 
 I know now that you will have a lovely time." 
 
 The bell rang and Frank Sheldon was an- 
 nounced. He came into the hall, but as Evelyn 
 was ready he was not asked to take a chair. 
 Mrs. Tyler called to him as they were leaving: 
 
 "Frank, you must be sure and make the even- 
 ing pleasant for Evelyn, as she is feeling very 
 happy now." 
 
 "All right, Mrs. Tyler," he replied, "I'll 
 try;" but he knew when he said it, that he was 
 thinking of his own selfish ends, and not of 
 Evelyn's pleasure. 
 
 They had hardly been seated and started, 
 when he told Evelyn that he saw her that morn- 
 ing, and was surprised to know that she would 
 take such a fellow as Tom Appleton to ride 
 with her. 
 
 "What do you know about him?" she asked. 
 
 "I know a great deal about him," he said, 
 "and he is not a fit man to be associated with 
 you, Evelyn." 
 
 Nothing more was said about the matter, and 
 they were soon down in the city and entering 
 the college gates. A long line of carriages could 
 be seen ahead of them, but gradually their car- 
 riage made its way to the entrance of the recep- 
 tion hall. Evelyn's happy mood had changed 
 since leaving the house, due to Frank Sheldon's 
 remarks; but as she saw the magnificent 
 decorations and the marvelous beauty of the 
 electrical display, her spirits rose. The excite- 
 ment had partially changed her mind, and as she 
 went to the ladies' dressing-room, wondering 
 
52 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 if her friends had arrived, Eethyl Appleton 
 came up and spoke to her. 
 
 * ' Isn 't it lovely, Evelyn ? ' ' she cried. 
 
 "Yes, it is beautiful," replied Evelyn, "but 
 I wish that I had never come with Frank 
 Sheldon; I will tell you all about it later. " 
 
 In a few moments more they were out in the 
 ball room, and a sight met their gaze which was 
 long to be remembered by all who attended that 
 ball. They were in a new building which had 
 only just been finished. One of the most 
 famous architects in Boston had presented a 
 design which was pleasing to the college 
 executives not only from the standpoint of 
 architectural beauty, but his plans were filled 
 with novel ideas regarding illumination. There 
 was not a single lamp or bulb to be seen. 
 Nothing physical was in evidence respecting the 
 illumination, but the combination of wonderful 
 architectural display and magnificent illuminat- 
 ing effect was at once so beautiful and im- 
 pressive as to excite the most favorable com- 
 ments. 
 
 The architect's plans had also included a com- 
 plete installation of the Telharmonium. The 
 interior design was particularly adapted to 
 render the very best acoustics. Classical 
 orchestral music was being rendered in a man- 
 ner to attract the attention of everyone in the 
 hall ; yet there was no orchestra and apparently 
 no physical source from which the beautiful 
 strains emanated. A diffusion of sound was pro- 
 duced throughout the hall in the same manner 
 as the architect had so successfully arranged 
 for diffusion of light. 
 
 Tom had not met Frank Sheldon as yet, but 
 as the girls came out together they both reached 
 
THE COLLEGE BALL 53 
 
 them at the same time from opposite directions. 
 Evelyn caught sight of Tom coming toward 
 them, and she was very much struck with his 
 handsome appearance. He was tall and erect, 
 with broad military shoulders; a clean shaven 
 face, which was not only pleasing to look upon, 
 but it was a countenance full of frankness and 
 honesty. Evelyn found herself looking straight 
 into his eyes, with such a steady gaze of 
 admiration, that Tom was on the point of 
 embarrassment, when he noticed the color come 
 to her cheeks. 
 
 He was about to congratulate himself upon 
 the pleasure in store for him, when Evelyn 
 introduced Frank Sheldon. Tom nodded, but 
 did not offer to take Sheldon's hand, while 
 Sheldon gave him a cold, formal bow. The 
 dancing cards were being distributed, and 
 engagements for dances were being rapidly 
 made. Evelyn had hurriedly looked over her 
 card and had crossed three dances, when Shel- 
 don asked her what the crosses meant. 
 
 " Those dances are taken," said Evelyn. 
 
 Again Sheldon felt the pangs of jealousy, and 
 was more anxiously than ever awaiting an 
 opportunity to tell her what he thought, and 
 insist upon a promise from her that would 
 settle the matter once and for all. 
 
 The music for the first dance was started, and 
 Sheldon struck out down the hall with Evelyn, 
 rushing through a two step: Tom and Eethyl 
 danced together, and Evelyn caught occasional 
 glimpses of them, as they gracefully passed 
 near her. She noticed that Tom presented a 
 splendid form, and many eyes were upon him. 
 Sheldon did not dance very well, and Evelyn 
 was glad when they had finished. She was 
 
54 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 immediately surrounded by a crowd of young 
 admirers, asking about dances, and joking about 
 the crosses, but Tom succeeded in getting near 
 enough to ask about her card, when she leaned 
 over near his ear and whispered that she had 
 saved three waltzes for him, the second, fifth 
 and ninth numbers. Tom marked his card with 
 crosses at the corresponding numbers, and with 
 a feeling of great pleasure. He saw that E ethyl 
 was so popular as to get her card filled quickly, 
 and while waiting for the next dance he looked 
 around the hall, without paying any attention 
 to engaging other partners for himself. 
 
 It seemed an age to him before the music 
 started. It was a dreamy waltz which he had 
 remembered of hearing, but never before had 
 the tones seemed so sweet and pure as tonight. 
 How beautiful she was! This was the thought 
 running through his mind. She was dressed in 
 a rich black velvet gown closely fitting her form, 
 and with a string of amber beads encircling the 
 throat, the costume was complete. There were 
 neither jewels nor flowers; simply the plain 
 costume, decorated and embellished by the 
 beautiful black eyes, the wealth of hair, the 
 lovely white shoulders, and graceful form. She 
 placed her hand in his, and his arm was now 
 around her waist. Away they glided down the 
 hall, conscious of no other persons in the room : 
 intoxicated with the, moment's pleasure. She 
 thought what a strong manly fellow he 
 appeared. How gracefully he danced! And 
 Tom felt that surely he was having a beautiful 
 dream, from which he must soon awake with a 
 thud. She seemed as light as a feather, and he 
 felt that he could dance forever with such a 
 partner. The music stopped, but there was such 
 
THE COLLEGE BALL 55 
 
 a round of applause for an encore that again 
 they danced, and once more Tom enjoyed the 
 delicious sensations which he had never before 
 experienced. 
 
 They were all having a lovely time, with the 
 exception of Sheldon. He had watched Tom and 
 Evelyn all the evening, and was so mad that 
 during the intermission he would not enter the 
 hall, but sulked outside in the smoking-room. 
 He made up his mind that when he danced with 
 her again he would ask her to go out into the 
 conservatory with him and there talk it over. 
 He was glad, therefore, when the music started 
 once more. He went for her, and as he came 
 up, Tom saw the meanness that was written 
 on his face. While they danced Tom sauntered 
 out into the garden and sat down alone behind 
 some tall spreading palms. It was one of the 
 first seats he saw in a quiet spot away from the 
 regular path, and he thought he would be 
 entirely alone. He had not been sitting there 
 long when an angry voice caught his ear. It 
 was quite low, but he recognized it as Sheldon's. 
 
 "I insist that you promise me once and 
 for all," he was saying, "that you will be my 
 wife. You are having too good a time with 
 that fellow Apple ton. I know him. He is not 
 a gentleman, and is unfit to associate with you." 
 
 "I do not believe you, ' ' came the answer ; and 
 Tom knew positively that it was Evelyn with 
 Sheldon. 
 
 He was just wishing that he was not in such 
 an embarrassing position, when he heard Shel- 
 don say: 
 
 "I will make you promise to be my wife." 
 Stepping aside, to get a better view, Tom saw 
 Sheldon grasp Evelyn's wrist with the grip of 
 a villain. 
 
56 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 Without waiting another moment, he stepped 
 forward. His right arm shot into the air, direct- 
 ing a blow which knocked Sheldon keeling over 
 on the floor. He was on his feet again instantly, 
 and looked at Tom as if he would like to strike 
 him; but the tall manly form towered above 
 him, and the commanding presence awed Sheldon. 
 Besides, his eye was commencing to swell, and, 
 as Tom told him positively that he could not 
 accompany Evelyn, home, he left the hall 
 in a rage. 
 
 Tom explained to Evelyn how he happened 
 to be behind the palms. She then thanked him 
 earnestly for his protection, and when he sug- 
 gested that she could go home in their carriage, 
 she was glad and accepted the offer. 
 
 They had still another dance together, which 
 was filled with pleasure for both of them. 
 
 On the way home she sat next to Tom. He 
 could feel her warm breath near his cheek, as 
 the carriage gave an occasional lurch. Two or 
 three times her hand was placed on his, and he 
 thought once she let it rest there longer than 
 usual. Perhaps the girl liked him just a little 
 he did not know. The excitement of it all had 
 made him lose the good, sound, common sense 
 which he possessed when he arrived in Northing- 
 ton only a few days before. 
 
 "Good night/' she said: "Come over to- 
 morrow, E ethyl. I want to thank you again 
 very much, Mr. Appleton, for your kindness and 
 protection. ' ' 
 
 Tom answered something. He never knew 
 what, but all the remainder of the night, in his 
 sleep, he dreamed that he was dancing with 
 Evelyn Tyler. 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 
 THE ELECTRON PACIFIC EXPRESS. 
 
 One afternoon iabout a week later, Tom, 
 Evelyn, and Eethyl were seated in an observation 
 car of the Electron Pacific Express. Mr. and 
 Mrs. Tyler had been taking a nap. It had been 
 a beautiful (afternoon, and /they had keenly 
 enjoyed the scenes through which the train was 
 speeding them at a rate of 60 to 75 miles an 
 hour. Tom had been explaining to Evelyn all 
 about the electric train. He said: 
 
 ''In 1906 the New York Central Railroad had 
 made a trial installation of the electric system, 
 which was so successful in operation, that the 
 next year they equipped the Hudson River 
 branch, and soon the entire road from New York 
 to Buffalo was electrified. About the same time 
 the Michigan Central was carefully studying 
 the problem, and in a very little time it was 
 possible to go from New York to Chicago on an 
 electric train. The first train to run through 
 to Chicago was called the 'Amberon' Express, 
 the name 'having been associated so distinctly 
 with the early history of electricity." He 
 showed her how natural it was for the railroads 
 of the country to change quickly from steam to 
 electricity as soon as the New York Central had 
 secured such -splendid results. "The Penn- 
 sylvania road was losing business continually, 
 between New York, Cleveland and Chicago 
 
 57 
 
58 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 because its steam trains could not compete with 
 the modern electric trains on the Central lines. 
 The New York Tunnel became a marvel of neat- 
 ness; was well lighted and ventilated. All 
 the stations were clean and well painted; free 
 from smoke and gas. Having a tremendously 
 large supply of electricity, and having studied 
 the subject in all its details so thoroughly, they 
 were quick to adopt electricity for the dining 
 ears, and during the hottest days in the Summer 
 months, the cooks in the kitchen of the electric 
 dining car were comfortable and cool. It was 
 a pleasure to ride about the country, a pleasure 
 which these fellows derived in the change from 
 steam or coal ovens to the electric cooking and 
 baking devices. Foods were served more 
 promptly, and the cooks and waiters were more 
 efficient because of the convenience and ease of 
 doing their work. The design of the dining car 
 was much better, also, because wires were run in 
 a concealed manner, much easier and taking up 
 less space than steam pipes. Cleanliness and 
 ease of work were quickly appreciated by those 
 connected with the kitchen part of the car." 
 
 Tom continued, "The baggage car was also 
 equipped with a motor for handling the large 
 trunks and luggage. When the train stopped 
 at a station, the baggageman turned a switch, 
 and a motor operated the sliding door. A small 
 crane was then brought into use. It was operated 
 t? a motor capable of quickly raising and lower- 
 ing large heavy trunks. The station baggage- 
 man also had an equipment with small motor 
 trucks, for carting luggage between the baggage 
 rooms and the trains. The railroad benefited 
 in many ways by introducing these electrical 
 appliances not only saving valuable time in 
 
ELECTRON PACIFIC EXPRESS 59 
 
 handling baggage when trains were at the 
 station, but also lending its efforts to make the 
 work of its employees pleasant and instructive. ' ' 
 
 At this point Tom said, with greater emphasis, 
 ' * I want to -explain to you how much importance 
 the large progressive railroads, manufacturing 
 companies, and business houses attach to the 
 modern labor-saving devices which cultivate a 
 high efficiency on the part of their employees. 
 In our factories I have noticed many clever 
 schemes for making the work rooms peasant, 
 well ventilated, and healthy. In one room 
 where copper bars are ground, and much 
 copper dust created, which is unhealthy, and 
 bad for the eyes, the machines are equipped 
 with large pipes, and exhaust fans for carrying 
 the dust away, out of the window. The room 
 which would otherwise have been very dusty 
 and unhealthy was easily made clean and pleas- 
 ant, increasing the efficiency of the men 
 physically, mentally, and in every way." 
 
 On the Electron Pacific Express they had been 
 very much entertained during luncheons and 
 dinners by reason of the Telharmonium in the 
 dining oar. The most charming music was 
 rendered from an unseen source. There was not 
 even a violin or piano visible, and to a person 
 not accustomed to much travel, the plan would 
 excite much curiosity. The girls had, of 
 course, read about the Telharmonium a few 
 years before, as it was much talked about in 
 1906, when Baltimore and New York parties 
 organized a large company to introduce it 
 commercially. One of the first concerts was 
 given at Hardcourt, Conn., and the music was 
 created and transmitted by electricity. It had 
 been possible before this, to hear music over the 
 
60 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 telephone, which was transmitted many miles 
 distant, but this particular system included the 
 creation of music electrically, in addition to 
 delivering it over the wires. Boon after the first 
 music station was installed in 1906 in New York 
 City, the restaurants, 'hotels, theatres, churches, 
 and residences subscribed for connections in 
 the same manner as they had subscribed for 
 telephone 'and electric light service. At the 
 central-station of the New York Company, 
 music was created and rendered twenty-four 
 hours daily, and iat any hour or minute of the 
 day, most delightful music could be secured by 
 simply throwing a switch. The people were not 
 only greatly pleased to take advantage of the 
 plan in the same way that they had used the 
 telephone, but the business managers of hotels, 
 restaurants, theatres, etc., were able to secure 
 twenty-four hour service at less expense, com- 
 pared with the old method of string bands. It 
 established a much superior system, also, because 
 in the large clubs where private rooms were 
 continually used, the softest strains of classical 
 music could be furnished from the regular 
 electric light wires, with no difficulty whatever. 
 As early as 1906, this electric system of furnish- 
 ing music was commercial and became popularly 
 used like the telephone, in a remarkably short 
 time. 
 
 City governments soon contracted for music 
 in the city parks, and during the Summer even- 
 ings, thousands of people were favored with the 
 latest pieces, rendered in all parts of the city. 
 The old method of delivering music by a small 
 band of men resulted in a massing of the people, 
 frequently creating a jamb, and demanding 
 constant attention of the police to prevent dis- 
 
ELECTRON PACIFIC EXPRESS 61 
 
 order and violence. The new electric system 
 became so satisfactory in delivering music at any 
 point that 'artistic poles were located sufficiently 
 near together to accommodate many different 
 sections of the park. Muselectrans became 
 remarkably popular, not only during the Sum- 
 mer evenings, but once a week during the 
 Winter months, & pop-concert was given in the 
 City Hall, which thousands of people attended. 
 It cost the people nothing as the city contracted 
 for the music at a very low figure in connection 
 with its street lighting, incandescent lamps, and 
 electric heating appliances for its buildings. 
 
 The Summer of 1907 witnessed the passing 
 of the brass bands for street parades. The 
 experience of the Muselectrans in the parks soon 
 attracted the electric company to the demands 
 for electric music in the streets, and at every few 
 blocks, these instruments were located on 
 ornamental poles. The system worked beauti- 
 fully in connection with parades. By means of 
 starters, switches, and telephones, there was no 
 difficulty in controlling music, starting and 
 stopping it, fas the demands required. The 
 device itself was made ornamental, and special 
 attention given to its artistic design so as to 
 co-operate freely with the Municipal Art League 
 which was doing such magnificent work for the 
 'cities during that year. All dance halls were 
 equipped with electric music, and whenever 
 arrangements were made for a social dance, 
 music and hall were engaged at the same time, 
 .and in the same place, offering convenience and 
 smaller expense than ever before. 
 
 "But how did they -arrange to furnish music 
 in the dining car ? " asked Evelyn. 
 
 "In the baggiage car there is a Dynamophone 
 
62 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 which is like one of the old-style organs, except 
 it is equipped with a number of small alterna- 
 ting dynamos. The key-board is operated by 
 a skilled musician. At one end of the dining 
 car, in a concealed position, is a Muselectran, 
 from which the music is transmitted. In the 
 other cars on the train, including the observation 
 ear, notice is posted that at certain hours of the 
 morning, afternoon, or evening, classical music 
 will be rendered; such concerts lasting about 
 one-half hour. 
 
 On such long trips as from New York to San 
 Francisco, these short concerts break up the 
 monotony of the trip, and are certainly con- 
 sidered very popular. You recollect how often 
 we have noticed the passengers on board this 
 train, make use of the instruments. It seemed 
 that they would never get enough. While it 
 attracts the older people, the children think it is 
 splendid. They listen for the longest time, and 
 then run and tell their mothers all about it. 
 Then back again -and repeat the incident. It is 
 indeed a happy hour for the children. After 
 the first day out, did you notice how the 
 musician came through the train, talking to the 
 children particularly? He ascertained what 
 selections pleased them most, and promised to 
 repeat them that afternoon. 
 
 It is surely a popular plan to please the 
 children so much. There is no more forcible 
 way to advertise the Railroad Company. Of 
 course it is necessary to have a musician travel 
 continually with the train, but this represents 
 only a trifle to the railroad company, 'as they 
 have for years had a stenographer in the observa- 
 tion car, who will write letters free of expense 
 to passengers. They also carry on board, a lady 
 
ELECTRON PACIFIC EXPRESS 63 
 
 manicurist, and the extra musician represents 
 a small matter compared with the great advertis- 
 ing features which the Telharmonium offers, 
 and the popularity with which it is received by 
 passengers. ' ' 
 
 They were seated in the rear end of the 
 observation car, and an excellent opportunity 
 was afforded for seeing the track construction. It 
 seemed s if they would never tire of watching 
 the scenery and gazing at the many interesting 
 things along the tracks. The train had com- 
 menced to decrease its speed, and slow down to 
 about six miles an hour, when soon they saw a 
 large gang of men working on the road. Ties 
 were being changed and repairs in general were 
 being made. As they passed, the click of a ham- 
 mer could be heard, and Evelyn asked what the 
 noise was, and what was that funny looking 
 device on the side of the track. 
 
 1 'That/' said Tom, "is an electric sledge 
 hammer, for driving spikes. It has been one of 
 the handiest appliances of all, so the workmen 
 say. The old method of driving spikes was 
 very slow and expensive, also hard work for the 
 men. This electric sledge is set in place quickly, 
 and strikes & few blows fast and hard, saving 
 time and expense for such work. 
 
 ' ' There, also, is an interesting device for feed- 
 ing water to the engine. You see the trough 
 full of water. The engine takes water from that, 
 without stopping, by scooping it up. In the 
 Winter time, however, it freezes, unless some 
 means is provided for heating the water. The 
 old way, of heating by steam, was expensive, as 
 it was not always easy to get steam all along 
 the road. The electric system, however, makes it 
 very easy. The wires running alongside of the 
 
64 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 road, ean be tapped, anywhere, for such applica- 
 tions as these. The old-style hand car is 
 no more. The small electric oar takes its place. 
 It carries them from one place to another much 
 quicker, and is handier and more business-like 
 than the old type of hand car. ' ' 
 
 Just before going in to dinner, a porter came 
 into the car and asked if Mr. Appleton was 
 there. He said there was a telephone call from 
 San Francisco for him. Tom went into one of 
 the compartments, where it was quiet, and upon 
 taking up the receiver, found it was his good 
 friend, T. E. Giddings, who had called up to let 
 them know that they were expected, and he 
 would be at the depot to meet them. Tom told 
 him that the train was on time, and they would 
 arrive -at nine-thirty the next morning, if good 
 luck favored them all through the night. He 
 told him that it did not cost anything to tele- 
 phone, as the Railroad Company made a spe- 
 cialty of the accommodation, to parties who 
 had friends coming through from the East. He 
 said he had just arrived home from the office 
 and was talking to him from his own house. 
 
 When Tom returned he explained it all to 
 the girls, who thought it wonderful, as well as 
 very kind of the Giddings to appear so thought- 
 ful of them. 
 
 The trip had given Tom an excellent oppor- 
 tunity to inspect the block system along the 
 railroad, and the electric signals were so 
 numerous 'and had proven so effective, that the 
 passengers had great confidence in their safe 
 arrival. Tom appreciated now, more than ever, 
 the tremendous importance of the patented de- 
 vices which Mr. George Westlington had pro- 
 duced for the railroading industry. The air- 
 
ELECTRON PACIFIC EXPEESS 65 
 
 brake and the electric signals alone would cause 
 his name to be carried down into history from 
 generation unto generation. So much attention 
 was paid to safety by this road, when running 
 at night, that an electric arc headlight was 
 burned at the head of the engine and one on the 
 rear of the train; also one on each side of the 
 train, moving up and down every minute by 
 means of motors. These were searchlights, and 
 at a very long distance away their rays could be 
 seen, like a flashlight in the New York Harbor. 
 The lights were controlled from the electric 
 locomotive, by switches, operated by the electric 
 engineer, and when a stop was made at a 
 station, the engineer turned off the searchlights 
 on the sides, leaving on the head and rear lights 
 only. They were very powerful and valuable 
 for such service. 
 
 About ten o'clock they all retired after enjoy- 
 ing several selections by the Telharmonium, 
 feeling that they would soon be in San Fran- 
 cisco, the wonderful new city, which had been 
 rebuilt during an era when all phases of life 
 demanded the daily use of electricity. 
 
 The girls had a compartment together, and 
 before they went to sleep they talked over a 
 great many matters of mutual interest. It was 
 pleasant to recall the many happy occasions 
 during their college life. Their electric club 
 meetings had been so filled with pleasant 
 associations, that they could at any time start 
 the subject, and enjoy relating to each other 
 reminiscences which their memories reflected. 
 
 "Do you remember the ride we -had with your 
 brother Tom, from Springvale to Northington, ' ' 
 asked Evelyn. "It was about commencement 
 time. I think E ethyl, it was one of the happiest 
 days I have spent this Summer." " ' 
 
66 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 "Yes, I enjoyed it, too!" said Eethyl. 
 
 "I wonder if brother Tom had a pleasant 
 time?" 
 
 "He told me," said Eethyl, "that he hadn't 
 enjoyed himself so much before in many years. ' ' 
 
 "Do you remember how we went up on the 
 mountain 1 How we strolled around for a while 
 in the Park, iand then later went up to the 
 Mountain House by the Inclined Electric Rail- 
 way? We enjoyed Tom's stories about his 
 mountain trips during his boyhood days, and 
 then what a lovely ride home by moonlight in 
 the auto. Oh ! Eethyl, I cannot remember when 
 I have had such a happy day ! ' ' 
 
 Eethyl yawned, and turned over in her berth, 
 almost asleep. She had heard all that her girl 
 friend hiad said and appreciated just enough 
 of it to be glad that she was happy. But 
 beyond this she was too sleepy to think. Her 
 turn was to come a few months later, when 
 Cupid's arrow was*to fly just as straight and 
 true toward her heart as it had darted into 
 Evelyn's. 
 
 Soon the sounds of regular breathing from 
 Eethyl's direction indicated that she was lost in 
 sleep, but Evelyn was not even drowsy. She 
 wanted to think. What a fine fellow Tom 
 Appleton was anyway ! Had she ever met any 
 young man in New York that was like him? 
 How straight and tall he was! What a fine 
 face he had! How often she had thought of 
 his appearance at the college ball! What 
 delightful dances she had enjoyed with him! 
 She would never forget 'how handsome he looked 
 on that evening. Among the entire list of her 
 gentlemen friends in New York City there 
 was not one who could equal Tom Appleton 
 
ELECTRON PACIFIC EXPRESS 67 
 
 in the dance. Fond memories lingered around 
 that one evening when he taught her to dream 
 while they waltzed. The (hot blood rushed to 
 her cheeks when she thought of his strong arm 
 around her waist. Gently, but tightly he had 
 held her, and they floated away into space while 
 the beautiful, soft strains of music, so deli- 
 
 ciously sweet, 
 
 "Wake up, Evelyn, we are almost due in San 
 Francisco." It was Eethyl calling, and Evelyn 
 had been dreaming again of the college ball, 
 and the waltzes with Tom Appleton. 
 
CHAPTER V. 
 
 REBUILDING SAN FRANCISCO. 
 
 They arrived on time, the next morning, and 
 their friend Giddings was there to meet them. 
 After cordial greetings he told them that his 
 wife and daughter were in the carriage, await- 
 ing them at the station entrance. 
 
 Tom found himself glancing up and down, 
 and around the new station. It was a marvel 
 in respect to cleanliness and free from the usual 
 engine noises. The absence of smoke and gases 
 had favored the architect in his efforts toward 
 embellishment for the interior design ; an incon- 
 ceivable feature in connection with the old steam 
 stations, because of the continual smoky and 
 gaseous conditions. The architect had even 
 gone so far as to decorate in light colors, which 
 were blended with modest architectural designs, 
 pleasing to the eye, 'and strikingly suggestive 
 of a new era in railroad station construction. 
 No more noisy escaping steam would be heard 
 in that terminal, and if a passenger were early 
 to a train, or for any other reason, were wait- 
 ing in the station, there were comfortable, easy 
 rocking chairs, instead of the old straight- 
 backed hard settees. This railroad company was 
 very popular with the people, for they had care- 
 fully studied the conveniences of travelers, and 
 accommodated their plans and construction to 
 suit such requirements. 
 
 68 
 
EEBUILDING SAN FRANCISCO 69 
 
 After examining the station, -they p'assed out 
 through the entrance, where Mrs. Giddings and 
 their daughter Lueile, were introduced to them. 
 
 " I am so glad to see you, ' ' she said. * ' Lucile 
 and I were at the phone last night, when Mr. 
 Giddings called you on (the train, and we were 
 glad to hear you were well, tand that the train 
 was on time." 
 
 4 'We had a delightful trip/' replied Evelyn, 
 "but are glad to get off the train once more." 
 
 Tom and his sister went direct to the Gid- 
 dings home, but Evelyn went to the hotel with 
 her mother and father. 
 
 On the way to the office, after a late break- 
 fast, Giddings took much pleasure in showing 
 Tom the advantages which San Francisco now 
 possessed, in connection with its grand new 
 buildings. The Railroad Station had made a 
 very favorable impression upon his mind, but 
 when driving down through the City of New San 
 Francisco, (he was lost in admiration. He had 
 never before seen so many new buildings, and 
 how beautifully grand they appeared, when the 
 height and size of each had been designed to 
 harmonize with the character of the other! 
 There was a harmony of architecture, which 
 lent solidity and grandeur to the massive 
 structures. 
 
 Giddings broke the spell by saying, "You 
 observe the same cleanliness regarding every 
 building which was noted at the railroad station. 
 See the signs, the sidewalks, the curbing, the 
 pavements; all so clean arid neat. There is no 
 smoke in the city. The electrification of the 
 railroad, the absence of smoke in the station, 
 and the clean 'aspect, led the industrial man- 
 agers of San Francisco to a desire for their 
 
70 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 buildings to be clean and light. They, there- 
 fore, carefully studied the use of electric 
 motors, for all industrial purposes and the use 
 of electricity for heating, power and lighting. 
 The current is transmitted more than one 
 hundred miles, from the town of Califa, and 
 already more than two hundred and fifty thou- 
 sand horse-power is employed for mercantile, 
 industrial, and residential purposes in San 
 Francisco. You can therefore see why every- 
 thing looks so clean and nice. Electricity has 
 replaced steam and gas. ' ' 
 
 1 'Yes, it is wonderful and truly beautiful," 
 said Tom. "But where are the poles for tele- 
 phone and lighting wires? Where are the arc 
 lamp poles, and the sign boards indicating the 
 names of streets?" 
 
 "They are gone forever, in San Francisco," 
 replied Giddings. ' ' You see all those things had 
 to be considered, when rebuilding, after the 
 earthquake. The architects could see no need 
 of street signs on poles, when they could be 
 nicely located on the corner of the building, 
 artistic in appearance, easy to read in daylight, 
 and electrically illuminated at night. This 
 detail was never slighted when a building was 
 erected, and the system is splendid. 
 
 The street lighting is accomplished by means 
 of small arc lights of low candle power, set into 
 the fronts of the buildings, with a powerful 
 reflector behind, and an opal shade in front to 
 soften the rays. These lights are near the 
 merchants signs in respect to height, and 
 arranged to distribute the light at the proper 
 angle. The streets are beautifully lighted 
 without poles of any kind. The lighting is no 
 more expensive than before, as a very high 
 
REBUILDING SAN FRANCISCO 71 
 
 efficiency light is used. The space is not valu- 
 able, and the appearance of the glass front, for 
 the lamps, is not at all objectionable, in the day- 
 time. The arc lamps burn one thousand hours 
 without attention, which is a radical advance 
 in the art. 
 
 The telephone -and electric wires are, of 
 course, underground, and now you see what a 
 marked difference it makes in the appearance 
 of our city. 
 
 All of the electric cars, in the immediate city, 
 are -operated in subways, so we have delight- 
 fully clean and spacious thoroughfares." 
 
 They had reach&l tihe office building and 
 taken the elevator to Giddings' office. There 
 the telegrams, telephones, and visits of business 
 men indicated a large business in process of 
 transaction. Giddings finished up his more 
 important matters in about an hour, and then 
 they went to lunch. If had commenced to rain 
 and Tom asked about 'an umbrella. This 
 amused Giddings, and he replied, "Oh! well, 
 you are from the East where tihey use umbrellas. 
 We have no more use for them here. The 
 electric subway trains keep us from getting wet, 
 and the Bellamy concert umbrella idea is in 
 effect, between the subway entrances and the 
 business houses; also all along the streets. We 
 can walk for miles, and require neither 
 umbrellas nor rubbers. The weather-proof 
 coverings -are supported on adjustable and 
 movable mast arms, operated by electric motors. 
 They are quickly lowered, and when dry, after 
 a rain, are raised back into position. ' ' 
 
 They had reached the restaurant. Tom was 
 struck with astonishment to see the size of this 
 dining-room. It was the largest he had ever 
 
72 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 seen. The place was busy, but there was not 
 the hurry and busitle and the rush for seats, 
 such as v he had often noticed in New York 
 restaurants. The place was noted for its prompt 
 service and the excellent quality and variety 
 of its meats. Giddings ordered <a porterhouse 
 steak well done, when Tom suggested as far as 
 he was concerned it was just exactly what he 
 liked and would have ordered. 
 
 1 'Well," said Giddings, "it is now just 
 eighteen minutes past one, and at twenty-three 
 minutes past, our steak will be here ready to 
 serve. They use the electric broiler which is a 
 wonder. I do believe it has done more to 
 educate people in electricity than any other one 
 device. ' ' 
 
 "Yes," said Tom, "that broiler has been 
 popular everywhere. The hotels and restaurants 
 made a great point of it, as almost everybody 
 likes a nice porterhouse steak, except for the 
 waiting of twenty to thirty minutes for it. The 
 device pleases all round, because the cost of 
 operating is exceedingly low. Yon see, only 
 four minutes for using current represents a 
 marked economy." 
 
 "Here it comes," said Giddings, looking at 
 his watch. "It has been exactly four and a 
 half minutes. Now observe him cut it. See 
 how the juices flow in great abundance. The 
 electric broiler seals in the nutriment of the 
 meat, and it is the very best, quickest and most 
 economical of meats, when years ago it was the 
 most expensive." 
 
 "It was very amusing in the East," said 
 Tom, "when 'the business men learned of this 
 broiler being used in their clubs and restaurants. 
 They could not get a duplicate steak at home. 
 
REBUILDING SAN PHANCISCO 73 
 
 At first they requested it ; then failing to secure 
 it, they commenced to investigate, and study the 
 design of the broilers. One gentleman told me 
 that finally the relations with his wife were 
 getting a little strained, when she produced for 
 dinner one evening an exact duplicate of the 
 electric-ally broiled steak. He said that he 
 recognized ift thie minute 'his carving knife 
 touched it, and his wife told him all about the 
 efforts of the ladies of the neighborhood to 
 learn about those 'club steaks/ They finally 
 ascertained about the electric broiler, and pur- 
 chased one for trial. This episode led to the 
 trial of electric egg steamers, and soon every- 
 body was cooking by electricity/' 
 
 After lunch they went back over to the 
 office for a half^hour, and about three o'clock 
 joined the ladies for a drive, stopping at the 
 hotel for Evelyn. 
 
 They had noted the 'attractive architectural 
 designs of the houses, and Mrs. Giddings had 
 already explained to 'her 'about the abandon- 
 ment of chimneys. She said that the coal teams 
 were seen no more on their streets. The ash 
 teams were things of the past, >and no more ice 
 wagons delivered ice from house to house as 
 of yore. 
 
 "The only legitimate place where co'al might 
 be burned," said Giddings, "would be at 
 Calif a, where the current is generated; but 
 there, the water supply is so abundant, that it is 
 seldom, if ever, needed." 
 
 They were just passing a beautiful residence 
 when attention was called to the several 
 electrants located around the yard. 
 
 "Those," said Giddings, "are used very 
 freely out this way. Most of them are for elec- 
 
74 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 trie lawn mower connections, while that one near 
 
 the driveway is for automobile use, or the 
 
 electric wheelbarrow. Another one is a com- 
 
 . bination hydrant -and electrant, as sometimes 
 
 . the gardener wants warm water for sprinkling 
 
 the flowers. The stable is equipped with 
 
 'rectifier for electric automobile, and electric 
 
 water heater in the carriage room, and is 
 
 thoroughly well wired for lighting, heating, and 
 
 power devices. All houses <and stables are 
 
 equipped in a similar way." 
 
 Having driven through the residential part 
 of the city, Mrs. Giddings was anxious that 
 they should see the district in which the stores 
 were located; so Giddings turned his electric 
 carriage in that direction. As they drove along 
 Tom had an opportunity to show Evelyn and 
 Eethyl the interesting points that Giddings had 
 explained to him in the morning about the 
 cleanliness of the streets, the improved arc 
 lighting methods without poles, and other 
 features with which the new San Francisco was 
 favored. 
 
 The machine stopped in front of one of the 
 large blocks, and Mrs. Giddings said: 
 
 "We will go into this large department store. 
 It is one of the largest concerns in the city, but 
 you will be surprised at the small amount of 
 space they occupy for doing such a large busi- 
 ness. You see, it is handled somewhat on the 
 Bellamy idea, of exhibiting samples and 
 illustrating uses of articles at 'this store. Their 
 warehouse is located out of the center of the 
 city. It is connected, by large tubes, with thirty 
 or forty sub-stations in the several residential 
 sections. An order placed at this store, is 
 telephoned the grand warehouse, and the article 
 
REBUILDING SAN FRANCISCO 75 
 
 or articles are tubed to the sub-station nearest 
 the purchaser's address. At each sub-station an 
 electric automobile delivers the material." 
 
 "Is the system practical?" asked Evelyn. 
 
 "Oh, yes," said Giddings, "the service is 
 prompt, and is considered very accurate. 
 Material is always delivered, before my wife 
 reaches home." 
 
 "I do not see any chandeliers at all," said 
 Tom, as they entered the store. "How beauti- 
 fully everything is exhibited. It miakes one 
 anxious to purchase something." 
 
 "Since the earthquake there 'have been no 
 chandeliers whatever, used in San Francisco. 
 The merchants made a special study of this 
 point and concluded that the metal ceiling was 
 the most indestructible device they could use. 
 Upon consulting a well-known and competent 
 Illuminating Engineer, it was learned that the 
 most beautiful decorative effects could be 
 secured with the ceiling, and it was a most 
 accurate and abundant diffuser of light. Some 
 of these light diffusing ceilings were exhibited 
 at the Portland (Oregon) Exposition, as early 
 as 1905, the year before the earthquake." 
 
 Giddings continued further, "The trouble 
 with chandeliers and fixtures in San Francisco, 
 was in connection with the great amount of dam- 
 age done by their falling upon material which 
 otherwise would not have been injured. In my 
 old house, for example, the bedroom chandelier 
 dropped on our bed during the shock and added 
 still further to our fright. In our new house 
 we have no chandeliers, and metal ceilings are 
 used throughout instead of plaster." 
 
 "In this same connection," he said, "you will 
 see no chimneys here. The old brick chimneys 
 
76 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 were abominable affairs. They were exceed- 
 ingly expensive to build, and then were not 
 satisfactory. After the shock, there was hardly 
 a chimney standing in the entire city. The 
 Insurance Companies went so far as to 'actually 
 refuse policies unless chimneys were constructed 
 of steel, with asbestos block lining. These 
 specifications increased the cost to an outrageous 
 and extravagant degree, which drove the peo- 
 ple into -a more careful consideration of 
 abandoning the chimneys. The electrical com- 
 panies assisted a great deal in the matter, by 
 advertising all kinds of electrical appliances for 
 light, 'heat, and power. As early as 1905 
 residences in the East had been advertised to be 
 without chimneys. An article in the Sunday 
 newspapers described 'A House Without a 
 Chimney/ and it was read out here in Cali- 
 fornia with more than passing interest. Many 
 engineers commenced a careful study of the 
 problem, and the great destruction of chimneys 
 and the awful feelings of the people when 
 chimneys fell on the houses, during the shock, 
 helped to 'hasten the absolute abandonment of 
 the use of chimneys. The engineers went at 
 once to the root of the matter and determined 
 upon a system which would not have smoke." 
 The ladies were very much pleased with the 
 great improvement in the stores, and after look- 
 ing around fully, they returned to the carriage 
 and continued on their drive. After driving 
 through many of the more important business 
 sections they arrived at Giddings' office. He 
 was located on the eighth floor and it was a 
 pretty sight to look out of the window, and 
 view that wonderful new city. Not a curl of 
 smoke, nor a single smokestack, to hide the 
 
REBUILDING SAN FRANCISCO 77 
 
 most magnificent spectacle which the architect- 
 ural ages have ever produced. No wonder that 
 the people were proud of their (achievements, 
 and no wonder that they had invited the 
 National Electrical Association to meet at San 
 Francisco that year, as a reminder of the great 
 electrical progress which they had made in so 
 short a time. 
 
 "What are your feelings/' said Tom to Gid- 
 dings, "in respect to this marvelous change in 
 the appearance of the city?" 
 
 "Well," replied Giddings, "sometimes as I 
 look out there over those immense structures, 
 so soon erected, and yet so grand and complete, 
 I wonder if it is a dream, or whether it is 
 really true. It has recalled to my mind the 
 eighth chapter of Edward Bellamy's 'Looking 
 Backward,' in which he pictures Julian West 
 awakening in the year 2,000 after having slept 
 since the night of May 30, 1887, or 113 years. 
 I have the book here on my desk, as the idea 
 has occurred to me several times lately, and I 
 want to quote you ;a few lines, as follows : 
 
 " 'None but an antiquarian who knows some- 
 thing of the contrast which the Boston of today 
 offers to the Boston of the nineteenth century 
 can begin to appreciate what a series of bewilder- 
 ing surprises I underwent, during that time. 
 The few old land-marks which still remained, 
 only intensified this effect, for, without them I 
 might have imagined myself in a foreign town. 
 A man may leave his native city in childhood, 
 and return fifty years later, to find it trans- 
 formed in many features. He is astonished, but 
 he is not bewildered. He but dimly recalls the 
 city as he knew it, when a child. But remember 
 that there was no sense of any lapse of time 
 
78 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 with me. So far as my consciousness was con- 
 cerned, it was but yesterday, but a few hours, 
 since I had walked these streets in which 
 scarcely a feature had escaped a complete 
 metamorphosis.' 5 
 
 "Well, I feel something like that/' said Gid- 
 dings. "None of I/he old familiar sights are 
 here. I remember the last afternoon I was in 
 my old office, I sat and looked out the window, 
 thinking for the longest while, little dreaming 
 that with the night, the most wonderful and 
 dreadful disaster would befall the city, which 
 the world has ever known. On that April night 
 in 1906 old San Francisco was obliterated from 
 the face of the map, and there from the window 
 can be seen the greatest of all changes which 
 any city, in ,any part of the world, has ever 
 experienced. Only 25 years after, and we have 
 conditions in San Francisco, which would do 
 honor to tihe farsighted prophecies of Edward 
 Bellamy in that famous book of 1887. We must 
 read over the entire book, while you are here, 
 and I will try and show you what a great share 
 electricity 'has taken in producing many of the 
 so-called Bellamy conditions in 1912, only a 
 quarter of a century since his book was written, 
 and in which he allotted the year 2000 or 113 
 years for his prophecies to come true." 
 
 They all drove home with a feeling that the 
 day had been one of education to them. Tom 
 found a telegram upon his arrival at Giddings' 
 house, requesting him to return at once, which 
 was a great disappointment. 
 
 Evelyn had to go over to the hotel, and as 
 Tom wanted to answer tlhe telegram, he rode 
 error there with her. 
 
 "I -am awfully sorry, Mr. Appleton, that 
 
REBUILDING SAN FRANCISCO 79 
 
 you have to return," she said, "surely we have 
 been having a good time, and I had never 
 thought that you would miss the Convention 
 sessions. ' ' 
 
 "I am sorry also," said Tom, with an unsuc- 
 cessful effort to conceal his disappointment. 
 While the convention was interesting to him, 
 there was another reason why he wanted to stay, 
 and it was far more important than anything 
 which the business end might have in store for 
 'him. He was very happy therefore when 
 Evelyn said, "I will write and tell you all that 
 is going on, and will ask father to see that you 
 get a set of the papers, which are read before 
 the Convention." 
 
 When Evelyn had thus spoken, Tom began to 
 cheer up, and they were soon talking about the 
 reception which was to be held at the hotel that 
 evening. 
 
 They had reached the 'hotel by this time. Tom 
 sent his telegram, and Evelyn left to go up and 
 dress for dinner. 
 
 He had wired to Millville that he would 
 return at once, and then had gone back to Gid- 
 dings' house for dinner. 
 
 It was a jolly crowd which met that evening 
 at the hotel. It was the evening before the 
 Convention was to open, and delegates were 
 arriving and greeting old friends whom they 
 had not seen since the last meeting. Naturally 
 Evelyn's father was a prominent figure as 
 President of the Association, and while Evelyn 
 had a great many demands on her time, she was 
 able to be with Tom and Eethyl a good deal. 
 
 After the reception, dancing commenced, and 
 the occasion reminded Tom very much of the 
 College Ball at Northington. There was one 
 
80 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 exception, and a pleasant one too, that Sheldon 
 was not around to mar their pleasure. The first 
 dance Tom had with his sister, and it was a 
 pleasure to him to see how much she was enjoy- 
 ing the trip and this particular occasion. 
 
 As they sat down, Evelyn came up, and after 
 introducing her partner, said, "I am awfully 
 glad that you are leaving Eethyl with us. We 
 shall take good care of her and bring her home 
 safely." 
 
 "I am highly grateful/' said Tom, ' 'I am sure 
 she will enjoy it, and I shall feel sie is in safe 
 keep ing. " 
 
 The very next dance Evelyn had engaged, 
 but the one after that Tom had spoken for, and 
 as he wrote down his name on the program, 
 Evelyn shyly suggested that he might cross off 
 an extra one while 'he had the card. This made 
 Tom feel good, and was almost sufficient com- 
 pensation for his having to return. 
 
 The music once more started, and a dreamy 
 waltz was the excuse for Tom to speed away 
 around the hall, with his arm about the waist 
 of Evelyn Tyler. He knew perfectly well that 
 he preferred to dance with her more than all 
 others, and there were some things that led him 
 to believe that she liked to dance with him, but 
 it did not occur to him for a moment that she 
 entertained any more than a kindly feeling for 
 him. Surely he must not think of anything else, 
 as 'he has his plans definitely laid out, and he 
 has no business to think of this lovely, wealthy 
 young girl, except in 'a very friendly way. 
 
 They finish, and ihave an interesting talk, 
 after which a lively two-step once more brings 
 them to the floor. Many a couple stop and gaze 
 as Tom and Evelyn glide down the hall. They 
 
REBUILDING SAN FRANCISCO 81 
 
 present a commanding appearance; their danc- 
 ing is graceful, and the remark is general that 
 they are the handsomest pair on the floor. 
 
 All too soon the hour grew late. Mr. and 
 Mrs. Giddings felt it was time to leave, and Tom 
 had to say good-bye to them. His sister was not 
 going home with him, and kissing her fondly 
 they bade each other good night to meet again 
 in Northington in about ten days or two weeks. 
 
 After bidding good-bye to Evelyn's father 
 and mother, thanking them heartily for their 
 watchfulness over his sister, Tom shook hands 
 with Evelyn. Again sfae promised to write him 
 about the proceedings of the Convention, and 
 with this thought on his mind, they parted. 
 
 The midnight electric train from San Fran- 
 cisco had on board a man who was happy 
 because Evelyn Tyler had treated him so kindly. 
 Not yet must he think of anything else from her 
 but kindness. Their stations in life are different, 
 and he has other responsibilities that make it 
 impossible for him to think of Evelyn Tyler 
 other than in a friendly way. 
 
 With these thoughts Tom Appleton went to 
 sleep. 
 
CHAPTER VI. 
 
 THE ELECTRICAL CONVENTION. 
 
 The Tyler family was awake and down to 
 breakfast early the next morning. It was a 
 beautiful day and they were all feeling exceed- 
 ingly happy. 
 
 During the meal Evelyn casually mentioned 
 to her father that she would like to have him 
 secure for her two sets of Convention papers. 
 
 "Why do you wish two sets?" he inquired. 
 
 "I desire to read all the papers myself," said 
 Evelyn, "and I promised Mr. Appleton I would 
 send him a set." 
 
 "Oh! I see," said Mr. Tyler, "I shall be 
 pleased to arrange it. I rather like the appear- 
 ance of young Appleton. I heard through an 
 officer of his company a while ago, that he is 
 quite a valuable man for them." 
 
 Neither father nor mother Tyler noticed the 
 flush which came to Evelyn's cheeks, nor the 
 very pleased expression. 
 
 Breakfast was soon finished, and they were all 
 assembled in the hotel lobby awaiting the hour 
 of the opening session. Some of the members 
 of the Executive Committee soon made their 
 appearance, 'and the Mayor of San Francisco 
 was introduced to them. After a short informal 
 talk the gentlemen lighted cigars and strolled 
 along the corridors to a large assembly hall, 
 where the sessions were to be held. It had 
 been arranged that the ladies would attend the 
 
 82 
 
THE ELECTRICAL CONVENTION 83 
 
 opening session, listen to the speech of welcome 
 by the Mayor, and the President's address. 
 
 Promptly 'at ten o'clock all the delegates had 
 taken seats. E ethyl had come over with Mrs. 
 Giddings, and with Evelyn and Mrs. Tyler, they 
 were all seated where they could see and hear 
 well. 
 
 President Tyler was in the chair, and wait- 
 ing for a few moments, until all were quiet, he 
 arose, formally opened the Thirty-fifth Con- 
 vention of the National Electrical Association, 
 and introduced Mayor Weaver of San Francisco. 
 
 As Mayor Weaver arose, his commanding 
 presence was noted, and the attention of the 
 audience was at once attracted. He spoke as 
 follows : 
 
 "Mr. President, ladies and members of this 
 great National Electrical Association, in behalf 
 of the City of San Francisco, I extend to you 
 a hearty welcome within our gates. It is fitting 
 that your Association should have selected this 
 spot for its debates and discussions on a sub- 
 ject in connection with which we have been 
 very closely associated since the earliest com- 
 mercial application of electricity, and more 
 particularly since the earthquake of 1906. 
 
 * * It was electricity which first carried the news 
 of our disaster, by means of the wireless tele- 
 graph system, to our friends, and which brought 
 us messages of encouragement and support in 
 the time of our great need. 
 
 ' ' It was electricity which first gave us light on 
 our streets, after many nights of darkness and 
 despair. 
 
 "Electricity has helped us to build more 
 quickly than we could possibly have done with- 
 out it. All the steel with which our magnificent 
 
84 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 buildings were erected, came from mills equipped 
 throughout with electricity. 
 
 ' ' The marvelous advances in the electrical arts 
 have enabled us to rebuild with a beauty in 
 design never before appreciated by any other 
 city in the world. Our architects have received 
 the highest compliments with which men in any 
 time in past history have been favored, and 
 their works have been the source of admiration 
 from all who have visited this new and beautiful 
 city. 
 
 1 1 The electrical engineers (have been of marvel- 
 ous assistance to the architects. They were suc- 
 cessful in the installation of an electrical plant 
 at Califa, about one hundred miles from here, 
 furnishing all the light, heat, and power to the 
 city for its needs, commercially, industrially, 
 -and domestically. They helped us to abandon 
 the use of chimneys of all kinds, and all San 
 Francisco is glad of this accomplishment. The 
 architects too rejoiced because of this great im- 
 provement, and their designs are more beautiful 
 by reason of such advances in the arts. 
 
 "I take pleasure in announcing on behalf of 
 our Entertainment Committee that they have 
 arranged for electric carriages to be at your 
 disposal during the entire Convention, that you 
 may conveniently visit all our various parks, 
 stores, public departments and any other sections 
 of the city where you may wish to go. The 
 gates of the city are wide open to you while 
 you remain with us, and again I extend to you 
 in behalf of the city, a most cordial welcome. 
 Mav your proceedings be attended with success, 
 and we hope that your stay among us may be 
 so pleasant as to make you desire to return and 
 pay us another visit at an early date." 
 
 
THE ELECTRICAL CONVENTION 85 
 
 As he finished, a loud applause, long con- 
 tinued, was indicative of general appreciation 
 by the ladies and members. 
 
 Immediately after Mayor Weaver left, 
 the President delivered his annual address to 
 the Association. The discourse was printed in 
 full that day in the San Francisco Times, and 
 the following is a verbatim copy of the editorial, 
 commenting most favorably, not only on the 
 able manner in which it was delivered, but 
 particularly upon the marvelous progress of 
 electricity in the year 1912. 
 
 "The National Electrical Association opened 
 its first session this morning at ten o'clock with 
 the largest attendance which the organization 
 has ever enjoyed. For several days special elec- 
 tric trains have been bringing in delegates from 
 all parts of the country. The New York, Boston 
 and Philadelphia delegations each had special 
 through trains. It is said that the membership 
 has now reached the large number of 4,500 
 central-station men. The organization has 
 encouraged the delegates to bring their wives 
 and children, and San Francisco is favored with 
 between six and seven thousand visitors due to 
 this electrical convention. 
 
 "President Tyler delivered a masterful 
 address, presenting the great and wonderful 
 progress of electricity in a most able and 
 forcible manner. 
 
 "His comparative figures of the amount of 
 business in 1912 with those of 1902 are interest- 
 ing. The Department of Commerce iand Labor 
 at Washington, D. C. in 1902 reported the 
 income of Electric Lighting Companies for the 
 year 1900. They were roughly as follows : 
 
86 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 Electric Lighting $70,000.000 
 
 Electric Power 12,000,000 
 
 Miscellaneous 4,000,000 
 
 Total $86,000,000 
 
 "The report of 1912 by that Department 
 shows the enormously increased figures as fol- 
 lows: 
 
 Electric Heating $240,000,000 
 
 Electric Power 200,000,000 
 
 Electric Lighting 160,000,000 
 
 Total $600,000,000 
 
 "The growth of the electric heating business 
 is very remarkable. We, in San Francisco, take 
 great pride in this branch of the industry, as we 
 were first to introduce electric heating generally 
 for all kinds i of work. In the homes our ladies 
 were first in the land to use electric kitchen 
 outfits, power motors for household purposes, 
 and electric lighting exclusively. The record 
 of this year 1912 shows more electric auto- 
 mobiles in use in San Francisco than any other 
 city in the world, in proportion to its size. The 
 use of electricity in the 'homes brought about 
 this favorable record, because electric autos 
 could be charged at the home at all times; and 
 the Electrical Company arranged such a plenti- 
 ful supply of electrants, or charging posts, that 
 no owner of an electric machine ever had to 
 bother about being out of current. 
 
 "President Tyler's remarks about the Elec- 
 trical Co-operative Improvement Association will 
 meet with much favor in this section. That 
 Association hag earned its reputation. Its work 
 has long since extended to our Coast, and we 
 have benefited by it. 
 
THE ELECTRICAL CONVENTION 87 
 
 "It is interesting to know that no further 
 back than 1906 the present National Electrical 
 Association was called the National Electric 
 Light Association. In 1907, however, the sub- 
 ject was brought up for discussion as to why 
 it should be called National Electric Light 
 Association when the power and heating ends of 
 the business were becoming such important 
 factors in connection with the industry. A 
 resolution was therefore adopted to change the 
 name to the one Which it now bears, and which 
 is surely more appropriate. 
 
 1 'When we look back upon the industry, only 
 six years finds us in 1906 with an incandescent 
 lamp of three watts consumption per candle, 
 power. Then with remarkable rapidity the years 
 1907 and 1908 had introduced commercial 
 lamps of one watt consumption per candle. 
 Now in this year of 1912, Prof. Stoenmitz has 
 discovered a new material which bids fair to 
 give us one-quarter of a watt per candle, and 
 we laymen ask when will such wonderful de- 
 velopments cease. 
 
 ' ' The industry covering the manufacture and 
 sale of steam engines has been revolutionized. 
 In all sections of this country and in all parts 
 of the world, steam turbines have everywhere 
 been installed in place of the old style stationary 
 engines. And this situation is due to the ag- 
 gressiveness of the electrical people and the pro- 
 gressive character of their vast and rapid 
 developments. 
 
 "The arc lighting field has also been simultan- 
 eously revolutionized and our cities and all our 
 small towns are brilliantly illuminated with a 
 great many more arcs than ever before, yet at 
 no greater expense. We marvel at the rapid 
 
88 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 progress of the electrical arts, and we rejoice 
 greatly that each and every improvement has 
 had such an important bearing and such a bene- 
 ficial effect upon our social life, our industrial 
 welfare, and our domestic happiness. 
 
 11 In passing we must mention the likewise re- 
 markable growth of the electric railway system. 
 
 "Until the year'1906 it was a common expres- 
 sion to say the ' ' electric street railway system, ' ' 
 but now with the tremendous extensions of elec- 
 tric roads replacing steam railroads we have an 
 industry with which there is no comparison for 
 rapid and remarkable growth. 
 
 "We join Mayor Weaver in wishing this Elec- 
 trical Convention a most prosperous meeting, 
 and wish the delegates to know that we voice the 
 feelings of the people, when we say we are 
 keenly interested in all their electrical matters. 
 We all use the devices in our homes, our places 
 of business, our factories, mills, streets, parks, 
 and in every phase of life we are dealing with 
 electricity in some form or other." 
 
 The ladies retired from the meeting soon after 
 the President's address, 'and later in the day 
 Evelyn saw the Times article, which she cut out 
 and sent to Tom, together with the set of papers 
 to be read before the Convention. In her letter 
 she was somewhat careful 'about the wording for 
 some reason, she could hardly tell why. When 
 she first met Tom and rode with him in his auto- 
 mobile, she was free and easy, almost to the 
 point of a careless manner, thinking only of the 
 fun as the happy hours flew past. But now, it 
 was a question of what would Tom think, and 
 Should she let him know by any sign whatever 
 that she cared for him. As she was pondering 
 over these thoughts, Eethyl came up behind her, 
 
THE ELECTRICAL CONVENTION 89 
 
 and asked her the cause of such depth of thought 
 when they were having such a good time. 
 
 "Eethyl," said Evelyn, "yon remember when 
 we were on the train the other evening just be- 
 fore arriving in San Francisco, we talked a 
 great deal about your brother. " 
 
 "Yes, I remember, now you mention it," 
 replied Eethyl. 
 
 "Of course you did not mention it to him, 
 did you Eethyl?" 
 
 "Oh no! Of course I didn't. What makes you 
 think I did?" she asked. 
 
 "I was just thinking, that's all Eethyl, and you 
 are the dearest sister a brother could possibly 
 have. ' ' With this she put her arms around her 
 and gave her -a sweet hug and kiss. 
 
 That afternoon the ladies all went for a drive, 
 while the second session of the Association was 
 assembled. They returned about five-thirty 
 and one of the first things Evelyn did was to 
 look up her father and congratulate him in con- 
 nection with his address. 
 
 "Well, Evelyn, have you enjoyed the day?" 
 he asked. 
 
 "Yes, indeed, father, I have. The city is the 
 most beautiful one I ever visited, and the Enter- 
 tainment Committee works so hard to please 
 everybody ! ' ' 
 
 "By the way Evelyn, Commodore Whipple, 
 an old friend of mine is here, and has invited all 
 the ladies to go down the bay tomorrow morning 
 in his yacht. I think it will please you particu- 
 larly, as he has it equipped with every conceiv- 
 able electric contrivance which will add to his 
 convenience. He is very anxious to meet you, 
 and I am sure you will enjoy his acquaintance." 
 
 Just then they looked up and saw the Com- 
 
90 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 modore coming toward them. He took Mr. Tyler 
 by the hand and heartily congratulated him on 
 his address, Which he had just finished reading. 
 
 "And this is your daughter?" he asked. 
 
 "Yes, and I am glad to have her know you, 
 Commodore. ' ' 
 
 Evelyn shook hands with him, and noted a 
 man of sixty years, with iron grey hair and 
 heavy mustache. He was tall and broad-should- 
 ered, such a build as one would expect from a 
 man weighing two hundred and fifty pounds. 
 His manner was exceedingly cordial, and Evelyn 
 liked him at once. 
 
 "I am to have the pleasure of your company 
 tomorrow morning Miss Evelyn," he said, "and 
 your mother has accepted my invitation also. I 
 hope all the ladies will do so, I want them to see 
 our harbor, and I want you particularly to see 
 my yacht. I have heard all about your electrical 
 knowledge, and I have been looking for a first- 
 class electrical engineer to inspect my installa- 
 tion." 
 
 "I know I shall enjoy it," said Evelyn, "and 
 my friend Miss Appleton will be much interested 
 also in the electrical features. She was grad- 
 uated with me at South Holly Falls, and took 
 the same course. ' ' 
 
 "Well, well, I shall be glad indeed to meet 
 her," said Commodore Whipple, in a manner 
 which attracted Evelyn's notice, as it was not 
 the usual careless way people sometimes make 
 such a statement. 
 
 Soon the Commodore excused himself, and the 
 others went in to dinner. The evening passed 
 with a reception, orchestral selections by the 
 Telharmonium and other musical features. By 
 eleven o'clock Evelyn had retired, and was sleep- 
 
THE ELECTRICAL CONVENTION 91 
 
 ing soundly when called at six-thirty the next 
 morning for breakfast. 
 
 Again the weather was perfect, and when 
 about half -past nine all the ladies were as- 
 sembled ready to take carriages to the yacht, it 
 was a pretty sight to watch them get started. 
 
 Eethyl had come over with Mrs. Giddings to 
 join them at the hotel and have the auto ride to 
 the dock. Commodore "Whipple was on hand, 
 greeting all the ladies in a most gracious man- 
 ner. When Evelyn introduced Eethyl to him he 
 declared he had never set eyes on two such hand- 
 some girls before in his life. 
 
 They finally started and an hour later were 
 comfortably located on the yacht which was 
 underway and speeding quietly along, While a 
 guide was pointing out the prominent points of 
 interest on either shore. 
 
 The Commodore with Evelyn and Eethyl was 
 telling about the use of batteries on his yacht. 
 He said that everything about electricity was so 
 clean that he enjoyed using it. He (had the de- 
 signer of the boat make out a list for him, of all 
 kinds of conveniences which would make the 
 yacht up-to-date in every way. 
 
 At first 'he said they had thought of electric 
 light only, but found upon investigation that 
 electricity was needed on board almost every 
 minute of the day, for some purpose. Therefore 
 he installed a large size generator and batteries, 
 in addition to the steam installation, and for 
 running around the harbor, and taking short 
 trips the boat was propelled by electricity. The 
 electric hoist for loading supplies looked com- 
 pact and was very useful. The Commodore said. 
 
 11 1 have on board the electric Telharmonium. 
 This is my bedroom, and there at the head of 
 
92 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 the bed is the switch. I am passionately fond 
 of music, and always upon retiring select some 
 dreamy piece of music, which is pleasing and 
 restful. The instrument is arranged for cutting 
 out automatically when the selection is finished, 
 so if I go to sleep while it is playing it does not 
 matter. 
 
 11 There over the head board is the electric 
 heating pad. Say, I would not be without that 
 for anything. Such a simple device and yet the 
 most important thing on this yacht!" he ex- 
 claimed. 
 
 "Why do you need so many cigar lighters?" 
 asked Evelyn. 
 
 "Why here is one attached to this arm chair," 
 said E ethyl. 
 
 "That is wlhat I call convenience," he said, 
 "I was always bothered with matches, because 
 I never had one when it was wanted. I made 
 up my mind that on my yacht I would have 
 plenty of these. They are the safest thing on 
 the boat, and the wiring for them doesn't cost 
 much. They do not consume hardly any cur- 
 rent." 
 
 "We are anxious to see your kitchen," the 
 girls said at the same time. 
 
 "All right, come this way," and he showed 
 them the neatest, cleanest kitchen they had ever 
 dreamed of. Both girls knew what a nice 
 kitchen should look like, but this was a marvel 
 of neatness. 
 
 1 1 Girls, I know you enjoy this room, but 
 strange to say I like it about as much as any 
 room on the boat. The cook says he can keep it 
 as clean as a reception room. Those electrical 
 cooking utensils tickle him most to pieces. I 
 like to come into the kitchen now and then just 
 
THE ELECTRICAL CONVENTION 93 
 
 to hear him talk. You see we have an instan- 
 taneous water heater here. Can get water in 
 fifty seconds any time. I have one attached to 
 my bath-tub also. 
 
 1 1 Well now, tell me, am I behind the times 
 electrically ? You girls ought to know if anybody 
 does. Tell me frankly now, because I am look- 
 ing you straight in the eye. ' ' 
 
 "It is complete in every detail," replied 
 Evelyn. 
 
 * ' I wish my brother Tom could have seen it, ' ' 
 said Eethyl. "It is perfect from the standpoint 
 of electrical engineering. ' ' 
 
 "Girls, you flatter me," continued the Com- 
 modore, but you must come over to my new 
 home, and see how much we have done over there 
 electrically. Of course, you electrical people 
 think of these improvements from your end of 
 the subject, but we, who use what the industry 
 produces, are serious in our praises of the practi- 
 cal value of such devices. We cannot get along 
 without them now, and I for one shall not try to 
 do so. Why out at my camp I have had wires 
 strung for fifty miles through the woods, and we 
 have our home conveniences at camp along with 
 the great log fires. We do not lose any of the 
 old time pleasures of the woods and fields. We 
 have our fishing just the same, but when we get 
 in from the day's romp, it is pleasing to know 
 that some of our own home conveniences are 
 waiting there for us. They remind us of home, 
 and we rest in comfort, and are happier because 
 of them. That, girls, is the other side of the 
 subject, which a representative of the public and 
 the people, has to offer. ' ' 
 
 After this statement they went out on deck 
 again, and joined the rest of the party in the 
 
94 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 pleasures of sight-seeing up and down the harbor 
 of the famous San Francisco Bay. 
 
 Over at the Convention Hall the closing hours 
 of the remarkable meeting were fast drawing 
 them on toward another final adjournment. The 
 members and Executive Gommittee had insisted 
 upon Mr. Tyler accepting the President's chair 
 for one more term, because of the great Inter- 
 national Electrical Congress to meet at Berlin in 
 September. They desired to be strongly repre- 
 sented, and had appointed President Tyler as a 
 delegate to that Convention. 
 
 In a most dignified speech, in which much 
 feeling was exhibited, he thanked them heartily 
 for their faith in him, for the support which 
 they had accorded him in the administration of 
 the affairs of the Association, and, amidst cheers 
 and loud applause, he directed that the Thirty 
 Fifth Convention of the National Electrical As- 
 sociation stood adjourned. 
 
 Commodore Whipple and the Giddings family 
 had been invited to dine with them, and it was a 
 jolly party which was around the table that 
 evening. They drank to the health of the out- 
 going President, Mr. Tyler, and to the health of 
 the incoming President, Mr. Tyler, and further 
 to the health of the newly elected delegate to the 
 International Electrical Congress, Mr. Tyler. 
 He said he felt they were loading him too much. 
 Then Evelyn suggested a toast to Mr. Appleton, 
 now on the train going East, and a safe journey 
 to him. 
 
 So, with a great deal of fun and good cheer, 
 the party sat around the table until late into the 
 evening. Before retiring, they bade the Com- 
 modore and Mr. and Mrs. Giddings good-bye, all 
 promising to come East and visit them. The next 
 
THE ELECTRICAL CONVENTION 95 
 
 evening they started for home, with pleasant 
 memories of a happy occasion, and loaded with 
 about as much honor as any one man can safely 
 carry. 
 
CHAPTER VII. 
 
 THE AUTOMOBILE RIDE. 
 
 Very little had been heard of Frank Sheldon 
 since the night when his anger gained the better 
 of his judgment at the college reception, and 
 Tom Appleton gave 'him a black eye. He was 
 still down at Hollywood, managing the gas busi- 
 ness, although to be truthful there was little to 
 manage, and he was not at his office but an hour 
 or so a day. In fact, for many days at a time he 
 would be away from the city. Nobody knew 
 where he had gone or when he would return. His 
 father seldom came there, and took so little in- 
 terest in the business, that the business hours 
 and habits of his son did not worry him. Frank 
 had been down to New York for a few days, and 
 one morning at the breakfast table his mother 
 asked him about 'his progress in connection with 
 Evelyn. 
 
 "Well, mother, I am not getting on very 
 rapidly. Evelyn does not seem to care for me. 
 I think it is on account of that fellow Apple- 
 ton." 
 
 "Who is Appleton," asked his mother? 
 
 "Oh, he is an electrician from Millville. I 
 used to know him when I was up at the Glen- 
 dale Works. He was one of the men under my 
 charge. ' ' 
 
 "Is that so?" said Mrs. Sheldon. "I should 
 
THE AUTOMOBILE RIDE 97 
 
 
 
 think lie was very audacious to think of such a 
 thing as trying to gain favor with the Apple- 
 tons. I shall surely speak to your father about 
 it, and he will mention the matter to Evelyn 's 
 father. I do not think her parents realize the 
 position of that young upstart, or they would 
 not allow her to travel in his company." 
 
 Just then Mr. Sheldon came in to breakfast, 
 looking somewhat pale, and nervous. His wife, 
 however, did not notice his appearance, but 
 started at once to tell him all about Frank's pre- 
 dicament. 
 
 "I cannot be bothered with such details," he 
 said, "Frank can marry whom he chooses, but I 
 would advise him to brace up first and make 
 something of himself. I am not well satisfied 
 with his career thus far. I had expected him to 
 go back up to the Glendale Works, and become 
 an electrical engineer, but for some reason or 
 other he has never returned, and I have always 
 had a suspicion that he did not leave there with 
 the best of feeling. I thought perhaps he would 
 make a success up at Hollywood but the reports 
 I secure are not very encouraging. I had to 
 work for a living when a boy, and I believe every 
 young man, after leaving college should work 
 hard to get a commercial, or professional foot- 
 hold. Therefore, Frank, I advise you to work 
 and merit the admiration of the young lady for 
 your achievements ; tlhen you may reasonably ex- 
 pect to win her." 
 
 Having said this, Mr. Sheldon finished his 
 breakfast in silence, while Frank and his mother 
 left the table and talked further about the mat- 
 ter in her morning-room. 
 
 Frank left New York late that afternoon for 
 Hollywood, and while on the train his thoughts 
 
98 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 more than once dwelt upon Tom Appleton and 
 his success. He could not bear to think of Tom 
 winning Evelyn, and yet it looked as if he would 
 do so unless something were done to prevent it. 
 
 On the train he met an old chum bound for 
 Hollywood, and during the course of conversa- 
 tion he told Frank that he saw Tom Appleton a 
 couple of days before in Northington, and under- 
 stood that he was to be there for several days. 
 This set Frank to thinking seriously, and it 
 occurred to him that he should immediately go 
 to Northington and look things over. Perhaps 
 he could arrange matters so that Tom would not 
 have a very pleasant vacation with Evelyn, even 
 though Sheldon himself could not again enjoy 
 her society. 
 
 Tom Appleton was sitting on the veranda 
 at the home of his parents in Northington care- 
 fully reading over again for the hundredth 
 time, the note he had received from Evelyn. He 
 had been much interested by the Convention pa- 
 pers and appreciated her kindness in sending 
 them to him, but there was something about that 
 simple note which attracted him particularly. 
 She had said : 
 
 "My dear Mr. Appleton, I hope you will 
 reach home safely." Now, why should she care 
 whether he arrived home safely, or not, he 
 thought. Then it occurred to him that after all, 
 perhaps it was a mere phrase she had used just 
 as anyone would wish another a pleasant jour- 
 ney. But she continued : 
 
 "What a lovely time we had! Eethyl and I 
 were sorry you had to leave San Francisco so 
 soon. We enjoyed your company so much." 
 Tom dwelt over these lines a long time. It was 
 at least pleasing to receive such a missive, and 
 
THE AUTOMOBILE RIDE 99 
 
 he carefully folded it and slipped it into his side 
 pocket, glancing around to see if anyone was 
 looking at him. 
 
 Tom had reached Millville from San Fran- 
 cisco about a week before, and at once reported 
 to the manager of the works. It seems that a 
 large deal had come up for consideration 
 in Berlin, Germany, and the manager felt it was 
 imperative for him to return. A cable was 
 finally sent, and the matter was resting for a 
 time, so that a few days later Tom arranged 
 to leave again and went to Northington to spend 
 another week. He was expecting, however, that 
 he would be obliged to go abroad inside of a 
 month, and was feeling that the few days at 
 home would be more than ever appreciated. 
 
 As these thoughts passed through his mind, 
 Charlie Kingsley came along, and Tom asked 
 him to come up and sit down. The conversa- 
 tion soon branched off onto electrical matters, 
 when Kingsley said, "Do you remember Tom, 
 when I first went to Greenvale in 1906 the me- 
 tallic filament lamp was just becoming commer- 
 cial? What a radical step it was considered 
 when tantalum was suggested at two watts per 
 candle power, but I '11 admit I didn 't know what 
 to do at Greenvale, with the people, about the 
 new lamp. Some of the merchants saw them in 
 New York stores, and others looked them up 
 when in London, so I was forced to know all 
 about them, and finally to secure them and 
 handle them for the people. Then came tlhe new 
 Tungsten Incandescent lamp with one watt per 
 candle power. What a wonder this seemed to us ! 
 In 1907 the magazines were full of information 
 about Tungsten. I remember Cassiers' Maga- 
 zine had an article in one of its numbers refer- 
 
100 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 ring to the wonderful developments in incandes- 
 cent lighting. The people wanted to know about 
 such a radical improvement in the art of light- 
 ing, but of course now that they are so common, 
 the year 1912 is filled with many other interest- 
 ing applications which interest the people. A 
 good many of us electrical people, however, 
 wondered a great deal how we were coming out 
 on the lighting subject, with all its changes in 
 design during the years 1906 and 1907. How 
 soon we forget those developments! I was in 
 New York last week, and it seemed to me that 
 the evening was the most brilliant one I had ever 
 spent on Broadway. Electric signs everywhere 
 advertising the merchants' business. Incandes- 
 cent lights in millions of numbers lighted Broad- 
 way as I had never before seen it. Years ago 
 when I went to New York gas lamps were used 
 quite freely, but now the wonderful progress of 
 electric lights has driven every other form of 
 light out of the field. " 
 
 "Yes, it is very interesting" replied Tom. ''I 
 expect to go abroad soon on a deal which requires 
 one-half million horse-power of electrical ma- 
 terial, covering steam turbines, railway ma- 
 chinery, lighting, heating, and power apparatus." 
 
 "What a change there has been, Tom, in con- 
 nection with Hudson River boats between Al- 
 bany and New York ; also the boats between New 
 York and Boston, and Cleveland and Detroit. 
 How crude they seemed a few years ago, com- 
 pared now with their fine large rooms with baths ! 
 Do you remember how stingy they used to be 
 with lights in the staterooms? The Tungsten 
 lamp has changed that feeling, and now lisrht is 
 placed in a room for brilliancy in general illumi- 
 nation and for convenience and actual lighting 
 
THE AUTOMOBILE RIDE 101 
 
 usefulness. I think the best lighting I ever saw 
 before the Tungsten lamp became general was in 
 Canfield's dining-room at Saratoga. The archi- 
 tects adopted the method of concealed lamps 
 after Tungsten came into use, and arranged 
 their plans accordingly. Architectural beauty 
 in designs was never before shown to such ad- 
 vantage, and architects all over the world stud- 
 ied the situation, particularly with respect to the 
 light distribution of Tungsten lamps." 
 
 "Say Charlie," said Tom, "pardon me for 
 changing the subject on you so abruptly, but I 
 am going to ask E ethyl and Miss Tyler to go 
 down to the Canoe Club for the day next Satur- 
 day. Will you come along with us? I believe 
 they return from the West tonight, and unless 
 something unusual occurs I think we can count 
 on going. We had planned the trip before go- 
 ing West, but did not take it." 
 
 1 ' Yes, I should be very glad indeed to go with 
 you. How do you go down ? ' ' 
 
 ' ' With the electric touring car, ' ' replied Tom. 
 "It is now in the shop for a few days, being re- 
 paired. I had not had it gone over for a very 
 long period." 
 
 "What time will you start?" 
 
 "Oh, we ought to get an early start," said 
 Tom, "leaving here about seven o'clock or half 
 past. It is very refreshing to ride early in the 
 morning, and we want the whole day there for 
 canoeing. 
 
 Charlie Kingsley left shortly, and was walking 
 down toward home, when he saw Frank Sheldon 
 on ahead. He would have passed him but Shel- 
 don got in step and started a conversation with 
 him. They talked about automobiles, and nat- 
 urally Charlie mentioned their trip and the car 
 
102 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 being in the repair shop. Sheldon thought quick- 
 ly that they would probably take the old Holly 
 stage road and down the long hill by the saw- 
 mill. If he could fix the brakes on the machine 
 so as to disable them on the hill, perhaps Tom 
 Appleton would not win after all. 
 
 He abruptly said good afternoon to Charlie, 
 an! started for the repair shop. Having had 
 his own machine there often, there was of course 
 no suspicion on the part of any of the employees 
 that he was looking at the catch on the 
 back \vindow, the location of the machine, and 
 the general layout of the place. He looked 
 over the car very thoroughly and decided 
 what tools he would want for the job. Before 
 leaving he carelessly made a few remarks to the 
 repair man about the design of the car, and then 
 left. He walked briskly over to a hardware store 
 where he bought a couple of sizes of wrenches. 
 Going down the street further, he purchased a 
 hard-steel saw, and then started for home. En- 
 tering his room after reaching the hotel, he took 
 frcrn his bag a bull's eye electric lamp, a slouch 
 hat and a mask. After changing his coat he 
 placed the various articles in his pockets, and 
 then sat down to consider what else was neces- 
 sary. 
 
 A bout seven-thirty he was through dinner, and 
 went down to the billiard room for an hour. He 
 was quite nervous and felt that a few drinks 
 would soon put him in shape to do the job, in a 
 clever manner. He was smart enough not to 
 drink too much as it would require a clear head 
 to fix those breaks so as to keep them operative 
 and yet injure them so seriously for a steep hill 
 as to make them of no value whatever. 
 
 About half-past ten he left the hotel, and 
 
THE AUTOMOBILE RIDE 103 
 
 started for the repair shop. As he reached the 
 alley-way a policeman was standing there. This 
 worried him some, and it took him sometime to 
 get up courage enough to pass in the alley and 
 around to the window. Carefully listening for 
 any sound, he took out the electric lamp, and 
 quickly pressing the button, noticed that the 
 window lock was not fastened. He therefore 
 raised the sash, and quietly passing in, let it 
 down after him. All at once he jumped, for 
 there in front was a policeman, rattling the 
 doors as if he could see Sheldon and was coming 
 in. He did not do so, however, and soon there 
 was silence again in the room, and he was alone 
 with the electric auto which was to give Evelyn 
 and Tom such a fright, as well as E ethyl and 
 Charlie Kingsley. 
 
 He remained there until three o'clock in the 
 morning, and being careful to leave everything 
 as it was when he entered, except the auto, he 
 went out as he had come in. All was quiet on 
 the street, and Sheldon passed along, down to 
 the hotel and went to bed. 
 
 The next day the machine was not touched at 
 the shop, as it had been finished and was ready 
 for Tom to take it out Saturday morning. The 
 repair man was to have it up to Tom's place 
 aLout six-thirty, and as the roads were good 
 around there, no great strain would be placed 
 on th" brakes, until they reached the old Holly 
 Hill road. 
 
 Sheldon did not rise the next day after his 
 night's work until eleven o'clock. He took 
 lunch, spent a quiet afternoon, and that night 
 retired early with instructions to be called at 
 five-thirty, and to have his machine in front of 
 the hotel at six o'clock. 
 
104 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 The next morning the sun came up, and prom- 
 ised to offer the picnic party a beautiful day. 
 About six-forty-five, Frank Sheldon in his ma- 
 chine might have been seen riding along the old 
 stage road toward the Canoe Club. Passing the 
 bridge over the old Connecticut he failed to 
 notice how beautiful was the scene before 
 him. His mind was entirely wrapped up 
 in the scheme which was to be put 
 into effect within the hour. He speeded 
 up and soon reached the hill. Here the 
 car was slowed down a little, and as the descent 
 was started the brakes were so very essential in 
 order to secure proper control, he almost lost his 
 nerve, and regretted the sneaking, cowardly act 
 he had committed. Again, however, he pictured 
 in his mind Tom and Evelyn probably already 
 started, enjoying the ride and the day, and the 
 associations of each with the other. He therefore 
 made up his mind to carry out the plans just as 
 previously arranged, and half-way down the hill 
 he selected a narrow spot in the road where he 
 thought no driver could possibly pass, and espe- 
 cially one who will probably have lost control 
 of (his car by the time he reaches that part of the 
 hill. So he stopped, got out of the machine, and 
 went into the thick underbrush to await the dis- 
 aster, feeling sure his excuse would be a plausi- 
 ble one, that he had been in the woods but a 
 moment, and so early in the morning did not 
 expect any cars along that way. He was willing 
 to have his car smashed to pieces for the sake of 
 carrying out his mean purpose. 
 
 Just about this time Tom and his party had 
 started and were speeding along at a fairly good 
 rate. The girls had returned, as they expected, 
 from the West, and were agreeably surprised to 
 
THE AUTOMOBILE RIDE 105 
 
 find Tom at home again. They were only too 
 glad to accept his invitation to go on the pic- 
 nic, and were ready bright and early to start. 
 Evelyn was about to get in behind with Eethyl 
 when Charlie Kingsley suggested that he would 
 like to sit there if she didn't mind. This was 
 quite a bold stroke, and he knew at the time that 
 he was not quite well enough acquainted with 
 either of the girls to speak so frankly, but Tom 
 Appleton was the pride of Charlie's heart, and 
 he would take big chances to do him a good turn. 
 So he changed the programme at once and as 
 Tom told him later, he could have embraced him 
 at that moment for his thoughfulness. Eethyl 
 volunteered the information to Tom, a few 
 months later, that the girls too were pleased at 
 Charlie's suggestion. 
 
 They had just come onto the bridge, and all 
 were so much impressed with the delightful view 
 before them that Tom stopped the machine, and 
 they watched the scene in which the old Con- 
 necticut River, the Holly Meadows, and the 
 mountains played such an important part. 
 
 " There at the bend in the river," said Tom, 
 "is where we shall turn in our canoes a little 
 later coming up stream. It is a beautiful paddle 
 and the morning air is just glorious for our out- 
 ing. I feel so happy that I cannot refrain from 
 exhibiting it." 
 
 "I am awfully glad, Tom," said Eethyl, "you 
 deserve to be happy, and it will give you the 
 nicest kind of rest. 
 
 The machine was started once more, and oh, 
 if some good guardian angel would now appear 
 and tell them of the impending danger! It was 
 not to be so, and they passed on over the bridge, 
 the brow of the hill was reached, and as Tom 
 
106 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 said, later, he thought that surely the brakes 
 must be in fine condition with the machine just 
 out of the shop. He noticed instantly, however, 
 that they did not feel right, and like a flash of 
 lightning the thought came over him that one of 
 the supreme efforts of his life must now be ex- 
 erted. No matter which brake he handled, or 
 how hard he aplied it,there was no power avail- 
 able for stopping them, or for even decreasing 
 their speed. It was a runaway, and he must 
 safely guide them down that hill, regardless of 
 speed, or teams or anything they might meet. 
 He clutched the steering wheel with a grip of 
 iron and in a clear, firm voice requested Evelyn 
 and the others to hang tight. They knew only 
 too well what it meant. Something was wrong, 
 because Tom had more judgment than to drive 
 like that down hill, and especially that old Holly 
 Road Hill. But look ! What is that ahead almost 
 in the middle of the road? They are flying 
 along at a tremendous speed. Surely no human 
 being can drive past that obstacle, and Evelyn 
 drew nearer to Tom, and prayed to the Lord to 
 protect them if such a horrible accident must 
 occur. But Tom had seen the obstacle first, and 
 while wondering how any sane man could be so 
 careless as to leave a machine in the roadway 
 like that, yet his cool, determination to carry 
 them safely to the foot of the hill, come what 
 may, gave him a grip of steel. His mind worked 
 quickly and like a flash he drew an imaginary 
 line with his eye, as to the exact spot they must 
 pass to clear the other auto, yet avoid 
 being ditched on the other side. It now 
 seemed an age before they would reach 
 that vehicle; but his plan was laid, and he 
 had time, even with the great responsibility be- 
 
clutched the steering wheel with a grip of iron " 
 
THE AUTOMOBILE RIDE 107 
 
 fore him, to think of Evelyn, and he prayed that 
 his judgment might be accurate, and that the 
 turf on the roadside might be strong. Swish! 
 Like a shot they passed it, and from Tom 's lips 
 there came to Evelyn's ears the words, " Thank 
 God ! ' ' The danger was not over by any means, 
 but the chances were so good compared with 
 what they had just met, that there was a feeling 
 of relief amongst them all as they stated later. 
 It was a long hill, and before they stopped the 
 machine was a long ways beyond the foot of the 
 hill. As soon as the car came to a standstill, 
 Tom's hands dropped, and he fell over the steer- 
 ing wheel apparently exhausted. 
 
 It was some time before any of them regained 
 sufficient composure to speak, and then they each 
 took Tom by the hand, and, with tears in their 
 eyes, thanked him and applauded his magnifi- 
 cent nerve. Eethyl put her arms around his neck 
 and kissed him over and over again. "It was a 
 splendid, splendid exhibition of pluck, Tom," 
 she said. 
 
 They went ahead to an old farm-house, and ar- 
 ranged to have the machine taken back to the re- 
 pair shop at Northington by the farmer, Tom 
 paying him well for his trouble. They then went 
 on down to the Canoe Club with a hired team, 
 but the conversation was continually reverting 
 to the point as to who could have been so mean 
 as to fix the brakes and then attempt to ditch 
 them under such horrible conditions. 
 
 Tom thought of one person who would do it, 
 and that evening he happened to run across Jack 
 Montague from Millville. He was the man who 
 had met with the accident on the lines at the fac- 
 tory, and to whom Tom had been exceedingly 
 kind. Tom told about the mean trick played on 
 
108 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 him, when Jack said, ' * I tell you it was Sheldon. 
 I saw him looking over your machine day before 
 yesterday at the repair shop ; and this morning I 
 saw him drive by father's house, this side of the 
 hill, and then, by George, he came back again in 
 about half an hour, going like lightning." 
 
 Tom could get no trace of Sheldon, and some 
 time later it was understood he had gone abroad. 
 They all contented themselves with a happy 
 feeling for having escaped unhurt. 
 
CHAPTER 
 
 THE STEAMSHIP ELECTRANIA. 
 
 About a week later Tom received a telegram 
 from Manager Hammond, requesting him to ar- 
 range to sail for Europe within the next ten 
 days. He planned to take Eethyl with him, 
 and as the Tyler family had been making plans 
 to leave soon, they decided it would be pleas- 
 anter to go in a party. 
 
 Therefore, on a Tuesday morning, ten days 
 later they were in New York. Everybody was 
 up bright and early packing suit cases, and 
 making all the necessary preparations to go on 
 board the steamship by two o'clock. Those fami- 
 liar with the last few hours before the ship's sail- 
 ing will appreciate how busy they were on that 
 morning. Evelyn and Eethyl had several pur- 
 chases to make on 23rd Street, and Tom 
 had to keep a short appointment at the 
 foot of Broadway, as well as go over to 
 the Cunard Line Office, and get the passage 
 which had been specially reserved for them. 
 
 They all took lunch down town, and had just 
 enough time to take the Subway up to 14th 
 street and cross over to the Cunard Docks, arriv- 
 ing there as the clock struck two. A grand sight 
 met their eyes as before them the new liner, Elec- 
 trania, lay moored at the dock of one of the most 
 prominent steamship lines in the world. For 
 
 109 
 
110 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 years this company had indicated by its accom- 
 plishments, the aggressive character of its man- 
 agement, and now the grandest achievement of 
 all, the steamship Electrania, was about to 
 make its debut before the world, to proclaim its 
 superiority over ships which had cost millions 
 of dollars to construct, and which had long been 
 considered the * ' Queens of the Ocean. ' ' In size 
 it was the largest ship ever launched, 1,000 ft. 
 long, and a gross tonnage of 50,000, having a 
 100ft. beam, and accommodating 7,500 persons. 
 They passed up the gang plank, and had soon 
 located their luggage in staterooms on the prom- 
 enade deck. After securing traveling caps, they 
 sauntered out on deck to watch the people, some 
 of them there only to see their friends started 
 safely. For a short time they watched the elec- 
 tric hoists as they were being quickly and skil- 
 fully manipulated, while trunks and bags 
 by the dozens were raised from the dock to the 
 ship's deck. Absolutely no noise was made by 
 the machinery, and the manner of giving orders 
 and the handling of men, indicated a system 
 that must produce confidence in the minds'of the 
 passengers crossing the Ocean, at least those who 
 were crossing for the first time. The luggage 
 was all aboard, the order given, "All ashore who 
 are going ashore, ' ' and the hand shakes and fare- 
 wells were numerous and varied. While many 
 friends and relatives, were wishing a pleasant 
 voyage, and hoping to see them soon again, one 
 old lady (a steerage passenger) was exhibiting a 
 great degree of emotion in parting from her son. 
 She had evidently come over from Ireland to 
 pay him a visit, and was now returning home. 
 Tom could imagine the few weeks of happiness 
 which she must have enjoyed in the visit to her 
 
THE STEAMSHIP ELECTRANIA 111 
 
 son, and grandchildren ; the tender memories of 
 by-gone days which had again been stirred up, 
 and now at this parting were entirely beyond 
 control. Perhaps for the last time on earth she 
 was looking into -his face, and with such 
 thoughts in her mind it was hard to say good- 
 bye. 
 
 Tom looked over at Eethyl, and Evelyn looked 
 into Tom's face. Evidently the same thoughts 
 were passing through the minds of each of 
 them. As Evelyn's mother and father came up, 
 she called their attention to the incident, and 
 said, 'I am glad that we are together, and have 
 no thoughts of parting, and I wish the dear old 
 lady below could say as much." 
 
 "So do I," said Eethyl, thinking at the same 
 time, that she would be gone from her 
 home but a short time, and her mother had 
 promised not to be lonesome while they were 
 away. 
 
 The decks were soon cleared, all went ashore 
 who were going ashore, and at a word, the gang 
 planks were slid into place. These planks were 
 motor operated, and Tom noticed with interest, 
 the neatness of the scheme. It was only one of 
 many surprises regarding electrical appliances 
 which this new ocean liner had to offer. Elec- 
 tric tug boats came along-side for assisting the 
 large steamship out of the harbor, and many 
 favorable comments were made about these elec- 
 tric tugs. The circulars of the Cunard Line fully 
 explained how much attention had been given 
 during the past few years to the subject of elec- 
 tricity; how in 1906 they became enthused over 
 the possibilities of its applications, and had se- 
 cured the very best electrical engineering talent 
 to study the various electrical problems in con- 
 
112 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 nection with ship building and ship life. Having 
 a desire to be foremost in all new ideas they 
 adopted the electric tug boat, and professed to 
 have the first smokeless boats in the New York 
 harbor. It turned out, however, to be a good 
 thing for the Cunard company in many ways. 
 
 The tug boats were built for electric motor 
 propulsion. Knowing that the large ocean liners 
 had plenty of power, which was not being used 
 while the tug boats were assisting them out of 
 the harbor, the engineers found that it was 
 economical to supply power to these tug boats 
 without much extra cost. Therefore all the Cun- 
 ard Line tug boats were electric. It was not nec- 
 essary for them to carry coal on board. This 
 gave the boat a much neater appearance; in 
 fact, the electric tug of the Cunard company 
 was one of the sights of New York, and the ma- 
 chinery was kept in the same ideal condition as 
 the dynamo rooms of Kieth's theatres, where 
 patrons were invited to visit and inspect the 
 electric light, heat and power apparatus. 
 
 Therefore, on this eventful sailing day, every- 
 body watched with great interest, when the tugs 
 came alongside, and made taut to the greaft 
 Electrania. The signal was given for making 
 cable connection, and electrically the tugs were 
 connected with the ocean liner, so that power 
 was being transmitted from the large steamship 
 to the tugs, and without smoke or dust or dirt, 
 the Electrania was electrically " tugged " out of 
 the New York harbor. 
 
 At the bow and stern, and amidships, electric 
 music from the Telharmonium was rendered so 
 that the audience on both the pier and the boat 
 were favored in a most delightful manner. 
 Amidst the waving of handkerchiefs, throwing 
 
THE STEAMSHIP ELECTRANIA 113 
 
 of caps, and with cheers from both the piers and 
 the decks, the steamer passed on down by the 
 Statue of Liberty, with its great electric light, 
 and out to sea. One by one the tug boats left, 
 and with the power from the Edmund's storage 
 batteries, they were soon back in the New York 
 harbor. 
 
 The girls went up into their stateroom to dress 
 for dinner, and when Tom came up a little later 
 he was much pleased to see the conveniences 
 about the stateroom. The engineers had cer- 
 tainly studied the comfort of the traveler, for 
 everywhere there was some evidence of luxury. 
 Two electric lights had been located on either 
 side of the mirror, and the reflection of light 
 from the glass was such that one might expect 
 an engineer had tried the light before passing 
 upon the wiring and location of the outlets. Tom 
 said to himself, "What a small matter this is, 
 yet it is exceedingly convenient to have plenty 
 of light when dressing. ' ' 
 
 After removing his coat and vest, preparatory 
 to shaving, he noticed particularly a small side 
 dish for heating water, and here also was a 
 notice inviting the passengers to turn an electric 
 switch for securing hot water. The plan seemed 
 to have been studied by some engineer who had 
 at some time or other shaved himself and appre- 
 ciated the convenience of securing hot water by 
 simply turning a switch, as compared with ring- 
 ing the bell, and waiting for a maid, or steward 
 to bring it. The Cunard company had placed 
 itself in the position of inviting its guests 
 to convenience and luxury, and all that was 
 necessary to accomplish this was the installation 
 of a slightly larger electrical generator. 
 
 Evelyn and Eethyl had adjoining rooms, and 
 
114 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 while they were dressing, their tongues were 
 wagging just as fast as possible. Eethyl was un- 
 packing her suit case, and was about to take out 
 the traveling iron when Evelyn said excitedly, 
 
 "Eethyl, do come in here a moment, I think it 
 is just lovely to see how convenient they have 
 arranged things for the ladies in these state- 
 rooms. Instead of seeing a printed card every- 
 where reading, "How to adjust life-preservers," 
 I am glad to see that notice, "Ladies, use this 
 receptacle for the electric iron/' 
 
 They went back to Eethyl's room, and found 
 the same method of wiring there, and the same 
 careful attention paid to convenience for travel- 
 ers. 
 
 "I knew we would be pleased," said Evelyn, 
 "to go abroad on this boat. We shall see many 
 new things aboard this new ship, and I am so 
 happy we could come together." 
 
 The bugle had blown for dinner, and they 
 hurried up their dressing so as not to be very 
 late. 
 
 They were shortly eating in the luxurious din- 
 ing saloon below, and were particularly im- 
 pressed with the architectural design of this 
 room. It seemed as though the design was empha- 
 sized and beautified by the artificial light. No 
 lamps whatever were visible; the eye dwelt at 
 length upon the decorative ceilings and side 
 walls without fatigue. The architectural design 
 of the artist was easily interpreted, and nothing 
 mechanical or electrical was visible. It was par- 
 ticularly restful and impressive, compared with 
 the usual method of lighting rooms ; either from 
 the ceiling or side walls, so that wherever the eye 
 wandered, it mnst at all times be confronted 
 with the glare of light. They were quickly com- 
 
THE STEAMSHIP ELECTRANIA 115 
 
 mencing to understand why this boat was named 
 the "Electrania." 
 
 The girls remained in the ladies' smoking 
 room for a short time, and then left to retire 
 early, while Mr. Tyler and Tom went to the 
 men's lounging room to enjoy a quiet smoke, 
 and at the same time watch the progress of the 
 pool on the boat's run. It was becoming very 
 interesting in the great progress in design of 
 ocean liners, to see what speeds would be made, 
 especially on their first trips, so tonight was one 
 of much interest to many of the passengers, 
 particularly those possessing a slight sporting 
 inclination. Some argued that while she 
 evidently had powerful turbines, yet at the 
 same time she was extremely large and bulky, 
 and the machinery new. Some thought even 
 six days to Liverpool would be a good run. 
 Other enthusiastic ones felt that she was actually 
 good for four days as guaranteed by the build- 
 ers. Twenty persons entered the pool, and 
 finally they compromised on the figures of 680 
 to 700 miles for the first day's run, but when 
 the numbers were auctioned off, it was plain to 
 be seen that the low field was the more popular. 
 Tom had considerable confidence in the boat, 
 and made up his mind that the high field was 
 the better choice. However, the next day would 
 reveal the character of 'his judgment. 
 
 Finally when the excitement of the auction 
 had subsided, Mr. Tyler commenced to talk to 
 Tom about his work at Millville. The conversa- 
 tion gradually drifted to the new Hudson River 
 boats running between Albany and New York. 
 
 "The new Fulton which was put in com- 
 mission early in 1908 had many improvements 
 
116 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 t 
 
 compared with previous boats. In fact, it was 
 one of the first boats of its kind to have plenty 
 of private baths, and hot water in every state- 
 room. It was the electric water heater which 
 caused this new departure. The staterooms are 
 also equipped with electric heaters." 
 
 "It is all very interesting," said Mr. Tyler. 
 "I am ashamed to say that I have not been on 
 such boats, but Evelyn has kept me pretty well 
 posted. I expect that we shall see many new 
 appliances on board this liner, that we had not 
 heard of before, even though we are in the 
 electrical business. I was very well pleased with 
 my stateroom, and Mrs. Tyler thought it was 
 especially convenient. I have not been abroad 
 for several years, and I must confess that there 
 has been a great improvement in the traveling 
 accommodations. It seems to me that the 
 electrical industry has been responsible for 
 most of the comforts which we now enjoy." 
 
 With this statement Mr. Tyler said good-night, 
 and left Tom alone. 
 
 Before retiring, he desired to think over the 
 past few months' experiences by 'himself, and 
 taking another cigar from his pocket, was 
 pleased to find that this room had been particu- 
 larly well equipped for using electric cigar 
 lighters. The engineers had actually made a 
 great success in respect to the installation of 
 these devices. The tables in the smoking room 
 were made fast, which is the custom on ship- 
 board, and the wiring had been arranged so that 
 there was a cigar lighter suspended under each 
 corner of the table. There was not a match box 
 to be seen anywhere in the room, and much 
 favorable comment was made upon the very 
 convenient arrangement of these devices. In 
 
THE STEAMSHIP ELECTRANIA 117 
 
 fact, they were so popular that those who had 
 match boxes in their pockets were never seen to 
 use them, on account of the ease with which 
 they could reach the electric lighters. 
 
 While electrical devices had for years been 
 uppermost in Tom's thoughts, tonight he was 
 thinking of Evelyn. Since their thrilling 
 experience in connection with the automobile 
 ride, no opportunity had been offered him to 
 detect any sign that she cared anything for him. 
 During that trying experience, and shortly after, 
 Tom thought she had exhibited much feeling for 
 him, but he finally attributed it to the excite- 
 ment to which she had been subjected in connec- 
 tion with the dangerous ride. After all, it was 
 no matter anyway how he felt, she was beyond 
 his reach, for a great many reasons. So he 
 finally retired, and dreamed that a twenty thou- 
 sand horse-power steam turbine had been sent 
 down to the testing department for test. After 
 a great deal of worry and trouble, he awoke to 
 find that the only effort he had to put forth 
 was to get up and take his turn at a salt water 
 bath, in response to the steward's call. 
 
 The next day passed with the usual points 
 of interest. Those who were not reading were 
 up on deck lounging in steamer chairs, or 
 amusing themselves in the gymnasium. This 
 was a very interesting room where the engineers 
 had introduced interesting applications of elec- 
 tric motors. There were several devices, shaped 
 somewhat like wooden horses, which were de- 
 signed to move in a manner representing the 
 canter or gallop of a horse. They could be 
 started or stopped by the rider by simply throw- 
 ing a switch, and the speed could be similarly 
 controlled. The machine could be adjusted to 
 
118 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 suit the rider, and this method of exercise was 
 keenly enjoyed. In fact, the horses were so 
 popular that it was found necessary to take 
 turns, especially during the morning hours. 
 
 Another popular device in the gymnasium 
 was the motor boat in which one could secure 
 the exercise of the same muscles as when rowing 
 a boat. The device could be adjusted for 
 exercising the arms only, or it was possible of 
 adjustment so as to move both the arms and 
 legs. The speed could likewise be controlled 
 easily by the turn of a handle conveniently 
 located. 
 
 The Tyler- Appleton party became very much 
 interested in the game of shuffle-board. Evelyn 
 and Tom played against E ethyl and Mr. Tyler. 
 As one of the sailors was chalking out the lines, 
 Evelyn remarked what a beautiful morning it 
 was, and Tom noticed how bright and happy 
 she looked. It seemed to him that he 'had never 
 seen her look so pretty and vivacious. When 
 the lines were finished, Eethyl spoke up, and 
 said, 
 
 "Mr. Tyler, will you be my partner?'* 
 
 "To be sure I will," he replied, "but I can- 
 not promise to be especially skillful. ' ' 
 
 Evelyn then turned to Tom, and said 
 bewitchingly, "That makes it compulsory for 
 us to play together." 
 
 They were down at the other end of the lines, 
 and Tom whispered to her, "I am glad of it. I 
 shall enjoy playing with you." 
 
 Neither Eethyl nor Mr. Tyler, noticed the 
 color which came to Evelyn's cheeks, but she 
 had been waiting to catc'h some little sign that 
 Tom cared for her, even in the slightest degree. 
 He had seemed to be so distant and reserved 
 
THE STEAMSHIP ELECTRANIA 119 
 
 when in her presence, heretofore, and now this 
 morning she could detect a slight change in his 
 attitude. 
 
 Tom was happy, and while his sister and Mr. 
 Tyler beat them the best two out of three games, 
 he enjoyed it immensely. It was a new 
 experience for him to have this young lady 
 associated so closely to him, to have those beauti- 
 ful black eyes penetrate his own, so often, with 
 meaning glances. He began to say to himself, 
 lookout or you will go too far on a road which 
 you have no business to travel. 
 
 But everybody was on time for lunch, with an 
 appetite to make havoc of the electrically cooked 
 food in the dining-room. During the meal 
 attention was called to the many small insulated 
 pieces on the table about one-quarter the size of 
 a teacup. These were electric heating plugs for 
 keeping dishes warm, coffee hot, etc. They were 
 located likewise in all the stewards ' rooms in the 
 place of steam pipes. The engineers found upon 
 investigation that electric wiring was much less 
 expensive than steam pipes, and with the large 
 supply of electricity to which they had long 
 been accustomed, they always had plenty of cur- 
 rent and heat. The stewards were particularly 
 pleased with the use of electric heating devices 
 in the summer time, when steam pipes were 
 more or less uncomfortable. 
 
 Down in the kitchen the electric cooking and 
 baking devices were of remarkable value. The 
 arrangement was so much cleaner than coal, and 
 so much more comfortable than either coal or 
 steam that the cooks did better work, and the 
 meals were served much more rapidly than ever 
 before. 
 
 The Cunard company made a specialty of 
 
120 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 'having plenty of fresh air in all parts of its 
 boats. They made free use of electric exhaust 
 fans which were built to keep pure fresh air 
 passing continually through the ship. Their 
 engineers had carefully studied the subject of 
 daylight distribution, as well as artificial light- 
 ing by electricity, throughout the steerage rooms, 
 and the first and second-class cabins. The day- 
 light reflected its healthful rays, and good cheer 
 and happiness were produced alike in all parts 
 of that great ocean traveler. 
 
 By special permission from the chief engineer, 
 they were all shown into the turbine room where 
 80,000 H.P. was operating day and night 
 throughout the trip. They were shown in 
 operation, some of the sliding doors connecting 
 different apartments for the purpose of insur- 
 ing weatherproof and fireproof sections of the 
 boat. These doors were operated by electric 
 motors controlled by switches in the captain's 
 quarters. The ladies were interested in the dish 
 washers. They had never thought before how 
 6,000 or 7,000 dishes could be washed three times 
 a day, and the easy manner in which this work 
 was done with electric dish-washers impressed 
 them considerably. 
 
 It was not necessary for this boat to carry 
 any ice on board. It saved the Cunard Com- 
 pany not only the expense of purchasing about 
 100 tons of ice for each trip, but economized in 
 the labor of loading at the dock. A new scheme 
 of producing cool air by electric motors had 
 been carefully studied by the company's 
 engineers, and was successfully used. The 
 refrigerators in different parts of the boat were 
 individually piped, and operated by motors as 
 the occasion demanded. 
 
THE STEAMSHIP ELECTRANIA 121 
 
 The multiple arrangement of these refrigera- 
 tors was not only economical, but especially 
 convenient for the different stewards' rooms, 
 effecting great promptness in serving refresh- 
 ments and beverages, as well as offering great 
 convenience for these different departments. 
 
 The electric elevators were commented upon 
 very favorably. There were four for passengers 
 and two for freight. Not only did they offer 
 convenience and ease in going to different parts 
 of the boat, but trunks and luggage were handled 
 in a much more business-like manner than ever 
 before, because of the freight elevators. 
 
 During one of the evenings a Telharmonium 
 Concert furnished entertainment that was 
 exceedingly enjoyable. Printed programs were 
 distributed, with a notice that the steerage and 
 second-class passengers were able to listen to 
 the same music. Muselectrans were installed in 
 all three concert rooms, notwithstanding they 
 were located in different parts of the boat, and 
 all the passengers, regardless of class, were able 
 to hear the concerts. The Cunard engineers 
 deserved much credit for having arranged the 
 wiring and plans to accomplish such a popular 
 and beneficial scheme. 
 
 By Friday afternoon, when three days out, the 
 Electrania had made such a good speed record, 
 that it was well known they would reach Queens- 
 town and deliver the mail by midnight, and 
 would arrive in Liverpool Saturday afternoon 
 by four o'clock, exactly four days from New 
 York, thus making the banner ocean trip to 
 present to the world. 
 
 In the evening, the girls were seated out on 
 deck with Tom, Evelyn's parents had said good- 
 
122 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 night, and E ethyl finally excused herself, stating 
 that she had to write a few letters. 
 
 Evelyn and Tom were therefore left alone, 
 just as the moon was appearing and casting its 
 silvery light over the ocean's waves. 
 
 For a long time they sat silent, and finally 
 Evelyn broke the spell, by stating, "Do you 
 know I have heard E ethyl speak of you so often 
 as Tom, that I should like to have your per- 
 mission to call you Tom." 
 
 "I have felt the same way," said Tom, 
 "Eethyl has mentioned your name so often to 
 me, in her letters and conversation, I should like 
 to call you Evelyn." 
 
 "It is a bargain, then," she said, "but there 
 is another matter I want to mention to you that 
 you may not be able to- answer so readily. Do 
 you know, I was almost provoked that you did 
 not answer my letter from San Francisco, when 
 I sent you those papers. What have you to say 
 for yourself, Mr. Tom?" 
 
 "I do not know," said Tom, "I received the 
 papers, and enjoyed them very much. It was 
 kind of you to send them." He did not dare 
 tell her why he had not written to her in 
 answer to her note. 
 
 They talked on and on, keenly enjoying every 
 minute, until E ethyl, having written her letters, 
 appeared on the scene, and broke the spell. 
 They all bade each other good-night, and as 
 Tom turned to get a last glimpse of Evelyn, 
 before entering his stateroom, he found two 
 beautiful black eyes, and a hanpy face, looking 
 straight at him. And as Evelyn Tyler entered 
 her room she gave Tom a smiie and a wave of 
 the hand which he remembered for a long time 
 after. 
 
CHAPTER IX. 
 
 THE ELECTRICAL WORKS RUGVALE. 
 
 It was about four o'clock on Saturday after- 
 noon. They were up on deck, their luggage 
 ready, and spending their time in watching the 
 great Electrania enter the Liverpool Harbor. 
 They had heard of the great Liverpool dock, 
 and there before them was a beautiful spectacle. 
 For miles and miles, up and down, as far as the 
 vision could reach, there were spacious wharves, 
 not only noted for the extensive facilities which 
 they afforded, but likewise for the remarkable 
 cleanliness exhibited. They could now appreciate 
 why this dock had earned such a reputation, 
 and it seemed to them as 'they watched the tug 
 boats and other craft passing on all sides that 
 they presented a very fine appearance. 
 
 By four-thirty the passengers were all 
 landed, and were an the station awaiting 
 examination of luggage, and trunks. Here in 
 this place the first opportunity was offered to 
 see how rapidly England had taken up the 
 various applications of electricity. Instead of 
 the old coal fire-places so common in 1906, elec- 
 tric radiators of attractive design were freely 
 installed, for furnishing the small amount of 
 heat required in that climate. In the baggage- 
 room luggage and trunks were handled by 
 
124 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 electric motor cranes, and trucks, and Tom was 
 pleased to find how easily and quickly he was 
 able to get his trunks checked. The American 
 system had been adopted by all roads through- 
 out England, much to the satisfaction and 
 pleasure of American travelers, at least. 
 
 It was necessary to cross the city to the North- 
 western Railway, as they were going to Rugvale 
 for a few days before visiting London. Tom 
 called two electric cabs which landed them at 
 the other station within twenty minutes. Hav- 
 ing secured tickets they were speeding along 
 rapidly toward Rugvale. 
 
 All the trains of the Northwestern Railroad 
 were electric, and the cars were beautifully 
 furnished (Pullman type), with the very latest 
 approved devices. They were electrically heated 
 and lighted; equipped with telegraph and tele- 
 phone apparatus, and many convenient motor 
 applications. One very interesting application 
 was in connection with the raising and lowering 
 of windows. Travelers*in general will remember 
 the tremendous exertion which was necessary 
 with the old arrangement for raising a Pullman 
 car window. In fact, it was seldom that it could 
 be raised unless the porter himself was rung up 
 and requested to perform the operation. The 
 study of electric applications had resulted in 
 the design of a very small motor so arranged 
 mechanically that by throwing a switch, the 
 window could be moved up or down. When 
 raised up, a screen was raised at the same time, 
 and when lowered, the screen automatically 
 went down out of sight. The people not only 
 welcomed this convenient arrangement with 
 much pleasure, but the porters were also glad 
 of the improvement. They claimed the old way 
 
ELECTRICAL WORKS RUGVALE 125 
 
 required a good deal of space for the screens 
 when not in use; many were broken or lost out 
 of the window, and in general the new scheme 
 was much superior. 
 
 The compartment accommodated all five of 
 them, and the arrangement was quite satis- 
 factory. They were all in one party, and the 
 Tylers had enjoyed the company of Tom and 
 E ethyl a great deal, while they in turn were 
 happy in the company of Evelyn and her father 
 and mother. 
 
 The conversation had drifted back to the 
 steamship, where they had spent four happy 
 days, and Mr. Tyler was saying, 
 
 "I believe the wireless telegraph system in- 
 terested me as much as anything on the boat. 
 Surely that is a wonderful advance in the art of 
 communication. I was greatly impressed with the 
 story related by Mr. Worthington regarding the 
 icebergs their party met on a trip last season 
 from Naples to New York. They were on a slow 
 boat, and when about eight days out they sighted 
 two icebergs. He said he had been over six- 
 teen times and never had seen one before. They 
 were within ten miles of each other; both 
 moving in the same direction with the boat. 
 They passed one not more than a mile away, 
 and it created an enormous interest on board. 
 Running into a whale and cutting it in halves, 
 was exciting, but did not compare with the 
 magnificent view which they had of these 
 gigantic icebergs." 
 
 "How large did he say they were?" asked 
 Eethyl. 
 
 "The one nearest to them he said was one 
 hundred and fifty feet long and stood up out 
 of the water one hundred and forty feet. The 
 
126 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 other was ten miles away, and did not look as 
 large as it actually was. He thought it was 
 four or five hundred feet long, but not more 
 than sixty feet out of water. The temperature 
 of the air changed from sixty-five degrees down 
 to forty-five within an hour, and everybody 
 went in their staterooms for heavy wraps. 
 Before morning they were in a dense fog which 
 usually follows the experience of sighting ice- 
 bergs." 
 
 * * I should think that would be very dangerous 
 for such fast boats as the Electrania, ' ' said Mrs. 
 Tyler. 
 
 "That is why I was so much impressed with 
 the wireless telegraph system," replied Mr. 
 Tyler. "There was a ship ahead of them some 
 two hundred miles, and they were in constant 
 communication, furnishing information as to 
 the direction and course of the icebergs, where 
 sighted, their size, and all details. You can 
 therefore see what a great protection the 
 apparatus becomes. Every ship is equipped 
 with powerful instruments, exceedingly sensative 
 to impressions from the aerial spheres. All 
 through the night or in a fog, these electrical 
 beacons guard the precious life and valuable 
 property on board." 
 
 "It is exceedingly interesting," said Tom, 
 "when you stop to think of the comparison of 
 the wireless with the old style pole-wire system 
 used on land. The wireless is not confined to 
 any direction, nor affected by the winds, nor the 
 storms, nor by a fog; but from all directions, 
 with the wind or against it, rain or shine, in 
 clear and in fogory weather, that electrical 
 receiver is on the alert, ready to inform the cap- 
 tain what ship is ahead, where bound, and learn 
 all about everything: which should be known for 
 the safety of the Company's passengers." 
 
ELECTRICAL WORKS RUGVALE 127 
 
 "That makes me think," said Mr. Tyler, "I 
 have a treat for you all. Perhaps your mother 
 may not quite enjoy it, but you young folks will 
 be pleased to know that Lord Kelton of London 
 has extended an invitation to us to ride over 
 with him from Rugvale to London in his electric 
 aeroplane. ' ' 
 
 "Isn't that lovely!" exclaimed Evelyn. 
 
 "Delightful," said Eethyl, "Will you be 
 afraid to go Tom?" 
 
 "No, indeed," replied Tom, "it will be a 
 rare opportunity, and I have wished for a long 
 time to meet Lord Kelton." 
 
 The train was just pulling in to the Rugvale 
 station, and hasty preparations were made to 
 get out. Carriages were taken to the Continental 
 Hotel where dinner was served. After dinner 
 Tom was called to the telephone, and was glad 
 to hear again the voice of his old friend Phelps. 
 
 He said he would come right over with his 
 machine, and explain their plans at the hotel. 
 Not more than twenty minutes after, he came 
 into the hotel parlor, where Tom introduced him 
 to the entire party. 
 
 "Now, make yourselves at home," he said, in 
 a very congenial manner. Phelps always had a 
 smile on his face, and in a few minutes you 
 felt as if you had known him for years. 
 
 "Mrs. Phelps will call for the ladies about 
 ten o'clock to-morrow morning, and Tom, you 
 and Mr. Tyler can come down to the works and 
 spend the day with me." 
 
 This plan was agreeable to all, and after a 
 short talk, Phelps bade them ood-ni<?ht. They 
 were tired, and the opportunity to retire early 
 met with favor. 
 
 The next morning the men started for the 
 
128 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 works in Phelps' electric auto. They were to 
 lunch down there, but promised the ladies that 
 they would be home early to dinner. 
 
 C. W. Phelps had long been connected with 
 the electrical industry. About 1901 he had 
 come over from America to take charge of the 
 Rugvale factory, fully expecting to see the 
 Works spring up and flourish in a few years, 
 but little dreaming that as early as 1912 there 
 would be 12,000 employees on the factory pay 
 roll. 
 
 On the way down, Phelps said, "Well, Tom, 
 I am glad you are here, it will do me good to 
 show you about the works. We are doing a 
 tremendous business, and some times I wonder 
 where all the material is used. It was about 
 1906 that we commenced our big boom here. 
 You will remember how the papers in the United 
 States aggressively agitated the subject about 
 establishing Commercial Departments among 
 the electrical companies, for acquainting the 
 public with the many uses of electricity, and 
 how the Electrical Cooperative Improvement As- 
 sociation was organized with its aggressive lead- 
 ers continually studying the ways and means of 
 promoting the commercial end of the electrical 
 industry. Well, it was about this time that the 
 electrical companies in England woke up with 
 a great start. They not only became exceedingly 
 aggressive, but the low prices prevailing for 
 electricity in England, gave them great advan- 
 tage over American Companies. I was so much 
 impressed with this point, that I had hung up 
 in my office, one of the price lists, and circulars 
 which were printed in 1906. They were 
 advertising to the public freely that their prices 
 for electricity for power and (heating devices 
 
ELECTRICAL WORKS RUGVALE 129 
 
 were remarkably low. These prices coupled with 
 a very aggressive policy for pushing the sale of 
 current, quickly, showed us that we must extend 
 our works greatly, and with the utmost dispatch. 
 We have been busy doing it every minute since 
 that time." 
 
 We had now reached the office, and after 
 spending a minute with two or three men who 
 had been waiting to see him, Phelps took them 
 out into the works. The first shops entered 
 were the steam turbine buildings, and it was a 
 pretty sight to one keenly interested in such 
 work. There were three buildings 700 to 800 
 feet long with two spacious wide bays, and a 
 50 foot center bay. Three electric cranes were 
 continually busy passing up and down with 
 large disc frames, and other large parts. Ten or 
 fifteen, 10,000 H.P. turbines were in process of 
 construction, while three or four 15,000 H.P. 
 sizes were just being started in production. 
 These were the more important sizes, although 
 the shops were filled with parts for producing 
 all the smaller sizes, and Phelps explained to 
 them that the Cortice type of turbine had 
 secured a great advantage over other types by 
 reason of its simplicity of construction, small 
 space occupied, and the most excellent results 
 secured from those installations first introduced. 
 In 1905 and 1906 they had established a great 
 reputation for the Cortice turbine. As the elec- 
 trical companies were so exceedingly busy, it was 
 necessary for them to purchase the most durable 
 and reliable apparatus, and absolutely avoid 
 troubles and delays due to faulty design or poor 
 material. 
 
 The next factory was the Incandescent Lamp 
 Works, and here was a most interesting place. 
 
130 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 As we entered Phelps said, ''We thought we 
 were busy in 1906 when several hundred thou- 
 sand lamps per day were being completed and 
 shipped, but no one anticipated the tremendous 
 increase in the business when the new Tungsten 
 incandescent lamp was introduced. The people 
 were especially pleased with the improvement, 
 because their houses were brilliantly 'lighted, 
 with a great many more small unit lamps, at 
 about the same expense as before. The time has 
 passed when residence customers will turn off 
 the lights when going from one room to another. 
 The cost of lighting on the old basis made it 
 necessary, but now they will not do it. Houses 
 are brilliantly illuminated, from early evening 
 until bed time, and the people are thoroughly 
 well satisfied. About the same time that the 
 new lamp was introduced to the public, the 
 special study of illuminating engineering was 
 very effectually undertaken. The contractors, 
 handling the wiring of offices, and buildings, 
 placed the subject in the hands of a 
 special illuminating engineer who made it 
 his business to thoroughly acquaint the 
 people, the architects, and the business men, 
 with the new ideas on illumination. As soon 
 as a contractor heard that plans were out among 
 house builders for building a new residence, 
 blue prints and various wiring schemes were 
 immediately mailed to the owner, and to the 
 architect. The local newspapers introduced an 
 electric news column for keeping the public 
 posted on new ideas relating to electricity, and 
 monthly magazines which did not have an 
 article on electrical matters on some of its pages 
 soon became unpopular. Gradually the public 
 became familiar with new designs in lighting. 
 
ELECTRICAL WORKS RUGVALE 131 
 
 and the ladies took even a keener interest in 
 electric wiring, the location of lights, and the 
 convenient electrical devices, than they had 
 shown in regard to wall paper and furniture. 
 
 In fact, it became necessary to consider 
 decorations, furniture, and electrical devices 
 together, for the sake of harmony in design." 
 
 ''Therefore," Phelps added, "you will see 
 why the incandescent lamp business has become 
 such a factor in our Works." 
 
 We then entered the Motor Department which 
 was likewise crowded with orders. Sewing 
 machine motors, dental motors, and small 
 industrial motors of all kinds were made in a 
 separate large building. Formerly they had 
 been produced in the small department with the 
 larger sizes. "But," said Phelps, "the motor 
 business took a big spurt with the other current- 
 consuming devices as soon as the electrical com- 
 panies commenced to make public the many 
 convenient applications of motors, and show 
 how inexpensive they were to operate. There 
 was a tremendous field open which has not yet 
 been covered, and from the looks of our order 
 books the demand is still increasing. When 
 erecting our new buildings, we gave very great 
 attention to the use of motors, and you will note 
 the entire absence of shafting, and the beautiful 
 distribution of daylight in all the rooms. We 
 believe strongly in plenty of light, and good air 
 for ourselves. We spend more than half our 
 lives here in these shops. By having good light, 
 our eyes are better equipped to do the work for 
 the Company, and stronger for the general uses 
 for which our Creator intended them. Good, 
 pure air is well known to be a health 
 preserver. We have devices here for keeping 
 
132 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 cool in summer, and warm in winter. Do you 
 remember how large corporations in times past 
 have furnished large recreation rooms for their 
 employees, 'hoping to lencourage attendance 
 during the winter evenings? Often times the 
 managers of such corporations have failed to 
 provide light, pure air, and conveniences for 
 their employees during those best hours of the 
 day when maximum work is expected? Maxi- 
 mum production is the great study with us 
 these days. The question is, how to get the 
 greatest amount of work per individual, and for 
 the minimum amount of space and machines. 
 That is, "tools must be sharp," or production 
 will be slow. The best production managers 
 are likewise learning that high grade light, pure 
 air, and the latest ideas in motor .applications 
 are essentials which place America in the front 
 ranks of the manufacturing industry, compared 
 with all the world. In past years I have known 
 men to ruin their eyesight, and injure their 
 health in the Copper Bar Department of some 
 of the old factories, improperly equipped, but 
 here you will find every department organized 
 with the special purpose of protecting each 
 employee for the sake of maximum production, 
 as well as a general regard for humanity. " 
 
 From the Motor Department we passed to the 
 Arc Lighting Department, and two very large 
 buildings were required for this branch of the 
 business. Regarding this work Phelps explained 
 as follows: 
 
 "Strange to say, the entire arc lighting work 
 was revolutionized about the same time as the 
 new incandescent lamp was introduced. Smaller 
 units and more light were demanded by electrical 
 companies. The merchants in England were 
 
ELECTRICAL WORKS RUGVALE 133 
 
 very quick to learn of the great results secured 
 by the merchants in America about the year 
 1906. Illuminating engineering was much 
 emphasized by a formal association of the lead- 
 ing illuminating engineers at New York, result- 
 ing in the organization of an Illuminating 
 Engineering Society. From that date, the utmost 
 importance was attached to illuminating mat- 
 ters; in fact, we set the pace here at Rugvale 
 by having an illuminating engineer devote 
 several months close attention to the proper 
 lighting of our buildings. When given this duty 
 to perform, he was instructed to consult the 
 foreman of each room, .who was familiar in detail 
 with the production requirements, and the 
 desires of the employees; likewise to confer 
 with the production manager as regards artificial 
 light, compared with daylight. As a result on 
 dark, cloudy days, or during the over-time work, 
 the foremen can count on maximum production 
 as far as light is concerned. 
 
 "You will see what a grand evolution was 
 experienced in these branches of the industry. 
 The Research Laboratories not only produced 
 clever inventions, resulting in great operating 
 economies, but in addition, a great Publicity 
 Bureau was simultaneously organized, with the 
 hearty support of the electrical manufacturers, 
 contractors, supply dealers, architects, and 
 builders. It was the greatest movement of the 
 times, and stamped the years 1906 and 1907 as 
 the beginning of a marvelously progressive era 
 in the electrical industry. It is not necessary 
 to stop and think why the merchants and manu- 
 facturers in general were in sympathy with the 
 movement. They saw at a glance that the 
 electrical industry was being revolutionized, and 
 
134 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 were thankful that such a magnificent co- 
 operative organization had been created to 
 intelligently handle all phases of the subject; 
 an organization determined to study in detail, 
 all the various classes of mercantile business, 
 industrial demands, residential requirements, 
 and then scientifically, practically, and accurate- 
 ly prescribe the electrical devices best suited 
 for the many particular uses. The organization 
 simply represented the electrical companies, and 
 not only studied the subjects as I have related 
 above, but were quick to inform the people 
 regarding such applications." 
 
 It was now about one o'clock and Phelps took 
 them over to the works restaurant to lunch. 
 After placing their order, Mr. Tyler said. 
 
 "Mr. Phelps, I want to empasize your point 
 in regard to the merchants. I remember dis- 
 tinctly the efforts exerted by John Merrymaker 
 in New York City in the year 1906 to cooperate 
 with the elecrical industry in a grand attempt 
 to acquaint the people more fully about electri- 
 cal devices. In October, of that year he set 
 apart a large space in his store which was di- 
 vided into sections representing rooms in a resi- 
 dence. Then all kinds of electric household uten- 
 sils were skillfully exhibited. The kitchen had 
 its electric stove; the dining-room its chafing 
 dish, the bath-room its radiator, etc. There 
 can be no question but what John Merrymaker 
 did this missionary work because he took pride 
 in new developments. He wanted the people to 
 know his policy. He wished them to feel that 
 they could always come to that store and find 
 new things, even though he lost money in the 
 venture. There was surely no profit in the 
 business during those days. In the States, John 
 
ELECTRICAL WORKS RUGVALE 135 
 
 Merrymaker was the representative merchant, 
 who exhibited the most aggressiveness in the 
 dissemination of ideas and information to the 
 people regarding electricity. In connection with 
 the campaign I mentioned he distributed free 
 ten thousand pamphlets describing and illustrat- 
 ing electricity in the home." 
 
 "I have an illustration in mind," said Tom, 
 "that shows the cooperative manner in which a 
 prominent author helped to acquaint the people 
 with electrical devices. Mr. George Lyles of 
 New York City published a book in 1906 en- 
 titled, ' * The Inventors. ' ' In that book he devoted 
 several pages to the subject of heating by elec- 
 tricity, making references to the progress along 
 that line. The space which he devoted to electri- 
 cal matters in that book, was indicative of the 
 desire on the part of representative men to co- 
 operate with the electrical fraternity and pro- 
 mote electrical applications. This year 1912 
 may be called a mile-stone, recording the phe- 
 nomenal progress of electricity. 
 
 After lunch they visited the Heating Device 
 Department, one of the newest branches of 
 this large corporation's business, yet hav- 
 ing grown in a few years to represent 
 a considerable portion of its total sales. 
 It was surely the most interesting de- 
 partment of all. Of course, it was well 
 known that electric light had replaced gas 
 for all kinds of illuminating requirements, 
 but the death-knell had likewise sounded for gas 
 in respect to heating operations. Electric glue 
 pots, electric soldering irons, electric furnaces, 
 water boilers, radiators, and heating devices of 
 all kinds were in evidence not only in the Heat- 
 ing Department buildings, but Phelps said there 
 
136 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 was not a foot of gas used in all the entire 
 works. Electric heat was used in the ovens for 
 drying the transformer coils, for sealing 
 incandescent lamps, and for 'all kinds of work 
 where heat applications were necessary. 
 
 At first it was thought that gas was so cheap 
 that electricity could not compete with it, but 
 a special heating engineer was commissioned to 
 study the subject with great care. He did 
 nothing else, and soon found that as electricity 
 was being used in such vast quantities for 
 operating motors, fans, testing department, arc 
 lamps, and incandescent lamps, it could be more 
 economically used than gas, which was required 
 for heat only. 
 
 Phelps continued, "We are producing 10,000 
 electric flat irons per week, and yet we are behind 
 our orders. More than 1,000 men and girls are 
 employed in this department. We have been 
 running night and day for nearly a year, and 
 must extend our facilities quickly or else injure 
 our business in this line. I am looking forward 
 with much pleasure to show you my house this 
 evening. Rugvale was one of the first cities to 
 illustrate the use of electric household utensils, 
 and it was not long before they became exceed- 
 ingly important to all of us ; but we will talk of 
 that later." 
 
 The heating device buildings were so interest- 
 ing they spent more time there than they had 
 thought. 
 
 As it was getting late, Phelps said, "We had 
 better go over to the office, and sign up the mail, 
 preparatory to going home early, or the ladies 
 will get after us for not keeping our promise." 
 On the way over Tom asked what effect such 
 great increases in the business of current-con- 
 
ELECTRICAL WORKS RUGVALE 137 
 
 suming devices had upon the other branches 
 of electrical supplies, and apparatus. 
 
 "Well," Phelps replied,, "it is natural to 
 understand that such great increases result in 
 the increased demands for transformers, meters, 
 and wiring devices; in fact, the wiring device 
 business was greatly boomed, as wiring device en- 
 gineering became as popular as illuminating engi- 
 neering had been. This company had a specialist 
 continually following the subject with the view of 
 simplifying, and standardizing as much as pos- 
 sible. When visiting this department you will 
 find a very busy place. The consultation rooms 
 are filled from morning until night with com- 
 mittees considering new ideas, approving blue 
 prints, or discussing new plans having to do with 
 some large building soon to be erected, and 
 wired in the latest style, following the best wir- 
 ing device engineering." 
 
 And so the afternoon in the factory was 
 passed. Tom and Mr. Tyler felt that surely 
 this great corporation had been no small factor 
 in the great electrical era, about which so much 
 had been said and done. Phelps quickly looked 
 over his letters, the electrical carriage was at 
 the door, and they were soon driven to the 
 "Manager's House," as the Phelps residence 
 had been styled by the factory employees. 
 
CHAPTER X. 
 
 EVENING IN ENGLISH HOME. 
 
 They were seated at the dining-room table 
 when E ethyl turned to Tom and said : 
 
 "Oh! I wish you could have been with us on 
 the drive this afternoon. It was simply delight- 
 ful. The roads are beautiful, and with the auto- 
 mobile we were able to go a great distance, and 
 see a great deal in a short time. Rugvale is a 
 charming spot." 
 
 "I am awfully sorry," Tom replied, "but I 
 think we shall have to leave for London tomor- 
 row morning, and I am afraid I could not spare 
 the time to look around here. What is the 
 population of Rugvale?" turning to Phelps. 
 
 "It is now about 35,000. The last census 
 showed that during the past ten years its 
 increase in population has been proportionately 
 the greatest of any city in England. Of course, 
 the large extension in the works has caused the 
 phenomenal increase. Every married man 
 newly employed at the works brought from 
 three to five people into the city. As most of 
 the natives were already employed, the greatest 
 numbers of the new men came from some other 
 city." 
 
 They were soon through dinner and seated in 
 the den, where cigars and small coffee were 
 served. 
 
 138 
 
EVENING IN ENGLISH HOME 139 
 
 The conversation naturally drifted to the 
 subject of house building. Mrs. Phelps said, "I 
 am pleased to know that you are interested in 
 new houses. We enjoyed every minute while 
 this house was being built." 
 
 "Yes," Phelps joined in, "it is a lot of fun. 
 My wife arranged most of it except the electrical 
 end, and come to think of it, she arranged most 
 of that." 
 
 "Why shouldn't I," she replied, "I spend 
 more time at home than you do. The women 
 folks are responsible for the kitchen, and as the 
 kitchen stove is now electrical we ought to know 
 all about it. I am so glad we gave up our old 
 coal stove and gas range. They were nuisances. 
 The last year we had our coal stove I thought 
 the cook would go crazy. Either the draft was 
 not good, or the chimney needed cleaning, or 
 the grate was broken. There was always some- 
 thing needed repairing on that old stove. The 
 gas stove, however, was worse. One day it 
 frightened us so! I was out at the time, but 
 the cook told me she was nearly killed. It seems 
 that she tried to light the oven burners, and as 
 she explained it, the door blew off, knocked her 
 over on the floor, and smashed the whole lower 
 sash of the kitchen window. She vowed she 
 would never use that gas stove again, and I 
 guess she never did. She enjoys the electric 
 stove very much indeed." 
 
 Phelps joined in here in an enthusiastic 
 manner. 
 
 "She is a girl who loves cleanliness, and the 
 electric outfit is certainly perfect in this respect. 
 Then all girls like the idea of doing things 
 quickly. The fire in the old stove was always 
 getting low. The cook says she was either 
 
140 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 going down cellar after kindlings or waiting for 
 the fire to ' come up ' most of the time. ' ' 
 
 Then Mrs. Phelps explained further to them, 
 in a very enthusiastic manner, which made 
 Evelyn and Eethyl think that surely the entire 
 world was wrapped up in the subject of home 
 conveniences. 
 
 "The second girl is much pleased, however, 
 over the electric air heaters and radiators. She 
 says they are just lovely, and so say we all. 
 When you think about the old coal fire-places, 
 it is difficult to understand how we tolerated 
 them as long as we did." 
 
 "In the first place, all the heat went up the 
 chimney. I thought I would die, the first year 
 we were here. There was no heating system in 
 the house and we had been living for years in 
 Chicago where the houses are splendidly heated. 
 We could never get accustomed to the fire-places 
 here. Of course the climate is mild, but many 
 days during the year we -are uncomfortable 
 without a fire. Then the care of them was a 
 great nuisance. They also- made an awful 
 amount of dirt and dust. Ate far as expense is 
 concerned, I think the old fire-places are a good 
 deal more expensive than the people realize. 
 It was necessary to keep coal on the fire con- 
 tinually. We were always buying coal, and 
 never could keep warm. 
 
 * ' But the new electric heaters are ideal. How 
 much we have enjoyed them ! None of the heat 
 goes up a chimney. All the heat given off 
 by the heater is pure air, and there are no gases 
 to be taken away. There is no need for a 
 chimney, and therefore all the heat generated 
 is utilized and saved. This effects great economy, 
 which is not appreciated until the electric 
 
EVENING IN ENGLISH HOME 141 
 
 heaters are used. We have two kinds, the 
 luminous radiators for very mild wsather and 
 quick heat, and the air heaters when we really 
 desire to warm up the entire room. 
 
 11 Another feature greatly in favor of the 
 electric heaters, is particularly emphasized in 
 the construction of a new house. A fire-place in 
 every room required a good many chimneys, and 
 they were expensive to build, especially when 
 accommodating their designs to room decora- 
 tions. 
 
 "The electric heating system saves this 
 expense likewise. Oh! there is no use making 
 comparisons. The old system is not worthy of 
 it. I hope I shall never see another fire-place 
 as long as I live." 
 
 "You must go and inspect Mrs. Phelps* 
 refrigerator room and store room, ' ' said Evelyn. 
 "You know they are on the same floor, off the 
 kitchen. There is no cellar under the house. 
 Simply the space for ventilation, with windows 
 for circulation of fresh air." 
 
 "Yes, we saved considerable by omitting the 
 cellar," said Phelps. "And there is really no 
 reason for having one. The contract for 
 masonry and plastering was surprisingly low. 
 We have a splendid large laundry off the 
 kitchen, and side of that is the refrigerator room, 
 made large for cold storage purposes also. We 
 make the cold air for this room by means of an 
 electric motor, and we can adjust the tempera- 
 ture as we like, in accordance with the outside 
 temperature. Then next the refrigerator room 
 is the storeroom. 
 
 "You will see that we have plenty of room, 
 and the rooms are conveniently located. The 
 omission of chimneys and cellar saved me more 
 
142 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 than enough money to pay for the electric stove 
 and air heaters, and all the lighting, heating 
 and power devices used in my workshop, which 
 I think is worth knowing. I am well satisfied 
 that we did not put in a steam heating system. 
 It would have cost me $1,000, and my experience 
 during the past fifteen months leads me to feel 
 well pleased with the electric heating system. 
 
 "We made another saving which is very 
 interesting. It is in the right line also, which 
 I was not sure about when first I investigated 
 the matter. We have no hot water tank, and 
 only one pipe for both hot and cold water, 
 instead of two pipes. The electric continuous 
 flow water heaters have proven to be very valu- 
 able. We have one installed over the kitchen 
 sink, another in the girls' bath room, a third in 
 the bath room on the second floor, one connected 
 to the bath tub, and one in the laundry. We 
 can get warm water in forty seconds, and hot 
 water in a minute. The expense for operation 
 is very slight, due to the intermittent use of 
 electricity. The faucets are two-way type. One 
 way turns on cold, and the other way hot water. 
 It is much better than the old system where a 
 30 gallon tank had to be heated and frequently 
 only two or three gallons were used during the 
 entire morning and afternoon. It was a very 
 wasteful system. The electric water heaters 
 have proven economical and very satisfactory." 
 
 "Dear, won't you kindly hand me the music 
 programme?" said Phelps to his wife. "I met 
 Jones of the Local Electric Company yesterday, 
 and he told me to be on the lookout tonight 
 for some specially fine music, and I told him I 
 was glad of it, as we were to have some people 
 with us from America." 
 
EVENING IN ENGLISH HOME 143 
 
 ' ' Here it is ! The * Storm in the Alpine Moun- 
 tains ' at 9 o'clock, a selection composed 
 especially for the great organ in the Cathedral, 
 at Luzerne, Switzerland. It is just nine by my 
 watch, and you'd better turn the music switch! 
 
 As they listened, the very faintest rumbling 
 could be heard as from a great distance, and 
 Phelps whispered, ' ' Jones told me the piece was 
 representative of -a thunder storm in the Alps. ' ' 
 Then the softest sweetest strains came forth 
 representing the calm before the storm. The 
 thunder sounded nearer and louder, then a sharp 
 lightning flash so cleverly presented as to make 
 one glad to be under shelter. The rain could be 
 heard coming down in torrents, and the wind 
 whistled and howled so that you could imagine 
 the whole mountainous region thoroughly 
 angered and wreaking forth its vengeance 
 through the thunderings, lightning flashes, and 
 swaying and groaning of the trees. 
 
 When the selection was finished Phelps said 
 he thought that it was a splendid illustration of 
 the accuracy of reproductions by the Telhar- 
 monium. He had heard the large organ at 
 Luzerne, and considered that the electric music 
 was fully as well rendered. 
 
 ' 'How is the Telharmonium progressing over 
 here," asked Mrs. Tyler. 
 
 "In a surprising manner," said Phelps. 
 1 1 There is hardly a city or town now which has 
 not installed 'a system, and the people are com- 
 ing to believe that they cannot get along with- 
 out it any more than the telephone or the 
 electric lights. I do not think we ever notice 
 the difference in our monthly bills, and I am 
 sure we would not wish to give it up now." 
 
 "But won't you tell them about the Rugvale 
 
144 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 Realty Company, Mr. Phelps?" said Evelyn. 
 "I am sure it will interest them." 
 
 "Well," said Phelps, "the British Dobson- 
 Housman Company purchased a very desirable 
 tract of land some four years ago, covering 
 about 100 acres. The Realty Company was 
 organized, and -a manager placed on the property 
 to develop it quickly. Good roads were laid out, 
 underground electric mains located, electric car 
 tracks laid, side-walks and grass plots established, 
 and lots were divided up, varying in size any- 
 where from 75 x!70 to 300 300. It required 
 about a year before the first section was ready 
 and soon the lots were selling in good shape. I 
 was one of the first to purchase, and am quite 
 well satisfied with the location. The lots were 
 exceedingly reasonable in price. Certain restric- 
 tions were placed upon the cost of the house, 
 and its nearness to the street front. As a result 
 splendid houses have been built, making a 
 section of the suburb which is considered the 
 most desirable in the city. 
 
 "We started to build our house the year after 
 the great San Francisco earthquake, when so 
 much was being said about building construction 
 and the proper wiring plans for electric devices. 
 We all made up our minds, therefore, that 
 Rugvale should be the first city in the land for 
 exhibiting aggressiveness in electrical matters. 
 We would make it an electric city. We secured 
 control of the old Electric Lighting Company, 
 employed a manager whom we knew to be 
 aggressive, and who possessed a thorough 
 knowledge of the business. We not only gave 
 him a good salary, but offered a commission to 
 him of 5 per cent on all increased business 
 which he might secure for the Company. The 
 
EVENING IN ENGLISH HOME 145 
 
 price of electricity was reduced to a point more 
 comparable with other cities in England, where 
 successful results were being secured, and soon 
 we were making great headway. 
 
 "In view of the necessity of educating the 
 public in regard to proper wiring, the Company 
 decided to make a special arrangement with wir- 
 ing contractors so as to encourage the people 
 as much as possible to use electricity liberally. 
 Great effort was made to illustrate the use of 
 the devices for a time, in several sections of 
 the city, so as to quickly acquaint the people 
 with the varied and convenient uses of electric 
 household devices, industrial motors, incandes- 
 cent lamps, fan motors, etc., etc. 
 
 " Another very good policy we adopted at a 
 small cost, and it turned out to be -a good invest- 
 ment. The Company decided to build a half 
 dozen houses, two of them representative of flats, 
 which would rent for a small sum comparable 
 with other flats in the same location. Also two 
 of them to be small sized houses and two to be 
 large sized houses, for which it was known there 
 was a demand. They gave the most special 
 attention to the wiring of these houses. The 
 engineer of the Company first made his sug- 
 gestions to the contractors of the city, and 
 architects were called upon for advice, and to 
 show them what object was in view. The 
 special engineer at the works on wiring, light- 
 ing and heating devices was also called in, and 
 they drew up their plans most carefully. They 
 wanted to have the character of the work good 
 and exemplify all the devices which are con- 
 venient and attractive, yet keep the cost within 
 reasonable figures. This policy, in addition to 
 the many houses built by our engineers and fore- 
 
146 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 men at the works, offered a liberal education 
 for the entire city. After that, whenever a house 
 was to be erected, the architect first took an 
 interest in the electrical end; the contractor 
 next; then the supply dealer, and the owner's 
 attention was drawn forcibly to the electrical 
 matters about the house. Lighting, heating and 
 motor devices were as common for consideration 
 as the color of the paint or the style of architec- 
 ture." 
 
 4 'Well," said Mrs. Phelps, this is surely tire- 
 some for Mrs. Tyler, and I think perhaps the 
 girls have actually had enough 'shop' for one 
 night. I have some things to show you upstairs, 
 and we will leave the men here to talk more busi- 
 ness. Tom and Charlie are the greatest ones to 
 talk and I hope they will not tire you out Mr. 
 Tyler." 
 
 The men, therefore, continued their talk, and 
 many were the interesting and amusing 
 incidents which were brought back to their 
 minds, when Tom and Phelps were closely 
 associated with each other years ago in the 
 States. Phelps was one of nature's noblemen 
 and Tom loved him like a brother. It seemed 
 to him that Phelps looked sick and he urged him 
 not to work so hard. 
 
 A half hour later they prepared to leave for 
 the hotel as they had to rise early for the air- 
 ship excursion. Phelps said he regretted very 
 much he could not be over in the morning and 
 see them off as he had already made an impor- 
 tant engagement and could not well break it. 
 
 They all thanked Mrs. Phelps heartily for a 
 most pleasant evening, and the last thins: Tom 
 said to Phelps was not to work so hard. He 
 promised he would take a rest and they said 
 
EVENING IN ENGLISH HOME 147 
 
 good-bye. It was the last time Tom ever saw 
 him, for he was taken to his bed shortly after- 
 wards and never recovered. The electrical in- 
 dustry had been benefited by his work. He gave 
 his whole life and soul to the electrical profes- 
 sion and with his death the industry suffered a 
 loss. 
 
CHAPTER XL 
 
 AIR SHIP EXCURSION. 
 
 It was about seven o 'clock in the morning, and 
 everybody was astir bright and early at the hotel 
 Continental. Many of the guests had already 
 learned that Lord Kelton would breakfast there 
 at the hotel with the distinguished Americans, 
 one of whom was a delegate to the International 
 Electrical Congress, and none other than 
 Evelyn's father. The local paper the evening 
 before had written a half column in regard to 
 Mr. Tyler's visit to Rugvale, describing his vast 
 connections with large electrical corporations in 
 the States. Reference was made to his success- 
 ful administration as President of the National 
 Electrical Association in America, and the honor 
 conferred upon him in the election as delegate 
 to the Electrical Congress of all the Nations. The 
 editorial further stated that the visit of Lord 
 Kelton personally to Rugvale, with his aeroplane 
 to greet the American banker and capitalist, was 
 indicative of the high esteem in which he was 
 held by the electrical fraternity of England. 
 
 As early as seven-thirty they were all in the 
 breakfast-room, and it was a happy party seated 
 around the table. Lord Kelton sat at one end 
 with Mrs. Tyler on the right and Evelyn at his 
 left. While waiting for breakfast to be served a 
 
 148 
 
AIR SHIP EXCURSION 149 
 
 great many questions were asked regarding the 
 air apparatus. Lord Kelton answered them in a 
 very plain and intelligent manner, indicative of 
 much thought and time given to the subject. 
 
 "How delightful it must be," said Evelyn, 
 ''Ever since your wireless message, Lord Kel- 
 ton, we have eagerly looked forward to this ex- 
 perience," 
 
 "I am sure you will enjoy it. Sometimes one 
 of my passengers exhibits a little fear at first, 
 but it vanishes entirely after a very few mo- 
 ments," he said. 
 
 "Do you consider the electric system of bal- 
 looning to be a complete success ? ' ' asked Tom. 
 
 "Yes, indeed," Lord Kelton replied. "It is not 
 only a success scientifically, but in the past year 
 many practical demonstrations of commercial 
 value, have been made. Large orders have been 
 placed for express cars, and within a few months 
 there will be in use in England two or three 
 hundred aeroplanes." 
 
 "We were saying recently," remarked Mr. 
 Tyler, "that we felt that the most wonderful 
 piece of electrical machinery on board the Elec- 
 trania coming over, was the wireless apparatus. 
 I understand your flying machine is controlled 
 by a similar apparatus, but, of course, much 
 more powerful. ' ' 
 
 "Yes, you are correct," Lord Kelton replied 
 "There are a dozen electrical companies which 
 are equipped with the apparatus for transmit- 
 ting powerful currents of electricity through 
 the air. Very high poles are erected in their 
 works' yards, these poles closely resembling the 
 wireless stations you have already doubtless seen. 
 Each of the twelve stations supplies current for 
 a particular zone including a territory of fifty 
 
150 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 square miles. Therefore the aeroplane is within 
 the range of electrical power, of the proper quan- 
 tity and kind, extending over six hundred square 
 miles, in any direction North, East, South or 
 West, and apparently to any height above the 
 earth. As soon as you see my car, you will notice 
 apparatus of a similar character, in appearance 
 at least, to the wireless machinery on board the 
 Electrania. It is the ability of this apparatus 
 to receive electricity by induction, from the 
 sources of supply I mentioned, which furnishes 
 the power to start the motor, which in turn re- 
 volves the machinery of the aeroplane." 
 
 "It is highly wonderful," said Mr. Tyler. 
 * ' To me it is the most marvelous of all the many- 
 electrical wonders with which the art is bounti- 
 fully favored." 
 
 ''Yes, I have often felt as you do, Mr. Tyler," 
 said Lord Kelton. "I think that scientists and 
 electrical engineers keenly feel in awe of that 
 great principle of inductioin. Experience has 
 of course, taught us many of the common laws 
 governing inductive effects. 
 
 They had finished breakfast, and had left the 
 dining room with the eyes of every guest upon 
 them. Lord Kelton was at the side of Evelyn,and 
 both attracted more than usual attention. She, 
 because she was a beautiful American girl; he, 
 because he was a scientist of great fame, and a 
 man who neither lived on the earth, nor under 
 the earth; nor yet under the waters of the 
 earth, but amidst the birds of the air, up close 
 to the beautiful blue sky, where the atmosphere 
 is infinitely clear and pure, where there is 
 neither dust nor dirt; nor smoke. 
 
 "Strange!" remarked Lord Kelton to Evelyn, 
 as they were walking along together, "but my 
 
AIE SHIP EXCURSION 151 
 
 car takes less power to propel it, the greater 
 height I ascend from the earth." 
 
 "Why, how do you account for it?" asked 
 Evelyn. 
 
 * * I really don 't know, ' ' he said, * ' I have tried 
 to solve the answer, sometimes checking over 
 my instruments which record the energy con- 
 sumed, thinking perhaps they were inaccurate. 
 Then, again, I have thought of the static elec- 
 tricity which must exist in those higher regions 
 to a greater extent than on earth, unless the ex- 
 ception may be in such mountainous regions as 
 the Pike's Peak section or the Alps territories 
 offer. But to no avail. It all leads me to believe, 
 Miss Tyler, that there are greater wonders in the 
 air than we have yet dreamed of." 
 
 A messenger came up to Lord Kelton and 
 proudly informed him that the automobile was 
 at the door, which was to convey them to the 
 aerial garage. The ladies had been advised about 
 the necessary wraps, which had been brought 
 down with them, and were now being placed in 
 the machine. Their luggage and trunks were 
 left with the porter to be sent to London, and 
 with a good-morning to the proprietor and clerk, 
 the flying-machine party walked out to the auto 
 and were driven over to the electrical station 
 from which point the ascent was to be made. It 
 was not more than a half mile and they soon 
 reached the place. As the machine entered the 
 works' yard, they all noticed the tall pole with 
 its electrical paraphernalia and a short distance 
 away was the great tall shed or stable in which 
 the aeroplane was "hitched." 
 
 It was surely an exciting time for all of them. 
 They gazed at the shed like the old farmer who 
 came to town and looked for the first time at an 
 
152 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 electric street car. There was really more ex- 
 cuse for wonder in connection with this experi- 
 ence, because they were not only strangers to the 
 machine itself, but were entirely unacquainted 
 with the traveling characteristics of the air. 
 
 Tom Appleton was the first to jump out of the 
 auto. He might be given credit for greater sta- 
 bility or control over his enthusiasm than any- 
 one else in the party. It was not that he lacked 
 interest in the wonderful ride they were about 
 to take, but he was unable to control his feelings 
 in regard to Evelyn Tyler. All through the 
 week on board the steamer, and ever since they 
 started, he had been experiencing some of the 
 happiest days of 'his life. Night and day he 
 thought of that dear, sweet face, which was al- 
 ways so bright and cheerful. He thought of the 
 frank open manner in which she had suggested 
 calling him Tom, and this morning she looked 
 so fresh and pure in his eyes, that he made up 
 his mind at the breakfast table to be just a 
 trifle risky for this one day. So, as Evelyn 
 alighted from the -auto, giving his hand a tight 
 squeeze, he whispered softly in her ear, ' ' I want 
 to sit beside you in the car." 
 
 They all walked together over toward the 
 garage. Lord Kel ton's assistants had evidently 
 made all preparations for the ascension, and 
 they therefore took seats at once. Without at- 
 tracting attention Evelyn had taken a seat next 
 to Tom and he was happy. To be a trifle frank 
 but positively confidential, Evelyn was also ex- 
 periencing moments, yea, hours and days of su- 
 preme happiness. 
 
 The main switch was thrown, in connection 
 with which there was heard only the slight snap- 
 ping sounds aloft on the great electrical ball re- 
 
AIR SHIP EXCURSION 153 
 
 ceivers. Lord Kelton had taken a position on the 
 commander's deck, just forward and 'high 
 enough above the rest so as not to obstruct the 
 view ahead. The next order was to throw the 
 motor switch, when a slight vibration of a power- 
 ful motor, might be noticed. The third order, 
 closed the switch which started the propeller. 
 Slowly, but gracefully, they left the earth, as- 
 cending gradually at an angle of about fifteen 
 degrees. They cleared the tall steeples, the 
 trees and the house-tops, and as Evelyn turned 
 her head to look down, way down below on 
 mother-earth, the feeling of fear came over her, 
 which Lord Kelton had mentioned >at the break- 
 fast table. 
 
 "Tom, I .am actually frightened," she whisp- 
 ered, and instinctively clutched his arm and sat 
 up nearer to him. 
 
 Tom knew no fear, but 'he was sufficiently 
 thoughtful and observing to know that just a 
 little encouragement, at this time, would help 
 matters wonderfully. He looked into her face, 
 their eyes met, and he said calmly to her, 
 * ' Evelyn, do not look down for a while, but look 
 away into the vast expanse of beautiful atmos- 
 pheric territory. I want you to notice how 
 proud Lord Kelton appears! Do you see his 
 Lieutenant <at the helm ? Notice how cleverly he 
 handles the car, changing his course a trifle now, 
 at the same time increasing the angle of ascen- 
 sion, and isn't it wonderful to see the amount 
 of room 'and the conveniences available in this 
 vehicle ! ' ' 
 
 It was a clever way that Tom possessed, of at- 
 tracting one's attention, and effectively chang- 
 ing the subject in such a manner as to relieve 
 the situation. He had done the same thing with 
 
154 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 his sister many a time before, and now Evelyn 
 had forgotten her uncomfortable feeling, and 
 was listening attentively to Tom's pleasant voice 
 as he described many interesting points of con- 
 struction about the car. 
 
 Lord Kelton had come down again among 
 them, and was calling their attention to the ap- 
 pearance .of the trees, and the hills and the 
 streams below. The trees looked like green vel- 
 vet lawns, with* the hills interrupting the monot- 
 ony and introducing an undulating character to 
 the picture, adding gracefulness and beauty to 
 their first "earth scene " as viewed from the 
 fifth strata of. atmospheric space, and as noted 
 on the sectional aerial space indicator. And the 
 rivers down there, flowing peacefully over the 
 surface of the earth, looked like tiny beds of 
 glass. The sun's li^ht upon the waters, made 
 mirrors from which beautiful views were re- 
 flected, ever increasing the scene of beauty which 
 the earth was capable of exhibiting. 
 
 "In order that you may have no fear what- 
 ever," said Lord Helton, "I will say that should 
 any cne territorial zone, for any reason, fail to 
 give power, an automatic device, cuts in a series 
 of storage cells, sufficient in power to keep us 
 moving in a forward, downward direction, and 
 simultaneously, a set of aluminum wings spread 
 themselves in a manner to very greatly increase 
 the resistance of the car against violent descent; 
 cr, in other words, they produce uniformity in 
 downward motion and avoid diving or exhibi- 
 tions of unarrial mannerisms." 
 
 At this he laughed, and turning to the chief 
 aeronaut asked what speed they were making. 
 The answer was received sixty-five miles an hour 
 which was only about seventy per cent, of the 
 

 ' * The silence was interrupted by a noise, 
 which startled them all." 
 
AIR SHIP EXCURSION 155 
 
 speed they would attain as the .height of ascen- 
 sion increased. He told them they were still ris- 
 ing gradually, and as he had finished speaking, 
 the silence was interrupted by a noise, which 
 startled them all ; that is, all except Lord Kelton 
 and his aeronautic assistants. Again Evelyn 
 drew close to Tom, and took hold of his hand. 
 Before he could advise her, Lord Kelton said, 
 
 "That is the receiver. It indicates another 
 air ship in this zone. My assistant will soon tell 
 me the exact distance away, her speed, the 
 course she is traveling, and all about her. 
 You see each ship has immediate correspondence 
 with each other, within a radius of fifty square 
 miles. Note particularly what an element of 
 safety this represents for traveling. The old 
 steam trains had their whistles which could be 
 heard but a few miles away. The automobiles 
 have their horns, and at night their lights, but 
 the electric air ship "picks up" a sister ship 
 fifty miles away and immediately learns all 
 about her plans, to avoid accident of any kind. ' ' 
 
 "Down there below," he continued, "you see 
 what looks like -a little village. It is the city of 
 Manchester. You will be glad to know, Mr. Ty- 
 ler, that we consider Manchester one of the most 
 aggressive electrical cities in all Britain. It is 
 strange, too, when you come to think of it, be- 
 cause it is a workin^man 's town, a great manu- 
 facturing center. But that is the reason why we 
 think so much of the progress made by that elec- 
 trical company. They have so studied the sub- 
 ject that in every home in all Manchester, elec- 
 tric lights are freely used. The electric house- 
 hold utensils are wonderfully popular, also, 
 and" 
 
 Evelyn had been listening intently to every 
 
156 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 word, and was looking square at 'him, when all of 
 a sudden and quick as a flash, he stopped, his face 
 changed color slightly. The car slackened speed 
 perceptibly. What was the matter! It com- 
 menced to descend and was diving. 
 
 The aluminum wings were spreading! The 
 battery indicator showed that the batteries were 
 cutting in. Loud and stern was heard Lord Kel- 
 ton's command to his assistants, ''Steady boys, 
 careful at the steering wheel. Everybody hold 
 on tight. We shall land safely." 
 
 Just then another lurch sent a sensation of 
 fear and trembling through the minds and bodies 
 of the ladies. Evelyn leaned over close to Tom, 
 and whispered, ''Tom, are you afraid?" 
 
 "No, Evelyn, I am not," he said. She had let 
 go <her hold of the ship and was tight in his 
 arms. 
 
 Again there was a savage lurch, and she again 
 whispered, 
 
 1 ' Tom, if we are taken now, we will enter into 
 eternity together. Are you happy?" 
 
 "Absolutely, Evelyn, we will be together," 
 and he held her closer than ever. 
 
 Just at this point it will be exceedingly inter- 
 esting to know the whereabouts of Frank Shel- 
 don, and what he is doing. Some ten days be- 
 fore, he had arrived in Manchester, England, 
 having come over to Europe immediately after 
 the cowardly automobile affair in connection 
 with which he was now a fugitive from justice. 
 He had heard through the American papers that 
 Mr. Tyler was appointed a delegate to the In- 
 ternational Congress at Berlin, and it seemed 
 fair to assume that the Tylers would arrive at 
 no late date, at least. Having watched the list of 
 cabin passengers on all the steamers which had 
 
AIR SHIP EXCURSION 157 
 
 arrived, he finally noticed that they were on board 
 the Electrania, but much to his surprise and 
 chagrin he saw the names of Tom Appleton and 
 Eethyl next on the list. For a moment this 
 made him furious, but he soon calmed down, 
 and commenced to think over the situation. He 
 was stopping at the hotel Carlton. As he sat 
 there in the lobby of the hotel, a messenger boy 
 was going through the corridors calling ou\t 
 " Telegram for Mr. Kingsley." Sheldon knew 
 that Kingsley was stopping there at the 
 hotel, and that he was very much in- 
 terested in Eethyl Appleton. Here was an op- 
 portunity for him to know what was going on, 
 at least. So he signalled to the boy, put a shill- 
 ing in his hand, and told him that Mr. Kingsley 
 wanted him to look at the telegram, in his ab- 
 sence. This was a natural request, and the boy 
 gave him the message walking away happy, with 
 a very liberal tip. 
 
 Sheldon tore open the envelope and read, 
 "Leaving \here tomorrow morning with Lord 
 Kelton's party, in aeroplane for London. Hope 
 to meet you there." (Signed) Eethyl Appleton. 
 
 Here was his opportunity. Carefully he 
 folded the envelope and sealed it. The messen- 
 ger boy was there in the lobby still, and he 
 beckoned to him to come over. 
 
 "This telegram is not very important boy. 
 Put it in Mr. Kingsley 's box. ' ' 
 
 Therefore, the telegram was not sent to his 
 room. Mr. Kingsley was not there all the even- 
 ing, and hurried up to his room late at night, 
 without getting the telegram. In the morning 
 he slept late, and not until half -past nine did he 
 see Eethyl's message. Then he started at once 
 for the station of the Manchester Electrical Com- 
 
158 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 pany. He hurried all the way, feeling that for 
 some reason or other, he ought to hurry, and see 
 if the sectional territorial space indicator was all 
 right. He was making a special study of this 
 system over here in England, and knew that as 
 Lord Kelton's party approached and passed 
 Manchester, the indicator would record their 
 safety first; also speed, height of atmospheric 
 strata attained, etc. He had been there several 
 times before, and this morning hurried right 
 through the yard to the station switchboard. 
 Opening the door, he saw the large turbine room 
 vacant, except for one man who was hurrying 
 away from the switchboard. He could just get 
 a glimpse of his face and recognized him as Shel- 
 don, but hark! there is the "aerial emergency 
 signal!" What does it mean? Is there nobody 
 about? He commenced to shout, for he knew 
 they were due in the zone just about this time, 
 and something told him that it was their ship 
 which was in distress. He haloo'd to the top of 
 his voice, and the emergency bell was fiercely 
 ringing, yet it seemed an age to him before a 
 switchboard man hurried into the room, saw at 
 a glance the switch which had been pulled, and 
 grabbing it with a jerk it was in again, and the 
 zone was once more furnishing power to Lord 
 Kelton 's aeroplane. 
 
 Back again we turn to the party, miles above 
 the earth in a car which had stopped flying and 
 was exercising the law of gravity just about as 
 fast as the emergency factors in its design, would 
 permit. But listen! The snap is again heard! 
 There is a strong held once more upon the car. 
 It felt to the party as if the God of the Heavens 
 had suspended a powerful magnet in the space 
 above them, and it was gradually but positively 
 
AIR SHIP EXCURSION 159 
 
 holding them up; and now they are ascending 
 once more, and sailing again through those won- 
 derful, yea more than wonderful, regions of the 
 universe. 
 
 ''Get communication with Manchester station 
 quick, ' ' was the command given by Lord Kelton. 
 
 "Aye! aye! sir," came the response. 
 
 A half minute more, and the answer came, 
 "Switch was thrown by unknown scoundrel, 
 during inexcusable absence of our switchboard 
 tender. Positive assurance trouble will not re- 
 cur." 
 
 "Well, I declare," said Lord Kelton, "this is 
 worth knowing." Then turning, he gave an 
 order that all the stations in the remaining zones 
 should be notified that they were passing 
 through, and stations must be sure about their 
 power. He requested positive assurance from 
 each station, and upon receipt of their replies, 
 he was able to influence his party wonderfully. 
 They were soon laughing and joking over the in- 
 cident as if nothing had happened. 
 
 Tom Appleton was one of the party who was 
 almost sorry to have the episode end. Even with 
 the knowledge that they might dive into eternity 
 at any moment, he was calm and cool. A feeling 
 of contentment and happiness had stolen over 
 him, for he felt that the girl with whom he had 
 become desperately in love had shown signs of 
 similar feelings for him. 
 
 Now it was all over, and he must realize once 
 more that it could not be. He must not think 
 cf continuing such pranks under any circum- 
 stances, because he had duties before him which 
 were plain. Duties to his sister and his father 
 and mother. Another thing, he was not suitable 
 for such a prize. She was rich, enormously rich ; 
 
160 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 and her father would never think of allowing 
 him to marry her, with the small income he se- 
 cured and his meager prospects. Then, if there 
 were no hope of marrying, why encourage such 
 a situation. 
 
 These were some of the thoughts passing 
 through his mind, when Lord Kelton suggested 
 that they should have a little lunch. It was 
 nigh on to noon-time, and as they had had such 
 an early breakfast, the idea struck everybody 
 favorably. 
 
 The table was spread, in the compartment be- 
 low. The delicious fumes of a porterhouse steak 
 were soon wafted up to the hungry passengers 
 above in the observation room. The odor of coffee 
 was another evidence of a delightful meal ahead. 
 Within ten minutes from the time it was sug- 
 gested they had all gone below, and were enjoy- 
 ing a hot lunch, far up in those regions where 
 man was only commencing to explore. But the 
 progress of electricity in 1912 was marvelous. 
 The old saying ' l There is nothing new under the 
 sun," is surely no longer true, because no one 
 ever contemplated in the dark ages, or the mid- 
 dle ages, or any age in the history of the world, 
 that a party would sail through the air in 1912 
 in an electric air ship, miles above the earth, and 
 eat a hot lunch cooked on board by electricity. 
 After the lunch was over the cigars were passed 
 around. Electric cigar lighters could be used 
 with safety here on board where matches were 
 considered risky. Lord Kelton gave instructions 
 for the chafing dish to be brought out, and the 
 girls made fudge for the party. Then came the 
 surprise of all, for at a command, one of the crew 
 turned a music switch, and the Telharmonium 
 gave forth its tones in the same manner as the 
 
AIR SHIP EXCURSION 161 
 
 houses, restaurants, hotels and theatres were 
 favored down there on earth. 
 
 Just as the sound of music died away, notice 
 was given that they were approaching London, 
 and Lord Kelton again took personal command 
 on the bridge. The order was given to take angle 
 at fifteen degrees down, and the car gracefully 
 dipped, but without any perceptible change in 
 the comfort of the party. No difficulty what- 
 ever was experienced in landing safely at the 
 garage, where two autos conveyed them to their 
 hotels. Lord Kelton accepted an invitation to 
 lunch with them next day. Before leaving the 
 entire party thanked him in a very earnest man- 
 ner for a most enjoyable excursion, Which had 
 pleased him as well. 
 
 The London Times that evening mentioned the 
 successful tour of Lord Kelton 's aerial party 
 that day, but made no mention of the accidental 
 descent. 
 
CHAPTER XII. 
 
 THE ROSES. 
 
 The party was stopping at the hotel Electrece, 
 one of the largest and most popular first-class 
 hotels in the heart of London. 
 
 About two o'clock, the next day after their 
 aeroplane excursion, they were assembled in the 
 dining-room. Lord Kelton had arrived early 
 and was in the best of spirits, which was like- 
 wise true regarding each one of the party. 
 E ethyl was particularly happy, with Charlie 
 Kingsley there by her side, although she did not 
 realize that the pleased expression on her face 
 was so noticeable, and the reason so apparent to 
 the others. 
 
 Tom and Charlie had talked over the matter 
 of Sheldon throwing the switch at the Man- 
 chester station, and decided it was best not to 
 inform Lord Kelton that they knew the name 
 of the party. The London papers had made no 
 mention of the incident, and Lord Kelton evi- 
 dently did not care to discuss it further. Tom 
 felt, however, that he had a bitter enemy to deal 
 with, and must be on his guard now more than 
 ever, as it was apparent that Sheldon would not 
 stop at anything to gain his purpose, no matter 
 if it involved Evelyn as well as Tom himself. 
 Sheldon was not registered there or in any of the 
 hotels in London, as far as they could determine 
 by careful search, but they made up their minds 
 to keep a careful watch for him. 
 
 162 
 
THE ROSES 163 
 
 Lord Kelton was saying to Mrs. Tyler that 
 the people of London were very proud of the 
 hotel Electrece. 
 
 * * They may well be, ' ' she replied. ' * Our rooms 
 are exceedingly comfortable. " 
 
 "The plans were commenced about the time 
 of the great Electrical Era in England," said 
 Lord Kelton, "and the Architect, Contractor 
 and Owner had so much to consider in the way 
 of electrical matters, in and around the hotel, 
 they thought Electrece a very appropriate 
 name. ' ' 
 
 "An important feature about the hotel in 
 which we take pride is its electric heating sys- 
 tem, and it is said that this is considered one of 
 the best features by the guests. At any time, 
 no matter the character of weather, heat can be 
 secured by simply throwing a switch. How often 
 has it been said that London hotels and boarding 
 houses were not comfortable, even in the month 
 of May, because there was no heating system for 
 warming the rooms! It was because coal and 
 gas grates were depended upon, and they were 
 not satisfactory as room heaters. ' ' 
 
 "The English Electrical Engineers became 
 very much enthused over electrical matters about 
 the year 1906, and Mr. H. F. Partridge of Lon- 
 don took the lead. His reputation as an Elec- 
 trical Engineer was of the highest order, and not 
 only throughout Great Britain but likewise in 
 the United States, he was well-known as an ag- 
 gressive and brilliant engineer. 
 
 "His engineering organization was large and 
 composed of smart men, well acquainted with 
 the practical side of all branches of the electrical 
 industry. 
 
 But the banner engineering, of the H. F. 
 
164 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 Partridge firm, was the installation of the elec- 
 tric heating system at this hotel. Many of the 
 electrical people thought that it would not be a 
 marked success, but this firm never undertook 
 anything and made a failure of it. The low 
 price of electricity in London, and the character 
 of the climate, were important factors which 
 lead to success, but the advantages of the system 
 to travelers was a feature not to be overlooked. 
 Guests would turn on the heat just to take the 
 chill off the room, and soon turn it off again, 
 as too much heat was disagreeable. The hotel 
 management was extremely gratified with the 
 system, as it was entirely satisfactory in every 
 way. It was vastly superior to any other sys- 
 tem in the matter of maintenance; also operat- 
 ing, and the safest of all systems. When heat 
 was required it was necessary to simply throw 
 on a switch. There was no fire to be cared for, 
 and to get low, if not given proper attention. 
 There was no provision necessary for large stor- 
 age of coal. The Electrical company made a 
 business of handling coal, and did it scientifi- 
 cally. They simply ran two wires into a switch- 
 board at the Hotel Electrece; and furnished a 
 system free from all bad points of the coal fur- 
 nace or steam boiler, yet instantly responding 
 to the requirements for heat by the simple throw- 
 ing of a switch. 
 
 Thei success of this sytem reflected great credit 
 on the firm of H. F. Partridge and especially 
 upon Mr. Partridge himself, who was, from the 
 start, a keen believer in its success. It had not 
 been tried before, on a large scale, as the condi- 
 tions had not been exactly right ; but now it had 
 actually been demonstrated, and its success 
 
THE ROSES 165 
 
 added still more to the fame already gained by 
 that company. 
 
 It also turned out to be a very valuable feat- 
 ure for the Hotel Electrece, because the electri- 
 cal papers, the daily papers and the magazines, 
 were continually writing about it, and together 
 with the fine reputation which the hotel gained 
 for "service without tips," it soon was doing a 
 most thriving business. This was a very grati- 
 fying situation, as a new hotel not infrequently 
 requires considerable time to become advertised 
 and known, and even then it is slow competitive 
 work at the best/* 
 
 "San Francisco has done remarkable work in 
 electric heating/' said Mr. Tyler. "What you 
 say about the experience of the H. F. Partridge 
 engineering firm, reminds me of the rapid 
 strides which are being made in all countries. 
 You spoke of 'service without tipping.' It is a 
 most excellent policy. We had thought that per- 
 haps the service would be poor, but it is not. I 
 was told that a porter was discharged a few 
 weeks ago for accepting a tip. The hotel man- 
 agement seem determined to adhere strictly to 
 the policy of 'service without tipping/ and I 
 am sure it is pleasing to stop in such a hotel." 
 
 Matters of general interest were then discussed 
 and after lunch, Lord Kelton's carriage was an- 
 nounced at the door. Mr. and Mrs. Tyler went 
 out driving, leaving the girls and young men to 
 spend the afternoon by themselves. Eethyl and 
 Charlie went down to the old Tower of London, 
 while Evelyn and Tom strolled in the other di- 
 rection, toward Trafalgar Square, crossing 
 which, they entered the National Art Gallery. 
 They went into the art gallery particularly to 
 see the paintings, but it was of special interest 
 
166 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 to notice how thoroughly, and to what extent, 
 the management had taken advantage of the use 
 of electric lights. They were told by one of the 
 attendants that an illuminating engineer de- 
 voted months to the gallery, before any change 
 whatever was made in the lighting. Finally he 
 made a joint report with one of the prominent 
 artists, after demonstrating many lighting ef- 
 fects by actual test, after which the building 
 was rewired and lighted with a view of exhibit- 
 ing the paintings to the very best advantage. 
 The general lighting of the rooms to see your 
 way about, was now a secondary matter, whereas 
 some years ago no attention whatever was paid 
 to the proper exhibition of the paintings; they 
 had lights simply to see your way about the 
 place. 
 
 Tom and Evelyn had taken seats opposite a 
 painting by Raphael. It was getting along to- 
 ward four o'clock in the afternoon, and as the 
 day was cloudy, they would have been unable to 
 see the picture to advantage, had it not been 
 properly lighted by artificial light. 
 
 "Just think," said Tom, "that picture was 
 valued at $270,000. It was considered one of 
 the best in the gallery. Yet for years there 
 were days and days when tourists passed through 
 this room, and could not get even a fair idea 
 of the painting, due to poor light. Illuminating 
 engineering is certainly of great benefit in con- 
 nection with art galleries. 
 
 "There is a painting here owned by J. Pier- 
 pont Morton which has been loaned to the gal- 
 lery. See how beautifully the colors are brought 
 out! Isn't it wonderful how accurately artifi- 
 cial light reproduces colors? Experts who have 
 devoted years of study to the subject, claim that 
 
THE ROSES 167 
 
 the arc light, properly equipped and installed, 
 is absolutely accurate for reproducing colors, 
 identically as daylight will reproduce them." 
 
 Evelyn asked if the gallery were ever open in 
 the evening. 
 
 1 ' That has been a great feature of this gal- 
 lery, " said the attendant. "After the great im- 
 provement in illumination, the opportunities for 
 studying the paintings in the evening, were so 
 good that the directors concluded to have the 
 gallery opened every Wednesday and Saturday 
 evening during the winter months. 
 
 "A record kept during the past two winters 
 showed that the largest numbers of people, who 
 visited the gallery in the evening, were working 
 men with their wives and daughters, and the 
 scheme has been continued to the great satisfac- 
 tion of everybody." 
 
 As it was nearly five o'clock, they returned to 
 the hotel, taking one of the electric omnibuses 
 so popular then in London. In 1905 a great 
 many tests of these buses were made, but it was 
 not until the Edmund's Battery was successfully 
 introduced that the electric buses became very 
 generally used. It was a very rare thing to see 
 an omnibus in London driven by horses, and the 
 old gasoline buses, once used to a limited extent, 
 were either remodeled for the electric equip- 
 ment, or else sold as second-hand to some of the 
 smaller cities. 
 
 "Did it not take a long time for the Edmunds 
 Battery to come into general commercial 
 favor ? ' ' asked Evelyn. 
 
 "Yes," replied Tom, "but all good things 
 come slowly. The extra time taken, however, 
 demonstrated beyond any question, the very 
 durable features of the battery, and the delay 
 
168 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 in its introduction was also fortunate, because 
 prices for current were materially reduced later, 
 and it was just these two features which created 
 a very favorable impression upon the London 
 companies operating the buses. They were sure 
 that the people would prefer the electric type, 
 because it offered such advantages as cleanli- 
 ness, ease of riding, ease of starting and stop- 
 ping, minimum noise, and above all, the Elec- 
 trical Era had struck London, and the engineers 
 devoted such close attention to the subject, and 
 were so bound and determined to win, that they 
 were exceedingly successful. The electric bus 
 has turned out to be a success in every way. ' ' 
 
 They were seated on top of the bus, on the 
 very last seat, and were practically isolated and 
 alone by themselves. Tom had congratulated 
 himself upon being with Evelyn Tyler, upon 
 having the opportunity to talk with her, to listen 
 to her voice, to watch the pleasing expressions 
 which were constantly illuminating her count- 
 enance. He had frequently found himself think- 
 ing of things to say, which would cause her to 
 smile, that he might study and gaze with admira- 
 tion at the beautiful face before him. He was 
 happy to be with her, to be near her, sitting side 
 by side, there in the gallery, looking over the 
 catalogs together, and passing opinions upon the 
 comparative merits of the different paintings. 
 Now and then a soft hand would gently rest 
 against his own, and it thrilled him with a desire 
 to bend down low and whisper to her, burning 
 words of love, for he now felt that she 
 cared for him more than a little. But he dared 
 not do it, and as they sat there on the bus, watch- 
 ing the throngs of people passing to and fro, 
 hurrying and scurrying in an aimless manner, 
 
THE ROSES 169 
 
 it made him think of his predicament. Was he 
 doing right? Could he continue in this man- 
 ner, trusting in his promise to himself to control 
 his feelings absolutely, no matter what the con- 
 ditions. His reverie was interrupted by Evelyn 
 saying softly, 
 
 ' ' Tom, I did not mean to be such a coward as 
 I appeared yesterday in the flying machine, but 
 the sensation of fear came over me so suddenly 
 that I did not have time to carefully consider 
 what I did." 
 
 Tom felt himself again losing his good inten- 
 tions. He wanted to answer that he would like 
 to be by her side all through life, and protect 
 her from all danger and harm, but finally his 
 judgment won out and he actually said, 
 
 "I think I understood your feelings. Surely 
 it was an experience which we will never forget. 
 I am glad if I helped to give you assurance of 
 safety, and allay your slight fear. ' ' 
 
 The conductor called out hotel Electrece, their 
 conversation was ended, and dismounting from 
 their upper deck seats, they walked slowly 
 through the court yard to the ladies' entrance. 
 Tom excused himself and Evelyn went into the 
 writing room. An hour later, when Tom went 
 up to his room, he found a large bunch of 
 luscious red roses on the table, and an envelope 
 addressed to him near by. Tearing it open he 
 read the following note: 
 
 1 'Dear Tom, 
 
 "I could not tell you on the bus all I wanted to 
 say about our experience yesterday in the air- 
 ship. It is the second time we nave been in 
 grave danger together, and I have greatly ad- 
 mired your courage. At the time of our wild 
 auto ride, your cool, determined manner saved 
 
170 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 my life. I told my father and mother about it, 
 and they know I am writing to you my feelings. 
 I did not tell them until this morning, and I am 
 sure they will thank you personally for the cour- 
 age you displayed. Will you please accept these 
 roses as tokens of my respect for you. 
 " Yours truly, 
 
 "Evelyn Tyler." 
 "P. S. 
 
 "Should you wear one of these tonight at din- 
 ner, I shall know that you are thinking of me. ' ' 
 
 Tom read and reread the postscript. Surely 
 his case was getting more serious. He felt posi- 
 tive now that she loved him. Should he wear 
 one of her roses down to dinner? Would it not 
 injure her to lead her on in this manner? Would 
 it help his own case ? This thought he put aside 
 immediately. He was bound that his own wel- 
 fare should have no weight in the matter. He 
 must consider what was best for her. 
 
 His brain was in a whirl, and when he went 
 down stairs to dinner, he hardly knew what he 
 did or said, except that he didn't have on the 
 rose. Soon he saw a lovely vision coming over 
 toward him. She was dressed in the same black 
 velvet gown as when he first danced with her at 
 the college ball. What a prize for some fellow! 
 He wished with all his soul that he had worn the 
 emblem of love which was so generously sug- 
 gested. 
 
 He felt his face turn red, and then he was 
 saying to her that he had received the roses and 
 thanked her for them. But oh, what a hollow 
 voice was that! Could it be Tom talking to 
 Evelyn? He saw the quick glance, and then a 
 slight flush which she had tried so hard to con- 
 ceal. They went to dinner, and through the din- 
 
THE ROSES 171 
 
 ner hour it was with difficulty that the conversa- 
 tion was maintained. Eethyl talked freely with 
 Charlie Kingsley and Mr. and Mrs. Tyler re- 
 lated some of their experiences during the after- 
 noon, but Tom and Evelyn were unusually quiet. 
 Early in the evening Evelyn excused herself and 
 went to her room. Closing the door and locking 
 it, she threw herself face downward on the bed 
 and wept like a little child. When Eethyl came 
 in a couple of hours later, to retire, she found 
 her asleep in the same position. 
 
CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 IN PARIS, 
 
 During the next few days the girls were left 
 to themselves to a considerable extent. Tom 
 and Charlie had gone to Paris on business, while 
 Mr. and Mrs. Tyler were exceedingly busy. 
 Evelyn had not been feeling well, and her 
 mother thought it a good plan for her to lounge 
 around the hotel, and avoid as much excitement 
 as possible. E ethyl was only too glad to keep 
 her company, and it was on one of these after- 
 noons that they were seated in the private parlor 
 adjoining their rooms. Evelyn had been trying 
 to become interested in a new book recently 
 published, while E ethyl was busy on a piece of 
 embroidery work, endeavoring to finish it by the 
 time they returned home, for her mother. 
 
 Finally Evelyn looked up from her book, and 
 glancing over to where E ethyl was sitting, she 
 was struck with the close resemblance between 
 Tom and his sister. 
 
 "How much you look like Tom," s^he said. 
 
 "Do you think so?" replied Eethyl. "I am 
 glad, for I always admired his looks." 
 
 "Do you believe Tom cares anything for 
 me?" asked Evelyn. 
 
 "Why, of course, he likes you, Evelyn. 
 What makes you ask that silly question?" 
 And then she looked up and noticed that Eve- 
 lyn's eyes were filled with tears. She left her 
 work at once, and went over where Evelyn was 
 seated. 
 
 172 
 
IN PARIS 173 
 
 "What is the matter, Evelyn?" she asked, 
 "Do you know, I have felt that something had 
 gone wrong with you. Wouldn 't you like to tell 
 me what it is?" 
 
 Evelyn then told her the whole story from 
 start to finish, and when she arrived at the inci- 
 dent of the roses, she sobbed as if her heart would 
 break. And E ethyl comforted her as best she 
 could, assuring her that it would come out all 
 right. 
 
 "I am sure," she said, "that Tom would cut 
 his hand off rather than give you such pain, if 
 he only knew it, Evelyn. I know him so thor- 
 oughly that I am positive he has some very im- 
 portant reason for failing to do as you wished 
 him. Perhaps he feels that his duties to father 
 and mother will not permit Ihim to think seri- 
 ously of such a thing, and he has such a high 
 regard for honor that he would not deceive you 
 by carrying his attentions too far. He has often 
 told me that he would never allow himself to 
 become closely associated with any young lady, 
 so long as JBather and mother are dependent upon 
 (him." 
 
 Evelyn had dried her tears and was listening 
 intently. There was a new idea entering her 
 mind, gathered from what E ethyl had said. 
 
 After a while she continued further: "You 
 know Evelyn, that Tom has paid all my expenses 
 through college ; also the expenses of my trip to 
 San Francisco, and over here. He has always 
 bought all my clothes, too, and probably he does 
 not know just what to do, even though he cares 
 for you more than he has shown." 
 
 E ethyl could hardly finish the sentence. Her 
 lip was quivering, and before they were aware 
 of it, she too was in tears. It had dawned upon 
 
174 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 her suddenly that now perhaps she was becom- 
 ing a drag on Tom, and if he had not been tied 
 down by such large expenses, due to her, he 
 might have acted differently. 
 
 Now it was Evelyn's turn to sympathize, and 
 comfort her. She put her arms around Eethyl's 
 neck, and kissed her over and over again. With 
 her own handkerchief she wiped the tears away, 
 and in a minute more they were both laughing. 
 
 "Eethyl dear," she said, "I have some good 
 news for you. I meant to have told you before, 
 but I was so selfish thinking of my own troubles. 
 I heard my father talking over the matter with 
 mother a few days ago. He wants to secure 
 Tom as the president and manager of a large 
 electrical company which has just been consoli- 
 dated. I heard him say that the position would 
 pay fifteen thousand a year, and the pianty 
 would be given a liberal amount of stock besides. 
 Now won 't that be fine ? ' ' 
 
 Eethyl's eyes were now brilliant, but before 
 she could speak, Evelyn said, 
 
 "Do you think there is any chance of his re- 
 fusing it?" and she listened anxiously for the 
 reply. 
 
 "No indeed, I should think not," said Eethyl. 
 ' ' Of course I cannot tell exactly how Tom feels, 
 but I believe he will be highly grateful for the 
 thoughtfulness of your father, and the faith he 
 must have in Tom's ability." 
 
 The girls were both feeling better, and 
 Evelyn suggested that they put up their book 
 and work, and go out for a walk. 
 
 After dinner that evening, as they sat in the 
 large lounging room, Evelyn quietly talked to 
 her father about the position he had mentioned 
 to her mother. 
 
IN PARIS 175 
 
 ''I have not said anything to him yet," said 
 her father, "but I will as soon as we get to 
 Paris." 
 
 "Father, won't you write him a line about it 
 tonight? I feel sure it will please him, and it 
 can make no difference with you. I wish you 
 would." 
 
 "Well, if it will please you Evelyn, I will," 
 he said. "It will give me an opportunity to 
 pay you back for tihe fine house you selected at 
 Northington, and all the happy hours I have 
 spent since we moved there." And he went to 
 the writing room at once and made Tom the 
 offer which Evelyn had told Eethyl about that 
 afternoon. And she went to find Eethyl and 
 tell her what her father was now doing. That 
 night the girls went to their room exceedingly 
 happy, and Eethyl even ventured to tell some of 
 the things which made her feel that Charlie 
 Kingsley had more than a friendly feeling for 
 her. 
 
 The next morning Tom and Oharlie Kingsley 
 were seated in the lobby of the Hotel Continen- 
 tal, Paris. Charlie had tried hi$ best to enliven 
 Tom's spirits, but without avail. All the way 
 over the Channel, and on the train from Calais, 
 he had been sober as a deacon, and finally Char- 
 lie gave it up as a bad job. He had made up 
 his mind that Tom had some very good reason 
 for feeling so glum. So he let him alone with 
 his own thoughts. They hardly said two words 
 at the breakfast table, each reading his paper 
 silently. 
 
 After breakfast they had gone into the lobby 
 to sit down for a smoke, and as Charlie's sug- 
 gestion to take a gallop through the Bois-de- 
 Boulogne, would require no extended conversa- 
 
176 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 tion, and leave Tom time to think, he considered 
 it a good idea, and Charlie arranged to have the 
 horses at the hotel at ten o'clock. 
 
 Tom was wondering for the hundredth time 
 how he could have been so mean as to cause that 
 beautiful young girl to feel so unhappy. Never 
 since he had known her, had she appeared to 
 him in other than the happiest kind of spirits, 
 and now he steps into her life and in a bungling 
 sort of fashion deeply offends her over a trivial 
 matter. Why had he not done as she had sug- 
 gested in such a sweet manner? What harm 
 could it have done? It would have given her 
 happiness, and his own fogey ideas could have 
 been straightened out later. But then, after all, 
 what about those ideas! Was he entirely 
 wrong? Why should he lead the girl on when 
 he could not possibly think of telling her of his 
 love, because he (had others dependent upon 
 him, and he must not think for a moment of 
 shirking his responsibilities to them. By the 
 time he had arrived at this concluson again, the 
 horses were at the entrance, and he was no 
 nearer solving the problem before him. 
 
 The morning air was bracing, however, and 
 before he had gone far, it occurred to him that 
 the thing would solve itself perhaps, and he had 
 better look on the bright side of the subject. 
 Charlie was calling attention to the Triumphal 
 Arch erected by Napoleon, which they were ap- 
 proaching. Tom had always enjoyed reading 
 about Napoleon and now as they were passing 
 under one of the grand monuments erected in 
 honor of his famous victories, a feeling of deep 
 respect came over him. He promised himself 
 that while he was in Paris, he would not only 
 see and learn all about Napoleon as Paris knew 
 
IN PABIS 177 
 
 him, but would show his great respect for the 
 man as a representative American should do. 
 
 With these thoughts passing through his mind 
 they entered the woods. Words fail to describe 
 the beauty, which is everywhere in evidence, 
 passing through this woodland section. Thie 
 sun's rays playfully passing in and out among 
 the trees, lent the finishing touches of light and 
 shadow, to a scene already radiant with the rich- 
 est varieties of delicate green shades. The road- 
 way was filled with magnificent turn-outs, in one 
 long line, as far as the eye could reach. It was 
 an inspiring scene, and Tom found himself un- 
 consciously straightening up in his saddle. An 
 exhilarating feeling came over him, and he 
 spurred on his horse to a smarter gallop. For a 
 mile or more they rode in this manner, busily 
 watching the throng of carriages and yet get- 
 ting the greatest amount of pleasure from their 
 ride. They had been furnished with excep- 
 tionally good mounts, and were keenly enjoying 
 the sport. Soon they came to a fork in the road, 
 when Tom taking the lead, turned to the left 
 and cantered at an easy pace, along a quiet, 
 unfrequented path, until they came to another 
 turn in the road, where the narrowness of the 
 way led them to slow up, especially as the sound 
 of hoofs indicated that another horseman was 
 coming toward them. Tom got a glimpse of him 
 through the brush, before he came into the 
 open, and greatly to his 'surprise recognized 
 Sheldon. He spurred up (his own horse, and 
 just as Sheldon was slowly coming around ^the 
 turn, Tom grabbed his horse 's bridle with a jerk 
 that nearly unseated the rider. 
 
 "Dismount at once/' Tom commanded, as he 
 flung himself quickly from his own horse. 
 
178 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 Charlie Kingsley had been quick to take in the 
 situation, and had blocked the way effectively 
 so as to offer no opportunity for Sheldon to go 
 ahead, and he couldn't possibly turn around 
 Tom had an iron grip on the bridle. Sheldon 
 knew what that grip meant, as he remembered 
 the night of the college ball. 
 
 "Well, don't you intend to obey me?" asked 
 Tom in a tone- which Sheldon felt pretty sure 
 meant business. 
 
 "I cannot imagine Why you are acting like 
 this," he answered, although at the same time 
 dismounting as Tom had commanded. 
 
 ' * I will explain to you soon enough, you cur, ' ' 
 said Tom, looking him straight in the eye. "Tie 
 your horse to that tree before I shake the day- 
 lights out of you." 
 
 There was fire in Tom's eye, and Sheldon felt 
 the position was very awkward. He tied his 
 horse, and as Tom gave his bridle to Charlie, he 
 turned to Sheldon and suggested that they sit 
 down there under the trees and talk for a few 
 minutes. 
 
 "Do you realize, Sheldon," he said, "that I 
 have evidence enough against you to put you 
 behind the bars for a long time ? ' ' 
 
 "I don't know what you are talking about," 
 said Sheldon. 
 
 "Yes you do, you scoundrel, your face shows 
 you are lying. You know well that you tam- 
 pered with my brakes, and then deliberately 
 placed your own car in a most dangerous posi- 
 tion on the old Holly Hill road, hoping we 
 would all get killed coming down the hill. I 
 have absolute evidence that it was you." 
 
 ' * And further, Charlie Kingsley saw you leave 
 the switch, after throwing it, at the Manchester 
 
IN PARIS 179 
 
 Station, when yon knew we were coming through 
 the Manchester zone in Lorrd Kelton's Aero- 
 plane. ' ' 
 
 ' ' You do not dare do anything about it, ' ' said 
 Sheldon. ' ' How would it look to see your names 
 all mixed up in the Paris and London papers, 
 including the delegate to the International Elec- 
 tric Congress; also telling the love story of 
 Evelyn Tyler, and 
 
 1 ' Stop ! ' ' shouted Torn, ' ' not another word, or 
 I '11 lay you out flatter than a pan-cake. ' ' 
 
 "You cannot frighten me," said Sheldon, 
 making a feint at a defiant answer, but shivering 
 in his boots in a manner he was unable to con- 
 ceal, try as hard as he could. 
 
 "If you are through lecturing, I will go." 
 
 ' l Before you go, ' ' said Tom, ' ' I warn you that 
 I sthall take steps against you the moment you 
 put foot on American soil, and it will go hard 
 with you. I further warn you to keep out of 
 our way during the remainder of this trip, or 
 you will find yourself locked up over here. ' ' 
 
 With this statement he pointed the way for 
 him, and told him to go. Sheldon walked over 
 to his horse, untied him, mounted and rode away, 
 without turning to bid them good-bye. 
 
 Tom felt that he had at least experienced the 
 satisfaction of telling Sheldon what he thought 
 of him, and warning him to keep out of their 
 way. They mounted their horses, and once more 
 enjoyed keenly the exhilarating effects which 
 the exercise and the scenes were bound to 
 produce in connection with that beautiful morn- 
 ing's ride. 
 
 By twelve-thirty they were back at the hotel, 
 and a bath and change of clothing, made both of 
 them feel fresh and strong, capable of doing 
 
180 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 justice to the lunch set before them. Tom was 
 feeling more like himself, as Charlie noticed 
 with considerable pleasure, and when lunch was 
 over, they went to the lobby to finish their cigars, 
 and talk over plans for the afternoon. They had 
 hardly taken seats, when one of the ihall boys 
 handed a letter to Tom, which he noticed from 
 the post-mark was from London. He tore off the 
 envelope little expecting that such good news 
 was so near to him. Unfolding the letter he 
 read Mr. Tyler's offer, and quick as a flash it 
 dawned upon him that perhaps his problem was 
 now solved. 
 
 A hundred thoughts passed through his mind 
 at once. He would write a letter to Evelyn 
 and tell her how sorry he was for treat- 
 ing her so unkindly that evening at the hotel in 
 London. No, that would not do, because if for 
 any reason this new position should fail him, 
 then his responsibilities to father, mother, and 
 sister, would not permit his considering such 
 great happiness as he thought lay before him. 
 Well, at least, he ought to telegraph Mr. Tyler, 
 how thankful he felt for the kind consideration 
 of his name, and he started for a telegraph 
 blank ; but Mr. Tyler had requested him to wait 
 until he arrived in Berlin when they would talk 
 the matter over. After all, there was nothing 
 to do, but keep cool. Why was he so excited? 
 Was it the position which had caused every 
 nerve in his body to tingle? No, he felt con- 
 fident he could handle that. Well, then, what 
 was it ? Why not admit frankly to himself that 
 before he had hardly finished reading the letter, 
 he was thinking of Evelyn, and the changed 
 conditions which would permit him to earnestly 
 strive to win her love ! 
 
IN PAiRIS 181 
 
 Poor Tom, there were no genii to whisper 
 quietly in his ear that Evelyn dearly loved him, 
 and had requested her father to write him 
 several days sooner than he otherwise would, 
 because she cared for him, and desired to see 
 him prosper. 
 
 While all of these thoughts were running 
 through his mind, Charlie Kingsley had been 
 waiting around, anxious to talk with Tom on a 
 serious matter, concerning Eethyl and himself, 
 but did not wish to speak as long as Tom was 
 in such a mood as the past twenty-four hours 
 had indicated. They had an appointment at 
 three o'clock at the Louvre Gallery, and as they 
 passed out of the hotel, Oharlie thought it wise 
 to wait until evening, and then have a good 
 long talk with Tom on the subject so dear to his 
 heart, and which he had already delayed 
 mentioning longer than he should, because, as 
 stated, Tom's mood was not altogether suitable, 
 in Charlie's opinion, for a nice, satisfactory 
 talk. 
 
 So they walked over through the park, past 
 the museum, and cutting diagonally across the 
 pavement, entered the gallery at the side door. 
 
 They sent their cards up to Prof. Tournier, 
 with a letter of introduction from Mr. W. 
 D 'A. Rhine, a prominent Illuminating Engineer 
 in the States. Prof. Tournier came down to the 
 reception room and extended to them a most 
 cordial greeting. 
 
 "I have most pleasant recollections of Prof. 
 Rhine," he said, in good English. "He was 
 here in Paris considerably during 1907 and 
 1908. We saw a great deal of each other, and 
 I enjoyed his acquaintance very, very much. 
 He was the most brilliant engineer on illumina- 
 
182 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 tion I have ever met. Excuse me, gentlemen, 
 but come up to my office. We will take the 
 elevator. ' ' 
 
 For a short time they talked over the general 
 subject of art, and its dependency upon 
 artificial illumination for proper exhibition. 
 Prof. Tournier was not only a painter of rare 
 fame, but had made a special study for years, 
 of the most skilful exhibition of the choice 
 paintings in the Louvre. He was a Director of 
 the Gallery Association, and Manager of all 
 Exhibits. It was fortunate therefore, that Tom 
 and Charlie could meet him personally. 
 
 "I suggest, Monsieur Appleton," he said, 
 * ' that you let me take you into the most impor- 
 tant salons where the actual results of our 
 illuminating engineering plans can be noted by 
 you to better advantage." 
 
 "By all means," said Tom, "we shall be 
 pleased to follow you. Let me say that your 
 reputation, for skilful exhibition of paintings 
 is well known in America, and we have looked 
 forward with much pleasure to the actual 
 inspecton, and a conversation with you on the 
 subject." 
 
 They had just entered the salon exhibiting 
 masterpieces from the Italian School. The dis- 
 play which met their gaze was at once recognized 
 by Tom as the result of Prof. Rhine's engineer- 
 ing. A skilful engineer, well versed in light- 
 ing, can, at a glance, recognize the work of a 
 master hand in illumination distribution, in the 
 same manner as an artist recognizes the skill 
 of a master in some famous painting, and can 
 tell by some characteristic of coloring, or 
 peculiar selection of colors, that it is the work 
 of Correggio or Tintoretto, or Raphael, without 
 
IN PARIS 183 
 
 being advised of the artist's name. The room 
 was not only filled with a soft, even distribution 
 of ligiht, equal in quantity, and uniform in 
 quality, in all parts of the room, but there was 
 beauty and brilliancy in the effect. The colors 
 seemed to stand out in the paintings as the 
 artist had intended they should. 
 
 "This method of engineering is carried out 
 all over the gallery. It is known as the D iff user 
 Ceiling System. Very high efficiency arcs are 
 used, and you will note there are no evidences 
 of the physical parts of the lamps in sight. ' ' 
 
 "It is magnificent; perfect," said Charlie. 
 "I have never seen light diffused more thor- 
 oughly. ' ' 
 
 While inspecting some of the paintings in 
 detail, Prof. Tournier told them the history of 
 their study of illuminating engineering and the 
 cause of their adopting electricity for artificially 
 illuminating the gallery. In a most interesting 
 manner he described the memorable meeting of 
 the Grand Illumination Conference held in 
 Paris early in the year 1907. He said: 
 
 * ' The great satisfaction whidh the new electric 
 illuminating methods had produced in the minds 
 of the Directors at the National Gallery in 
 London, and the many references in the 
 magazines and art papers, led to a long dis- 
 cussion, and energetic agitation, regarding the 
 poor lighting arrangements in St. Paul's, Lon~ 
 don, the Cathedral at Cologne and Milan, St. 
 Mark's at Venice, the Florence Cathedral, St. 
 Peter 's at Rome, and the Louvre Gallery. Many 
 tourists criticised all these edifices because they 
 were so poorly exhibited. They claimed that it 
 was a pity to lose the opportunity of seeing the 
 world-renowned paintings, architecture, and 
 
184 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 sculptural works to best advantage, because 
 they were exhibited in places improperly 
 illuminated. 
 
 "Architects, of some note, had deplored their 
 inability to study certain architectural features 
 of the Cathedrals, because the light was so poor 
 it was with difficulty that they could see even 
 the design, to say nothing of studying the 
 details. 
 
 "A magazine article in 1906 by a prominent 
 sculptor, mentioned that the guide who showed 
 him through one of the old Cathedrals in a 
 large city in Italy, used a candle in order to 
 enable him to see details, which should have 
 been properly exhibited, because of the great 
 interest and value attached to the works of the 
 old masters. 
 
 "Massive doors, representing the highest 
 degree of skill in bronze casting attained any- 
 where in the world, at any time in all history, 
 magnificent in general, beautiful in detail, which 
 might be studied for hours with profit and plea- 
 sure, were exhibited by candle light. 
 
 "A prominent artist wrote an article in 
 regard to the proper exhibition of paintings, 
 criticising severely a prominent old palace in 
 Venice, where wall paintings of rare value, by 
 no other brush than that of Paul Veronese, 
 were exhibited in such a manner as to warrant 
 exceedingly unfavorable comment on the man- 
 agement. 
 
 "One grand old picture, famous througfhout 
 the world, for its size and the number of figures 
 represented, was exhibited by means of small 
 tin blinders to put over the eyes, because the 
 light was so poorly distributed in the room. 
 
 "The Managing Directors of the Louvre, at 
 
IN PARIS 185 
 
 Paris, had shortly followed the plan of the Lon- 
 don National Gallery in respect to illumination, 
 and while the many visitors from far and wide 
 were coming to see the Louvre re-arranged, a 
 conference was called to meet in Paris, including 
 Directors from all the prominent galleries and 
 Cathedrals in Europe. The very best Illuminat- 
 ing Engineers in the world were invited to 
 attend; and together with artists of fame, 
 Cathedral and gallery directors, the important 
 subject of illumination was discussed. 
 
 "During the first part of the conference, it 
 was conclusively shown that the use of candles 
 in Cathedrals near the fine old paintings, had 
 had a most injurious effect on the colors. One 
 striking illustration was given by a Venetian 
 delegate, who said that a very valuable original 
 painting by Titian had been nearly destroyed 
 because it had been so long subjected to the 
 injurious fumes and smoke from candles. 
 
 1 'It was likewise shown conclusively that it 
 was useless to consider illuminating such places 
 by gas light. 
 
 "The second day the most enthusiastic 
 speeches were made in favor of the general plan 
 of electric illuminating for the most effective 
 exhibition of paintings. The reason for using 
 electric lights, instead of candles or gas, was 
 naturally in connection with the preservation of 
 the colors, but the engineers showed, by careful 
 explanation and practical demonstration, that 
 the colors were beautifully and accurately 
 reproduced by the electric arc, so that the eye 
 could perceive and appreciate the artist's real 
 intentions in utilizing certain colors. On the 
 contrary, it was shown that the 'artist's design 
 was entirely misconstrued and distorted, when 
 exhibited by gas or candle light. 
 
186 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 ''A delegate from Dresden said that they had 
 heard of the improvement in illuminating the 
 London Gallery, and they had equipped two 
 small rooms in the Dresden Gallery for the 
 proper exhibition of Raphael's Sistine Madonna 
 and Correggio 's Holy Night. He said the results 
 were more pleasing than they had hoped, and 
 their efforts had been greatly appreciated by 
 many tourists, who were short of time, and had 
 been able to visit the gallery at night, to their 
 entire satisfaction. They were simply anxious 
 to see these two wonderful paintings, and did 
 not care to take time to see all the gallery. In 
 this way they were able to save a day in their 
 programme, spending more time in Berlin and 
 catching the steamer at Hamburg for New York. 
 
 "It was shortly after this conference," he 
 continued, "that Prof. Rhine commenced active 
 engineering over here, and his results in the 
 cathedrals, galleries, and museums, have made 
 him famous throughout all Europe." 
 
 Tom thanked him kindly for speaking in 
 such high praise of one of his own countrymen. 
 Rhine had been a friend of many years' stand- 
 ing, was a hard worker, and deserving of all the 
 praise bestowed upon him. 
 
 The hour was getting late, when they 
 expressed their hearty appreciation to Prof. 
 Tournier for his kind personal attention, and 
 returned to the hotel. 
 
 In the early evening, after they had left the 
 dining-room, and were smoking their cigars, 
 Charlie told Tom all about his feelings for his 
 sister Eethyl, and asked his consent to speak 
 to her on the subject. He told him that he felt 
 almost sure Eethyl loved him, and if he had 
 Tom 's permission he would win her for his wife. 
 
IN PARIS 187 
 
 Tom rose, and grasping Charlie by, the hand, 
 said, "You have my permission Charlie, by all 
 means, and my best wishes. No one could ask 
 for a better brother than you would be to me, 
 and I do not know of anybody I would prefer 
 to have my sister marry, than you. I believe 
 she loves you, and that she will answer you 
 'yes." 
 
 As Tom had a report to make out, he left 
 Charlie writing to Eethyl Appleton, whom he 
 thought he could now call his sweetheart in ear- 
 nest. And he said in his letter that he had 
 something to tell her when they met in Berlin, 
 which would make him intensely happy, and he 
 hoped would make her not less so. 
 
CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 EVENING WITH EMPEROR. 
 
 Two weeks later, the entire party were together 
 once more in Berlin, the electrical city of Ger- 
 many. The city had rightfully earned this 
 title. The large Ellegemeine Electrical Works 
 had been wonderfully aggressive with its large 
 manufacturing plants, not only producing all 
 kinds of appliances to be operated by electricity, 
 but likewise educating the people by various 
 methods to use such devices in their homes, their 
 factories and in connection with their mercantile 
 life. 
 
 As early as 1903 they were developing and 
 manufacturing electric heating devices. In 1906 
 they were the leaders of the world in electric 
 motor applications, and in 1907 it was "nip and 
 tuck" as to whether Germany or the United 
 States was most advanced in the incandescent 
 lighting industry. 
 
 Therefore when this party arrived in Berlin, 
 and it was known that the American delegate 
 to the International Electrical Congress was at 
 the hotel Bristol, the newspapers were filled with 
 items regarding electrical matters, and Mr. 
 Tyler was besieged with visits from newspaper 
 reporters. 
 
 Tom and Charlie had arrived in Berlin several 
 days before the others. The negotiations which 
 Tom had been conducting for his Company had 
 
 188 
 
EVENING WITH EMPEROR 189 
 
 been completed, and he had cabled to Manager 
 Hammond in Millville the results. 
 
 One morning he was sitting in the office of 
 Herr Dunkel, one of the naval officers of the 
 German government. He had met this gentle- 
 man before in the States, and had enjoyed his 
 acquaintance. Their associations were such 
 therefore that he talked freely about Tom's 
 friends in the Glendale Company at Millville. 
 
 He had just started talking about their mutual 
 friend Caryl D. Hastings, and was saying. 
 
 "I admired Mr. Hastings very much indeed. 
 I believe him to be one of the most brilliant of 
 the electrical men in the States. His work with 
 the government in connection with sub-marine 
 electrical matters has given him a very high 
 standing in Germany." 
 
 "It pleases me," said Tom "to hear you 
 praise Mr. Hastings' ability as an engineer. I 
 have known him personally for many years, and 
 have a high regard for him. Many of his ideas 
 have been adopted, and the industry has been 
 extended, due in no small degree, to his earnest 
 and able efforts. Do you remember meeting 
 Henry L. Darrity when you were in the States, 
 Herr DunkeU" 
 
 "Yes, indeed. It was the year after the Cin- 
 cinnati Convention. Almost everybody I met 
 told me of the aggressive manner in which Mr. 
 Darrity handled the affairs of the National As- 
 sociation as its President. To me he appeared 
 to be wonderfully well posted on gas interests as 
 well as electrical matters. I heard many promi- 
 nent men give it as their opinion that Henry L. 
 Darrity was the most aggressive and the ablest 
 President the Association had elected for many 
 years. ' ' 
 
190 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 With a few more general comments Tom bade 
 good morning to Herr Dunkel, and upon reach- 
 ing the hotel learned that the Pitch family, from 
 Johnsonville, Michigan, had arrived : Mr. W. 
 A. Fitch, his wife, and two daughters. 
 Tom Appleton was much pleased to meet them, 
 as he had known Mr. Fitch for many years, and 
 greatly admired him for the aggressiveness he 
 had always exhibited in handling the electric 
 lighting, heating, and power transactions 
 throughout the many cities and towns in Michi- 
 gan, where they were continually prospecting for 
 business. 
 
 Tom looked them up immediately, and intro- 
 duced his friends and sisters, who were delighted 
 to again meet people from the States, especially 
 Tom's friends. He planned that they would all 
 take dinner and spend the evening together. Ac- 
 cordingly about seven-thirty that evening they 
 were all seated at one large table in the dining- 
 room. The talk had been more or less general. 
 
 "An improvement has been put into effect 
 throughout Italy, for which all tourists should 
 be grateful. It is in the form of electrozonic 
 water in the hotels, and on the trains. 
 
 "Physicians of high reputation, have made 
 public statements setting at rest all question as 
 to the character of the water. Every good 
 hotel now uses an electrozonator through which 
 all drinking water passes." 
 
 "When we were over here before," said Mr. 
 Fitch, "I figured from $1.60 to $2.00 per day 
 for drinking water alone. We never would 
 drink wine or beer, and had been advised not 
 to drink water on the continent. 
 
 We, therefore, never touched anything but 
 mineral water, all the while we were here. It 
 
EVENING WITH EMPEROR 191 
 
 cost us from $75 to $100 for water on the trip, 
 while this trip has not cost us a cent for water, 
 due to the electrozonization of the water. How 
 much more pleasant it is, to spend $75 or $100 
 in souvenirs, which are always bringing back 
 tender memories of happy days abroad ! ' ' 
 
 Mr. Fitch continued, "The ladies feel that 
 one of the greatest improvements in the trains, 
 is in connection with the toilet rooms. Their 
 last experience over here was something awful. 
 The very best train system otherwise, was weak 
 in respect to the toilet rooms. They were not 
 kept clean, and it was disgusting to expect any- 
 body, man or woman, to enter such a place. 
 Finally, in 1906, the magazines, called the mat- 
 ter so forcibly to the attention of the rail- 
 road officials, that much better attention was 
 given to the subject. It was a very easy matter 
 to remedy. All the toilet rooms in the Pullman 
 cars in America are kept as neat and clean as 
 our own residence bath rooms. There is no 
 difficulty whatever connected with the idea. The 
 difference between one way and the other, is 
 proper attention vs. no attention. It will be 
 appreciated that with brand new cars such as 
 we saw on the Paris and Berlin Electric Express 
 train, and with notices about such improve- 
 ments as electrozonized water, electric dining 
 car, the new telharmonium on board train, 
 and the electric motor applications for raising 
 windows, handling baggage, etc., the railroad 
 company could not very well afford to have 
 unsanitary toilet rooms on its cars." 
 
 "Did you stop long at Rome?" asked Evelyn. 
 
 "We were there about a week," replied Mr. 
 Fitch. 
 
 "Of course you went through St. Peters?" 
 
192 LOOKING FORWAKD 
 
 chimed in Mrs. Fitch, and thank 
 goodness, they have an elevator for reaching the 
 dome. The last time we were there Mr. Fitch 
 and I walked up and down 1260 steps to see that 
 dome. We were both so provoked over the mat- 
 ter that we did not enjoy our visit to St. Peters ' 
 a bit." 
 
 1 i But that is all changed now, ' ' exclaimed Mr. 
 Fitch. "They have two very large elevators, 
 fully capable of accommodating all the tourists 
 who visit the Cathedral. The building is 
 beautifully illuminated, also, with electric 
 lights," he said. 
 
 "That is very interesting," said Mr. Tyler, 
 "how was it brought about?" 
 
 "I understand," said Mr. Fitch, "that a few 
 of the most prominent influential architects, 
 sculptors, and artists formed themselves into a 
 committee to fully investigate the matter. There 
 had been considerable criticism from all quarters 
 to the effect that the Cathedral should be open 
 at least one evening in the week, for the benefit 
 of the poorer classes. To carry out this plan it 
 was necessary to illuminate properly. Much 
 agitation was going on also in regard to the 
 London and Paris Art Galleries. Such articles 
 attracted great attention at Borne because of 
 the many rare, famous and valuable paintings 
 which are there on exhibition. This Committee 
 made a full investigation and then called on the 
 Pope and set the matter before him. It was not 
 long after, that the elevators were installed and 
 the Cathedral was beautifully illuminated." 
 
 "I understand you were at Milan, also. How 
 did you find the Cathedral there?" 
 
 "Most beautiful in every respect," replied 
 Mr. Fitch. "Thoroughly illuminated, and an 
 
EVENING WITH EMPEROR 193 
 
 electric elevator instead of the noted 149 steps 
 to climb up to the roof and down again. " 
 
 "Mr. Fitch, did you notice about the heating 
 systems of the art galleries and cathedrals in 
 Italy? When I was over some years ago they 
 were inclined to be rather damp and cheerless. ' ' 
 
 "As you know/' he replied, "the water 
 powers throughout Italy are numerous, and 
 particularly since 1906 they have been developed 
 with remarkable rapidity. Therefore power is 
 very cheap, and the rate is so low that all 
 factories, churches and public buildings are 
 heated by electricity. The requirements in 
 cathedrals are just suited to the electric system. ' ' 
 
 That evening they all spent together in the 
 lounging room. The telharmonium furnished 
 music of a pleasing character. Mr. Tyler and 
 Mr. Fitch talked at length over the price situa- 
 tion in connection with the sale of electricity. 
 Mrs. Tyler and Mrs. Fitch talked about matters 
 of common interest, while the four girls with 
 Tom and Charlie told stories, laughed and joked, 
 talked of their college days, the good time at 
 school, the ocean voyage with its many incidents, 
 the air ship excursion with its thrilling 
 experience, and then every little while they 
 would listen through the telephones to the funny 
 songs and jokes at the various theatres. The 
 evening passed before they were aware of it, 
 and they were sorry, as the Fitch family had to 
 leave for Hamburg, early the next morning. 
 
 It had seemed awfully good to meet friends 
 from home, over there amongst so many stran- 
 gers, and When they bid each other good night 
 and good-bye, it was with deep regrets. 
 
 The next day was an exceedingly busy one. 
 Emperor William had extended an invitation 
 
194 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 to the delegate of the International Congress 
 with his wife and party to dine with the Royal 
 Family at Potsdam that evening. The Emperor 
 had always taken a very pronounced interest in 
 electrical matters. In fact it was, in no little 
 part due to his personal efforts that Germany 
 ranked so exceptionally high, in electrical 
 developments, with the other nations of the 
 earth. 
 
 It was well known that when the Crown 
 Prince visited America in 1905, he took a special 
 interest in electrical developments. It was not 
 many years after that his palace at Potsdam 
 was equipped with the electric heating system, 
 and the old fashioned stoves were abandoned. 
 
 It was also well known that the Emperor had 
 ways and means of ascertaining the progress, 
 made in the United States during the year 1906, 
 in connection with electric household utensils, 
 and was one of the first to equip his palace with 
 all the convenient devices which the Berlin 
 factories were producing. 
 
 When the invitation was first received, Tom 
 and Charlie were a little inclined to back out, 
 but Mr. Tyler was anxious to have them go, as 
 a matter of respect for the invitation of the 
 Emperor, if for no other reason. They were 
 exceedingly glad that they did, for they had a 
 most enjoyable time. 
 
 Tihe Emperor was good enough to make it a 
 very informal affair, and he made everyone feel 
 entirely at ease from the moment they arrived. 
 
 Prince Henry and the Princess were there at 
 the Palace to receive them, and in a most cordial 
 manner extended a welcome to the distinguished 
 Americans in behalf of the German people. A 
 general conversation ensued, interrupted shortly 
 
EVENING WITH EMPEROR 195 
 
 after by the entrance of the Emperor and 
 Empress. After the formal introduction, the 
 Emperor expressed great pleasure in meeting 
 the delegate to the International Congress, and 
 conversed with him until dinner was announced. 
 The Emperor offered his arm to Mrs. Tyler, and 
 they took the lead toward the dining room. The 
 Empress followed with Mr. Tyler, and Prince 
 Henry offered his arm to Evelyn. The Princess 
 went in with Tom, while Charlie and E ethyl 
 brought up the rear, as happy as any two living 
 mortals could possibly be. 
 
 The Emperor opened the conversation with 
 a most informal statement to the effect that the 
 dinner about to be served was cooked entirely 
 by electricity. 
 
 "Isn't it surprising how enormously the 
 industry has grown?" he remarked. 
 
 "Rather, considering that hardly twenty-five 
 years ago, almost nothing was known about it 
 at all," replied Mr. Tyler. 
 
 "I hope Mrs. Tyler we shall not tire you with 
 our shop talk," the Emperor said. 
 
 "No indeed, it has been a part of my life for 
 many years, in fact ever since my daughter was 
 a little girl. I never tire of listening or talking 
 on the subject." 
 
 * ' I was greatly interested in the lead taken by 
 the American Colleges for girls in establishing 
 an electrical course. I think that Germany was 
 second to take up the innovation. How reason- 
 able it seems to us now, when we have electric 
 household utensils surrounding us on every side. 
 Yes, even my stable is equipped with them. It 
 is very desirable that our girls and women 
 should know how to cook and do housework. 
 Their training in college teaches them all things 
 
196 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 about the care of a house, and it is a splendid 
 idea." 
 
 Prince Henry and the Princess had been rela- 
 ting some of their experiences in connection with 
 air-ships. They were very greatly interested in 
 the trip with Lord Kelton as Evelyn related 
 it; in fact so much so, that the conversation 
 became general, and Emperor William wanted 
 to hear all about it. He had not known that 
 such great speeds could be attained. 
 
 "Does Lord Kelton seem to think that the 
 electric air-ship will be the most practicable of 
 all the various forms?" he asked. 
 
 "I think he does," answered Tom. "He 
 admits it is expensive to manufacture, and will, 
 be until quantities can be produced. The operat-' 
 ing cost is heavy now, but when all electrical 
 stations establish their sending equipment, the 
 cost of navigation will be small. At present 
 he is confined to twelve zones, or an area of six 
 hundred square miles." 
 
 "My!" exclaimed the Empress who had 
 become quite excited over the discussion. ' ' How 
 can they tell when they have reached the outer 
 edge of the electrical zone? Perhaps the air 
 changes its resistance as the ship approaches an 
 unelectrified zone, and rings an emergency bell. ' ' 
 
 "Yes," answered Tom, somewhat surprised, 
 at the knowledge which the Empress exhibited 
 on the subject, "and if the current is thrown 
 off entirely, for any reason, batteries are 
 automatically cut in, which supply sufficient 
 current to allow the car to move at a slow 
 speed on the level and properly descend without 
 diving. ' ' 
 
 The Emperor then addressed Tom personally, 
 "Mr. Appleton, I feel as if I knew you well," 
 
EVENING WITH EMPEROR 197 
 
 he said. "Some years ago I believe you were 
 at the head of the Testing Department in the 
 large Glendale Electric Works at Millville, 
 N. Y." 
 
 Tom said he was. 
 
 "Well," continued the Emperor, "I took a 
 great interest in a young man who spent two 
 years there, and he was always writing to me 
 something about Tom Appleton, the head of the 
 test. If all the boys thought as much of you as 
 my young friend, you are to be congratulated." 
 
 The Emperor 's story pleased Tom a good deal. 
 Mr. Tyler was taking it all in, and poor Evelyn 
 could hardly restrain herself from telling the 
 Emperor a great deal more that she knew about 
 Tom, but she had to content herself with a very 
 pleased expression, and glancing quickly over 
 to Tom, she found that he was looking straight 
 at her, and they both blushed like a couple of 
 country school girls. 
 
 Tom did not have an opportunity to reply, as 
 they had all risen and were following the 
 Emperor and Mrs. Tyler to the coffee room. 
 
 They remained at the Palace for the better 
 part of the evening, and the Emperor took 
 occasion to talk at length with Mr. Tyler in 
 regard to the electrical industry in general. He 
 seemed to enjoy talking about the large con- 
 solidation of interests in America, and asked 
 Mr. Tyler a good many questions pertaining to 
 this subject. Naturally the conversation drifted 
 to the prominent men connected with the 
 industry since its early commercial history. 
 It was remarkable that he possessed such 
 detailed knowledge of men and events in 
 America covering a period of many years. He 
 paid a high compliment to the officers of the 
 
198 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 Association of Edmunds Illuminating Companies 
 and emphasized how aggressively they had taken 
 up and followed new ideas regarding electricity. 
 He said the speech of J. W. Loeb at Saratoga, 
 some years ago, was a masterpiece, and he al- 
 ways thought of it when talking of the progress 
 of electricity. 
 
 "I personally met J. McCallan and Louis 
 Fernaldson when they were over, two years ago. 
 Charming fellows, and exceedingly clever/' con- 
 tinued the Emperor. 
 
 The Prince had been listening intently, and as 
 Emperor William finished, he said. 
 
 "When I was in the States I had a very inter- 
 esting talk with President Roosevelt. He told me 
 that he took the keenest interest in electrical sub- 
 jects. When Governor of New York State he 
 had been entertained one evening at Millville by 
 J. R. Lovering an executive of the Glendale Elec- 
 trical Company. He emphasized the remark- 
 able character and ability of the man, and his 
 popularity among the thousands of men under 
 his direction." The Prince felt that with such 
 a man as a leader he could understand the phe- 
 nomenal progress of electricity in 1912. 
 
 "I believe I appreciate just what President 
 Roosevelt meant," said the Emperor, "because 
 I have personally met General Eugene Grafton a 
 man, regarding whom the President could apply 
 the same high compliment. I know him well. 
 For many years he has spent at least a month in 
 Germany, each year, and I will never forget the 
 interesting evenings we have spent together. Dr. 
 Rathnung, whose opinion is highly rated, here in 
 Berlin, told me that he thought General Grafton 
 had done more in behalf of the rapid develop- 
 ment of the electric street railway, in the 
 
EVENING WITH EMPEROR 199 
 
 States, than any other one individual." 
 
 "In the States," said Mr. Tyler, "we also 
 have a very strong admiration for Dr. Rathnung 
 Surely he deserves all the praises which your 
 good people have showered upon him. Probably 
 no other man has done more for the electrical 
 industry than has Dr. Rathnung." 
 
 "All the people of Germany know about his 
 work and they admire and love him for his ac- 
 complishments, " said the Emperor. 
 
 The Prince then recalled an evening spent 
 with Andrew Carnelty, when he talked in the 
 most enthusiastic manner regarding the future 
 of electricity. 
 
 "In all my trips," said the Prince, "I cannot 
 remember of a more interesting evening. He 
 told me of the steel mill equipments, the won- 
 derful developments of electrical devices for 
 handling machinery, transferring red hot ingots 
 and bars of steel, from one end of the roam to 
 the other. The day after, I saw the operations, 
 and I was impressed beyond expression. Mr. 
 Carnelty was with me in person, and he said: 
 "Electricity is a wonderful agent. I know it 
 has helped the steel industry wonderfully to 
 make remarkable progress in the processes of 
 steel manufacture. ' ' 
 
 "Your industry is to be congratulated upon 
 having such a powerful advocate as Mr. Car- 
 nelty. His large contribution of money toward 
 the erection of the Engineers building in New 
 York City was further evidence of the great in- 
 terest he has always exhibited in behalf of the 
 electrical industry." 
 
 "It is needless to state that Andrew Oarnelty's 
 name will never be forgotten by Americans," 
 replied Mr. Tyler. 
 
200 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 The Prince continued, "I have always had a 
 high regard for electrical engineering, and I had 
 the pleasure of meeting your most distinguished 
 engineer, Mr. E. W. Rose. He must be a man 
 of unusual ability. When I visited your various 
 factories it seemed to me that it must have been 
 a tremendous task to follow the engineering of 
 such machinery, and prevent the ruination of 
 your own Company as well as the good custom- 
 ers who purchased from you, and had faith in 
 your Engineering Department. Outsiders can- 
 not appreciate the extent of your organization. 
 If they could, then it would not seem so wonder- 
 ful to us. I went into a large publisher's estab- 
 lishment recently, and saw them printing novels. 
 The art had reached such a high degree of per- 
 fection that one machine performed a dozen or 
 more operations. The paper and ink on one side 
 of the room pass to the other side, and lo and 
 behold ! a complete book. ' ' 
 
 1 'Of course," said Tom, "that does not in- 
 clude the writing of the novel. ' ' 
 
 Oh, no," exclaimed the Prince, taking it seri- 
 ously. 
 
 Tom smiled and said, "some months ago I had 
 a conversation with an author, who had been 
 trying for a long time to get a book published 
 through a large publishing house in New York, 
 but their ideas differed widely as to what the 
 people would and would not read. My friend 
 the author felt that the book contained material 
 which would keenly arouse the interest of the 
 people, old and young 'and tall ' classes. Be 
 claimed it was written in a style which would 
 encourage readers to absorb the semi-technical 
 parts, or really the best parts of the book, be- 
 cause he had introduced scenes and incidents in 
 
EVENING WITH EMPEROR 201 
 
 novel form to assist and aid the reader to par- 
 take and digest intellectual food necessary if one 
 wants to become a representative man or woman. 
 He argued with the publisher that inasmuch as 
 there had been so many novels published in the 
 past few years, introducing simple and pretty 
 love stories, that perhaps the people were now 
 ready for a book of unusual educational char- 
 acter. " 
 
 "What did the publisher say?" inquired the 
 Emperor, who had been keenly interested. 
 
 "He refused to accept it," replied Tom, "so 
 the author published it himself, and has proved 
 his opinion was correct. The people are reading 
 it. Young men and young girls are reading it. 
 Business men and the women of our homes, also. 
 I expect it will be read freely throughout Eu- 
 rope, likewise; yet the publisher misinterpreted 
 the desires of the people. He believed he was 
 catering to their demands in grinding out love 
 stories of all kinds for their pleasure, and is now 
 surprised to find that the people are, after all, 
 thoughtful. That they do not care for pleasure 
 all the time, but will occasionally stretch a point 
 and read a book for the benefit which may ac- 
 crue to them intellectually." 
 
 "I am glad," said the Emperor, "that your 
 friend had fully protected himself by copyright. 
 That makes me think, Mr. Appleton, do you 
 know Mr. A. G. Dorris of the Glendale Company 
 I believe he lives either in New York or Mill- 
 ville." 
 
 "Yes, I know him well," replied Tom. 
 
 "I enjoyed meeting him," continued the Em- 
 peror, ' ' He was over here for a short time a few 
 years ago, and I was impressed with the patent 
 situation on electrical devices as he described it. 
 
202 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 We are not inclined to appreciate the endless 
 number of patents continually being taken out 
 on all manner of devices, and then detailed 
 patents of some particular new idea relating to a 
 part or parts of such devices. Mr. Dorris must 
 have his hands full in protecting the company's 
 interests; but he is an able man, necessarily a 
 clever patent lawyer; and I marvelled at the 
 engineering knowledge he possessed. He con- 
 tinued to interest me regarding new develop- 
 ments, and I really wondered at the man's exhi- 
 bition of versatility. Your company is favored 
 with many men, whose attainments from an elec- 
 trical standpoint, are admired by the people of 
 all Nations." 
 
 Then the Emperor made reference to Mr. 
 Geo. Westlington of Peatsburg. He said he had 
 met Mr. Westlington several times. The Prince 
 had also met him and they all spoke in high 
 praises of his personal work in connection with 
 gas engines. They felt that he was surely 
 entitled to great credit for the extensive manner 
 in which the gas engine industry had been 
 promoted. 
 
 "But his masterpiece," said the Emperor, 
 "was the electrification and clarification of 
 Peatsburg." 
 
 "Yes, indeed, you are correct," said Mr. Ty- 
 ler. 
 
 "Any one who remembers Peatsburg in 1906, 
 and sees the city today, will agree that it was 
 'Geo. Westlington 's masterpiece.' ' 
 
 "Do you remember the circumstances?" asked 
 the Prince. 
 
 "Yes, I distinctly recall them," he said. "The 
 latter part of 1907 he commenced to study the 
 situation, and laid plans for a gigantic electrical 
 
EVENING WITH EMPEROR 203 
 
 station immediately near one of the largest coal 
 fields, with the idea of transmitting current to 
 Peatsburg for power, light and heat. He had 
 special engineers also in San Francisco during 
 1907, gathering data covering the rebuilding of 
 that city. His representatives secured testimony 
 from prominent merchants in San Francisco, 
 regarding the absence of smoke, and the satisfac- 
 tion from electric motors. The subject of a 
 clean city so interested Westlington, that he per- 
 sonally visited San Francisco before accepting 
 reports, r.nd then commenced the grandest cam- 
 paign destined to change Peatsburg from a dirty 
 smoky place to a beautiful, clean city. The suc- 
 cess of his plans was due to the thoroughness of 
 his work, the great strength of his campaign, 
 and his firm belief that electricity would cure the 
 evil and make the people very much happier. 
 His scheme was a marvelous one, and the people 
 gave him credit for the accomplishment." 
 
 Then the Emperor spoke, in a very dignified 
 tone, of Mr. C. A. Coughlan, the American 
 banker and capitalist, and President of the Glen- 
 dale Electrical Company. He paid him com- 
 pliments of a rare kind, in a manner which was 
 exceedingly gratifying to Mr. Tyler, who had 
 been closely associated with Mr. Coughlan for 
 many years. He had the keenest admiration for 
 his ability as a financier, a thorough organizer, 
 and above all, a thoroughbred gentleman. 
 
 Before they left, the Emperor expressed an 
 earnest wish that the Electrical Congress would 
 result in great benefit to the electrical companies 
 among all the nations of the earth. They all 
 agreed that the evening had been mutually 
 pleasant, and with a hearty hand-shake, and 
 the best of wishes, the party left for Berlin. 
 
204 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 The following day was spent quietly. A drive 
 in the morning, then lunch, and after, Tom had 
 a good opportunity to talk with Mr. Tyler. 
 A long discussion did not seem necessary. Tom 
 had a few questions to ask in regard to his 
 responsibilities, but Mr. Tyler had made up his 
 mind already that Tom Alppleton was the man 
 for the position. It was therefore settled 
 definitely, with the understanding that Tom 
 could secure the hearty approval of his superior 
 at the Glendale Electric Company. In view of 
 the splendid offer before him it did not seem 
 that there would be any question from that 
 source. v 
 
 Tom thanked Mr. Tyler most cordially, and 
 assured him that he would devote his very best 
 energies to the satisfactory management of the 
 new company. He then excused himself and 
 went in search of his sister to tell her of the 
 good news. It was in her room that he found 
 her, and when he told her of his good luck, she 
 threw her arms about his neck, and rejoiced 
 with him as they had been wont to do in the 
 years gone by, when they were children 
 together, and shared all of each others joys and 
 sorrows. She also told him of Charlie's con- 
 fession of his love for her, and that she had 
 asked him to wait so she could talk it over with 
 her brother. 
 
 "By 'all means, I would accept him/' said 
 Tom, "I am sure father and mother will abide 
 by our judgment. Charlie is a good man. I 
 have known him for years, and he will make you 
 a good, life companion. I congratulate you, 
 Eethyl," and he took her in his arms, as if she 
 had been a little babe, and kissed her pure, 
 sweet lips. 
 
EVENING WITH EMPEROR 205 
 
 It was expected that the International 
 Electrical Convention would hold its sessions for 
 at least a week, and as the rest of the party, 
 other than Mr. Tyler, would not participate in 
 the proceedings, it was decided that Mrs. Tyler, 
 with the girls and young men, would leave 
 Berlin and go on to Venice, a city which they 
 were exceedingly anxious to visit and spend 
 considerable time. Mr. Tyler urged them to do 
 this, as he knew it would be more enjoyable for 
 them, and the following day they departed, 
 promising that some one of the party would 
 write him some message each day. 
 
CHAPTER XV. 
 
 SUB-MARINE PAINTINGS. 
 
 The Express Italiano had been hurrying them 
 along at a rate which would soon end the 
 journey. It was about four o'clock of a beauti- 
 ful afternoon. The trip had been one of the 
 most enjoyable they had experienced. Not one 
 of the party was tired, but keenly on the alert 
 to get a first glimpse of that wonderful city of 
 Venice. They had now reached the stone trestle 
 over which the railroad extends for miles, and 
 which might be called practically the entrance 
 gate to the city. 
 
 "Won't it seem strange," said Evelyn, "not 
 to see any cabmen or horses waiting in front 
 of the station. " 
 
 "You will see the gondoliers there by the 
 station platform, standing by their boats, and 
 exceedingly anxious to secure your fare. They 
 are fully as aggressive as the cabmen. " This 
 remark was made by Mrs. Tyler, who remembered 
 the scene very well, when she was in Venice 
 many years before. 
 
 The train was now in the station. Tom had 
 secured two good porters to handle their luggage, 
 and they were soon seated in a gondola, which 
 was to take them to the hotel. 
 
 Only those who have experienced the comfort 
 and pleasure of a Venetian gondola will 
 
 206 
 
SUB-MARINE PAINTINGS 207 
 
 appreciate the feelings of these happy people. 
 It was their first opportunity to witness with 
 what wonderful skill the gondolier steered his 
 boat in and out from among the others, and then 
 started rapidly up the canal toward the hotel. 
 
 After going for considerable distance on the 
 Grand Canal, a turn was made up another street, 
 and then another turn, and still another. The 
 turns were also sharp ones, and the girls could 
 not understand why they were not run into by 
 some other boat, at some one of the many corners 
 which they had to turn. Boats were coming 
 from the opposite direction, but the gondoliers 
 had a peculiar call, which each one sung out, 
 just before making a turn. It was an approach 
 signal. While it was very effective, and the 
 sound seemed to carry a great distance, helped 
 by the high conductivity of water, yet it was not 
 harsh or unpleasant, but rather musical. The 
 call of the gondolier will be remembered always 
 by those who have visited Venice. 
 
 They stopped at the Hotel Royal Deneille. 
 Lovely large rooms were assigned to them, 
 directly overlooking the Grand Canal. Having 
 plenty of time now, to take things easy and not 
 hurry, they unpacked the luggage, and changed 
 their clothes. Tom and Charlie shaved, and by 
 dinner time they were feeling slick, and ready 
 to enjoy a good meal. 
 
 After dinner they walked out on the 
 promenade in front of the hotel. A short dis- 
 tance beyond they passed the famous Doge's 
 Palace. They made plans to go in there the 
 next day. Further on was St. Mark's Square. 
 They were well repaid for their walk, for a 
 specialty was bein^ made of the exhibition of 
 the four famous Mosaics over the entrance to 
 
208 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 \ 
 
 St. Mark's Cathedral. For nearly a thousand 
 years these pictures had been subjected to the 
 elements of the earth, and yet with marvelous 
 beauty the colors shown forth as if the design 
 were newly completed. Aside from the wonder 
 attached to the remarkable preservation of the 
 entire subject, they were beautiful to look upon. 
 Exceedingly rich were the colors, and the artist's 
 intention seemed to be to bring the figures 
 together in such a manner as to create a magni- 
 ficent splendor in -color design. 
 
 After studying the exhibition for some time, 
 Tom said, "These Venetians are likewise artists 
 in connection with illuminating engineering. 
 The interior of the cathedral must be wonder- 
 fully beautiful." 
 
 Returning to the hotel they soon retired, all 
 understanding that they would be up reasonably 
 early, take breakfast together, and get a good 
 start in the visit to Doge's Palace. Their plans 
 carried, and the next morning about nine-thirty 
 they were passing up through the long corridor 
 of this ancient edifice. 
 
 The guide whom they had selected was 
 exceedingly clever. He could speak English 
 tolerably well, and contrived to show them the 
 most noted paintings, and the most interesting, 
 without wasting much time. In the salon where 
 the paintings of Paul Veronese were exhibited, 
 they took particular pains to read Baedeker and 
 listen to the guide very attentively. From that 
 room they passed on to the salon in which 
 Tintoretto 's most famous work was shown. Tom 
 was very much impressed with the skill with 
 which the engineer had succeeded in getting the 
 light onto every portion of this most gigantic 
 painting in the world. 
 
SUB-MARINE PAINTINGS 209 
 
 The next room they entered, contained modern 
 paintings of life and landscape views under the 
 sea. They asked the guide all manner of 
 questions concerning these sub-marine paint- 
 ings, which he answered in an intelligent man- 
 ner, and showed them circulars, illustrating and 
 describing how these pictures were actually 
 painted under the sea. He told them that the 
 sub-marine boat made a trip twice a week with 
 artists on board who made a specialty of that 
 class of painting. He thought he could get 
 permits so they could make the trip if they cared 
 to do so, and he would act as their guide. Mrs. 
 Tyler and Charlie and Eethyl decided the trip 
 was too exciting for them, but Tom and Evelyn 
 were more than anxious to take it. The boat 
 started at eight o'clock the next morning, and 
 Tom requested the guide to be on hand with the 
 permits. 
 
 Frank Sheldon was in Paris but a day or two 
 after the talk with Tom in Le Bois de Boulogne. 
 He spent several days in Berlin, and then left 
 that city for Venice. It seemed to him pretty 
 certain that the Tyler family would go to Venice 
 before returning to the States. 
 
 Upon his arrival there, one of the first things 
 he heard about was the sub-marine boat for 
 painting under the sea. His curiosity was 
 aroused at once, and he immediately secured 
 permission to go on board. There were so many 
 electrical appliances of all kinds used in this 
 craft, that he felt sure Tom and Evelyn would 
 take a trip in her if they came to Venice. He 
 made up his mind therefore, on two points, 
 namely, to watch the hotel arrivals carefully, 
 and to become an employee of that boat at once. 
 The latter was not so easy to accomplish, but 
 
210 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 finally he succeeded by explaining that he was 
 an electrical engineer, and convinced them that 
 he could make himself valuable on board. He 
 had thoroughly disguised himself, with wig and 
 beard, and the clothes of a more ordinary man 
 than he had been representing himself for the 
 past month. 
 
 This disguise was positively necessary, for 
 him to carry out the plans already in his mind. 
 He therefore devoted himself very thoroughly 
 and systematically to the study of the electric 
 circuits. He wanted to ascertain exactly where 
 the circuits from the switchboard were carried, 
 and to know just which were lighting, power 
 and heating. Also exactly how the various 
 machinery was controlled. He felt that his plan 
 now would make Tom Appleton regret that he 
 had ever crossed his path. He failed to 
 appreciate two things, however; one, that his 
 time to learn all about that boat was short, and 
 he was not so much of an engineer as he might 
 have been. 
 
 The name of this sub-marine boat was the 
 Amberniato. It was a single screw, steel frame, 
 designed by Brennanto at Milan in 1908. She 
 carried a complement of twenty-five people, 
 including the crew. She was one hundred and 
 twenty-five feet long with a diameter of ten 
 feet. Her displacement was two hundred tons, 
 and her speed fifteen knots on the surface and 
 ten knots under the sea. The famous Edmund 
 Storage Batteries gave the boat its motive power. 
 
 The next morning after the Doge's Palace 
 visit, Tom and Evelyn were met by their guide 
 in front of the hotel, and he made them com- 
 fortable in one end of the gondola, then taking 
 the oar, gently, softly and gracefully they 
 
^ Gently , softly and gracefully, they glided along 
 over the water. " 
 
SUB-MARINE PAINTINGS 211 
 
 glided along over the water. Only occasionally 
 could the dip of the oar be heard as it touched 
 the water. The guide said nothing, nor did 
 either Tom or Evelyn wish to break the silence. 
 Evelyn was just the least bit nervous, as her 
 mother had expressed some doubt as to the 
 safety of such a trip to the bottom of the 
 Adriatic Sea. 
 
 Within a half hour they had reached the 
 Amberniato, and were watching the boat get 
 under way. The main switch was thrown by 
 the Engineer pressing a button, which started 
 a small motor for mechanically operating the 
 switch. Another switch was thrown which cut 
 in part of the batteries only, starting the boat 
 at quarter speed and gradually bringing it up 
 to full speed for surface navigation. The noise 
 made by the machinery was surprisingly little, 
 and to Tom the boat looked to be representative 
 of perfection in mechanical and electrical 
 engineering. 
 
 The guide introduced them to the Captain, 
 who spoke good English, and was quite enter- 
 taining. He quickly relieved Evelyn of all her 
 fears regarding the excursion, as soon as he told 
 how common the trips were becoming, how free 
 from accident of any kind, and how strong and 
 reliably his craft had been built. In fact he 
 proved to her that the chances of safety were 
 better than when she was walking on the street, 
 or riding on the train. 
 
 A prominent artist was also introduced to 
 them, Signer Leganto. This Italian painter had 
 become famous for his many subjects illustrat- 
 ing to the people the life and character of 
 animate and inanimate objects under the sea. 
 He showed them the clever manner in which 
 
212 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 the searchlights, on either side of the boat, were 
 designed to give the artists light. All told, 
 there were twelve searchlights of various sizes, 
 different intensities, furnishing different colors 
 of light, etc. The Rhine Scintillator was also 
 among the valuable pieces of apparatus which 
 the artists used, to get effects under the sea. He 
 explained that they were continually experiment- 
 ing with lights because of the many beautiful 
 scenes which the sea was capable of producing 
 under the many changing cloud, sky and 
 atmospheric conditions. A storm, he said, would 
 change the entire subject being painted, and 
 waste a great deal of time waiting for some 
 exact light condition to again exist, so as to 
 finish the picture. Whereas with electric light 
 the daylight color can be secured uniformly and 
 can be changed at will by the artist to any one 
 of the primary colors, or by the scintillator 
 can be changed to a mixture of shades and 
 combinations of colors of marvelous beauty. 
 
 "Did you ever meet Prof. Rhine?" asked 
 Signer Leganto. 
 
 "Yes," said Tom, "he is a very close friend." 
 
 "Indeed, I am pleased to hear it," he said. 
 "I think a great deal of him. He came over 
 here and designed all of this apparatus for us. 
 He is the most clever engineer on lighting, I 
 ever met." 
 
 "He has a good reputation in the States," 
 said Tom. 
 
 Just then the Captain gave an order to pre- 
 pare to dive. This was followed soon by 
 another order giving the angle. The sensation 
 was very little different from what it was on 
 the surface. They had been out about two hours 
 and had gone about twenty-five miles out to sea, 
 
SUB-MARINE PAINTINGS 213 
 
 before diving. A very beautiful spot had been 
 selected to make the descent, so Signor Leganto 
 advised them. The other artists were adjusting 
 their easels, getting their paints ready, and it 
 looked as if they would soon be down a sufficient 
 distance to anchor, at least, temporarily, until 
 the artists were satisfied they had reached the 
 most desirable position from which to paint. 
 
 They were finally anchored, and Tom and 
 Evelyn were looking at the artists' work with 
 the greatest feeling of wonder. They had never 
 seen anything like it. Hills and mountains were 
 there under the sea, before their gaze. They 
 had always thought of fishes only below the 
 water, but here was a delightful panorama as 
 far as the eye could see, on all sides of them, in 
 front and behind the boat for miles and miles. 
 
 Evelyn could now see by their system of 
 mirrors, and the use of reflected light, how the 
 extensive scenes were brought within the view 
 of all the artists, without the necessity of glass 
 windows entirely covering both sides of the boat. 
 It was simply necessary to have four small glass 
 windows, fore and aft, on either side, which by 
 skillful engineering were positively maintained 
 water-tight. 
 
 "What if a monster whale should attack the 
 boat?" she asked. 
 
 "That is an easy point to answer, " said the 
 Captain. "We have search lights with special 
 carbons, giving low light efficiency, but very 
 strong heat rays. We have found by experience 
 that none of the sea animals will come anywhere 
 near these rays. We never have any trouble 
 from this source." 
 
 He had hardly gotten the words from his 
 mouth, when all the lights went out, and they 
 were left in total darkness. 
 
214 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 Tom knew pretty well where Evelyn was 
 located, and was at her side in a second. He 
 took her in his arms and held her tight. 
 
 "Do not be afraid Evelyn," he said, in a cool, 
 determined manner, "you are with me." 
 
 "I am not afraid, Tom," she answered, 
 "when I am with you," and as she raised her 
 head trying to see his face, their lips met, and 
 he kissed her over and over again. They were 
 burning kisses of love which Evelyn had never 
 known before, and she had forgotton their 
 predicament. She thought only of Tom Apple- 
 ton and knew that he loved her, for his arms 
 were around her, and they were already wedded 
 one to the other by virtue of this happy moment. 
 
 In another minute the lights were on again, 
 and the Captain explained to them that they 
 had had a short circuit in the switchboard room, 
 necessitating the throwing on of the emergency 
 lights on the power lines. He did not tell them 
 about the green sailor who had posed as an 
 engineer, and who for some reason or other had 
 been fooling with the wires; and that he lay 
 down stairs in the switch-board room in a very 
 critical condition. 
 
 Immediately after the lights were thrown on, 
 the Captain gave orders "to surface again," 
 and they reached the surface and sailed home 
 without further incident. 
 
 They did not mention to anybody at the hotel, 
 the experience on board the sub-marine boat, but 
 described the wonderful character of the bottom 
 of the sea, and the many interesting electrical 
 devices on board; also the beautiful paintings 
 which were in process of completion, represent- 
 ing the most famous scenes with which modern 
 painters have had to deal. 
 
SUB-MARINE PAINTINGS 
 
 The next day they all went to see the glass 
 factories. It was a treat to everyone. They 
 were not only interested in the delicate methods 
 of manufacture, but were astonished at the size 
 and character of the exhibition rooms. Mrs. 
 Tyler spent several hundred dollars for Venetian 
 glass, having it expressed direct from the factory 
 to Northington. A few days later Mr. Tyler 
 came, and they had great fun telling him all 
 about the purchases they had made, the sight 
 seeing, and as soon as he was through breakfast 
 in the morning they insisted that he should 
 go with them to St. Mark's Square and feed 
 the doves and after he had once been down 
 there, he became enthused over them, and they 
 visited there two or three times a day all the 
 while they were in Venice. 
 
 For the benefit of any reader who may not 
 have heard of the doves on St. Mark's Square, 
 let it be said that there are thousands of these 
 pigeons who make their home there. During all 
 hours of the day these doves will be seen either 
 eating corn down on the square, or perched on 
 the cornice of some nearby building. An old 
 gentleman sits there in the center of the square 
 selling little bags of corn, one bag for ten 
 centimes. These pigeons are so tame they fly on 
 the children 's hands and arms ; sometimes several 
 on one arm, and another up on their heads. 
 Then they buy more corn, and the pigeons con- 
 tinue to show their affection so long as the corn 
 lasts. 
 
 Every day at two in the afternoon, a cannon 
 is fired, giving the signal for all the doves to 
 come down to their noon meal. It is said that 
 this custom is in accordance with a will which 
 was made, for the benefit of the pigeons on St. 
 
216 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 Mark's Square, and from which monies the 
 interest only was to be used for the daily feeding 
 of these dear little creatures. 
 
 Mrs. Tyler went with her husband to again 
 see some of the points of interest, and then the 
 girls and the young men, would engage gondolas 
 by the hour, and while the gondolier skilfully 
 steered the boat through the many canals, under 
 the pretty covered arches and bridges, Tom and 
 Evelyn sat and dreamed, with the lovely blue 
 skies of Italy looking down upon them. 
 
 One afternoon before they returned from such 
 an excursion, he said to her : 
 
 ' ' Evelyn, I love you. Will you be my wife ? ' ' 
 
 "Yes, Tom," she answered, "I love you more 
 than I can tell." 
 
 And before they had quite reached the hotel, 
 the darkness of night came stealing over the 
 city; and Tom took her in his arms and sealed 
 their promise with loving kisses. 
 
CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 ELECTRICITY IN SWITZERLAND. 
 
 They had reached Luzerne, and were com- 
 fortably located at the Hotel des Balances. The 
 weather was so fine they were taking their break- 
 fast out on the veranda, in the open air, where 
 they could watch the birds, and the fishes in the 
 Lake. 
 
 The birds were so tame, that they flew onto 
 the veranda railing, and when a crumb was 
 dropped on the floor, they would come down 
 within a foot of your hand and remain there, 
 as if to make a better acquaintance. 
 
 "What a beautiful spot!" remarked Evelyn. 
 "I am so glad we came here. I read yesterday 
 in one of our books, that there are 200,000 birds 
 in Luzerne, and I do not wonder that they come 
 here, the place is so beautiful." 
 
 When breakfast was finished they leaned over 
 the railing, and threw crumbs into the Lake for 
 the fishes. 
 
 There were thousands of them swimming 
 around, jumping to the surface for these crumbs 
 too light to sink, and diving half way to the 
 bottom for those pieces which were too heavy 
 to float. The water was so clear that the fishes 
 could be distinctly seen at any depth, and 
 Evelyn thought it great fun to watch them. 
 
 At 11 o'clock Tom and Evelyn were to take 
 
 217 
 
218 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 the boat down the Lake to Brunnen, and so they 
 started to stroll slowly along down to the dock. 
 All the boats on the Lake were operated by 
 electricity using the Edmunds storage batteries, 
 and it was a pretty sight to see them gliding in 
 and out, and backwards and forwards, some 
 docking and others just putting off, for a trip 
 down the Lake. There was no noise of escap- 
 ing steam. There was no smoke coming out of 
 tall smoke stacks, and the design of the boats 
 was considerably different from the old time 
 steam boats. 
 
 Good seats were secured on deck, where they 
 could get a good view of both sides of the Lake, 
 and see everything before them. They hardly 
 knew when the boat started, it made so little 
 noise. They were soon swiftly passing down by 
 the foot-hills and approaching the first landing 
 at Altenpass. A short stop was made to take 
 on a passenger, and off again. Now they were 
 passing a steep mountain side. Sheep were 
 quietly grazing half way up the mountain, and 
 the beautiful green pastures would make one 
 almost question the great depth of snow which 
 could be seen on the same mountain peak. Tom 
 was much impressed with the numerous streams 
 which were rushing down the mountain sides 
 and emptying into the Lake. There was hardly 
 any time that the eye could not see two or three 
 such streams, starting from the melting of the 
 snows on the mountain peaks, falling and flow- 
 ing from point to point, as the formation of rock 
 and earth on the mountain side, would permit. 
 Here was the reason why electricity was so 
 cheap in Switzerland, why so popular among all 
 classes of people, and so extensively used. 
 
 They were not to arrive at Brunnen until two 
 
ELECTRICITY IN SWITZERLAND 219 
 
 o'clock, so at one o'clock they arranged for a 
 lunch on board the boat. 
 
 The menu called attention to the fact that all 
 the foods were cooked, on board, by electricity, 
 expecting probably, that this would particularly 
 attract the English and American tourists, and 
 perhaps lead them to take lunch on board, 
 instead of waiting until the hotel was reached. 
 
 By the time lunch was finished, they had 
 reached Brunnen. After landing, they turned 
 to the right and ascended a hill, toward Axenf els. 
 About a quarter of a mile, from the landing, is 
 the entrance to the Electric Railway for taking 
 passengers up the mountain. 
 
 This road was very popular, and was used 
 extensively for tourists desiring to ascend to the 
 mountain house quickly and without fatigue. 
 The cars were neat and substantial, and the 
 roadbed was well constructed, indicating a 
 degree of prosperity in connection with the Rail- 
 way Company. 
 
 They preferred to walk, however, and 
 were soon trudging along the road overlooking 
 the Lake of the Four Cantons, and a more 
 beautiful sight they had never before viewd. 
 Everything was in harmony on that Summer 
 afternoon. The sun was shedding its radiant 
 light over the mountains, the lake and the hill- 
 sides. The sweet music from hundreds of thou- 
 sands of birds was being wafted from all the 
 tree tops, over the hills and far away. The 
 soft breezes of a Switzerland Summer added 
 freshness to the mountain air, and with the 
 radiant light, the sweet music and the soft 
 breezes, love reigned supreme in the hearts of 
 those young people. They had just emerged 
 from the woods into the bright sunshine, and at 
 
220 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 a turn in the road one of the most beautiful 
 views lay before them. They stood there 
 together, looking out over the gorgeous panora- 
 mic view of Switzerland. Everywhere was 
 beauty and harmony in Nature, and there was 
 harmony in their souls, on that beautiful Sum- 
 mer afternoon. 
 
 Evelyn leaned over and whispered softly to 
 Tom for fear of disturbing the stillness and 
 beauty of the scene. "Tom, I was thinking if 
 it were possible for anyone to be happier than 
 I am at this moment. As we came out from 
 the shaded woods into this great burst of sun- 
 light, I thought I had witnessed the greatest of 
 all lights we have yet seen or talked about on 
 our trip sun-light or God's light. As the sun- 
 light excels in strength and beauty all the other 
 lights of the world, so does our true love rise 
 and tower above the common feelings so 
 frequently considered and known as true love." 
 
 ' ' Yes, ' ' answered Tom, ' * I am also happy, but 
 I am so constituted that I can never look out 
 upon God's light, and witness such a view as 
 this, without thinking which of all the artifical 
 lights designed by man, comes the nearest to 
 perfect daylight. The pine knot was exceedingly 
 crude; the tallow candle was but a short step 
 in advance; the kerosene lamp was better in 
 many ways, particularly in respect to its light 
 distributing qualities. Gas light became popular 
 because gas could be well located in residences 
 and industrial houses, and the lights turned, 
 off and on, at will. But Oh! how far short 
 of the sunlight have all these illuminants 
 reached! While gas light does not produce 
 smoke, the air becomes so vitiated that for both 
 illuminating and heating purposes, gas has long 
 
ELECTEICITY IN SWITZERLAND 221 
 
 since been discarded. After all, the electric 
 light really comes the closest to daylight of any 
 illuminant that is known in the art of lighting. 
 Those who have made a special study of 
 illuminating engineering, have conclusively 
 shown that the electric carbon arc, as employed 
 in its latest commercial equipment, is capable 
 of producing spectroscopic colors of the same 
 general tone and character as the daylight spec- 
 trum; a continuous band of light, abundantly 
 rich in red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo 
 and violet, and beautifully and evenly dis- 
 tributed in each of its colors, like a spectro- 
 scopic view of daylight will disclose, on an 
 afternoon about four o'clock when the sky is 
 clear and there are no clouds to interfere with 
 the ideal and perfect daylight distribution. 
 
 The electric light can be produced without 
 smoke or odor, dust or dirt. Nor does it have 
 any injurious effect on the air, which the people 
 and physicians, are commencing to consider as 
 an absolute essential for the introduction, here- 
 after, of any illuminant. It is a wonder that 
 the use of gas was tolerated by the people so 
 long before it was abandoned. Surely the 
 advance in the art of lighting, has been greatest 
 since the commencement of the electrical age, 
 and the electric light is the nearest approach, 
 by the hand of man, to God's sunlight." 
 
 As the time was passing rapidly it was sug- 
 gested that they continue their walk, up to the 
 Axenfels Hotel, where they could sit on the 
 veranda, view again the mountain scenes, and 
 later in the afternoon take tea, before returning 
 to Luzerne. They, therefore, spent the day 
 there in the heart of the Switzerland Mountains, 
 and Evelyn declared she had never spent a 
 happier day than that had been. 
 
222 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 After tea they strolled back down the moun- 
 tain arriving at the landing in time to catch 
 the six o'clock boat to Luzerne. The trip up 
 the Lake, at that hour of the evenng, was charm- 
 ing, and the lights and shadows on the moun- 
 tains formed pictures so lovely in color and 
 beauty, that they keenly enjoyed it. 
 
 For several days they remained in Luzerne, 
 visiting interesting points in various parts of 
 the city, always taking much pleasure in the 
 walks and strolls, which are so pretty, in and 
 around that delightful place. One day they 
 climbed to the top of the Gutsch where they 
 secured a splendid general view overlooking the 
 city. Leaving there they walked several miles 
 through the woods over to Sonneberg. It was 
 another one of their many happy days, when all 
 Nature appeared so beautiful and so peculiarly 
 in harmony with their own thoughts and 
 ideas. The air was literally filled with 
 the gay songs of the birds. Occasionally 
 they noticed a short lull in the music, which 
 was simply a prelude, followed by a most 
 delightful solo from some leader of the woodland 
 orchestra, and through all the trees, from one 
 end of the woods to the other, could be heard 
 the grand chorus, from thousands and thousands 
 of birds, joyfully proclaiming their gladness, for 
 the harmonious relations with Nature. They 
 were in synchronism with all Nature on that 
 bright Summer day. Their songs were synchron- 
 izing indicators. To those lovers of Nature, 
 strolling through the woods that morning, the 
 bird language was delightfully sweet and pure. 
 Their notes were the true signs of happy rela- 
 tions with the bright sunshine of the morning. 
 They manifested thankfulness for the sunshine, 
 
ELECTRICITY IN SWITZERLAND 223 
 
 happiness for the freshness of the morning air, 
 and delight in the Summer breezes, which gently 
 rocked the tree tops, backwards and forwards, 
 swinging them to and fro; and the birds and 
 the sunshine, the pure morning air and the 
 breezes, were all in synchronism, while Tom and 
 Evelyn had thought that they never had been 
 so happy, before, in their lives. 
 
 As they emerged from the woods, on the left, 
 was a field of buttercups and violets, and there 
 knee-deep among the flowers, were two little 
 children, with their hands just as full of flowers 
 as they could hold. One was a boy of about 
 seven or eight years, and the other a little girl 
 about ten or eleven. 
 
 Their faces were beaming with delight, and 
 Tom and Evelyn sat down by the road-side to 
 watch these pretty children, as they gathered 
 the flowers of the field. 
 
 "Tom," said Evelyn, "there is no doubt, 
 whatever, about this picture before us being an 
 original. Frequently it has been difficult for 
 us in the foreign galleries to know definitely 
 those pictures which were originals, without 
 continually referring to the catalogue, and even 
 then we were not always sure, and the 
 attendant's English was, frequently, very poor. 
 I think this is the best of all the pictures we 
 have seen. Let me show you ! Look there and 
 see a field covered with buttercups and violets 
 from one end to the other; and there the little 
 girl, a perfect picture, as she stands with a hand- 
 ful of buttercups. See how the sunlight reflects 
 the golden color of her hair. What a shapely 
 head! And that little red dress is so becoming 
 to her. Next the boy, surrounded and almost 
 hidden by the flowers, now and then glancing 
 
224 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 around to locate another spot where he can con- 
 tinue to gather these delightful tokens of 
 Nature. There are all the colors which an 
 artist could desire, and the models could not be 
 better. The faces are such happy ones, and the 
 entire picture is natural and real." 
 
 * * Yes, ' ' answered Tom, ' ' and the light is good. 
 "What a shame it would be to exhibit this same 
 picture in some dingy palace, on a side wall, 
 where the light is so poor one could hardly tell 
 if the wall is painted at all, to say nothing of 
 studying the detail. See how the sunlight falls 
 on the little girl's locks! What a beautiful 
 golden color is reflected ! The boy's suit of blue, 
 the dress of red, the buttercup's yellow, the 
 shade of blue in the violets, amidst the green 
 fields and the woods beyond, offer colorings for 
 a perfect picture. Surely if all the great paint- 
 ings in the world could be exhibited under such 
 favorable light conditions as this one, then 
 Raphael and Titian, Correggio, Rubens and Paul 
 Veronese, could all rest in eternal peace, for 
 their designs would evermore be understood and 
 critics on color would find no opportunity to 
 exercise their opinions." 
 
 After reaching thj Summit House at Sonne- 
 berg they ordered lunch. It was a lovely place, 
 from which a very extensive view met their 
 eyes. Tom noted particularly the prosperous ap- 
 pearance of the hotel. It was about eight to ten 
 miles out of the city, yet equipped in every way 
 with electrical appliances, operated by current 
 transmitted from the city. Out in the yard was 
 a merry-go-round for the children, as many 
 parties came there for a day's outing in the 
 form of a picnic. This machine was operated 
 by a motor, and the proprietor told Tom that he 
 
ELECTRICITY IN SWITZERLAND 225 
 
 used electricity in a hundred different ways, 
 throughout his hotel. 
 
 By half-past four they left for a walk back 
 through the woods, by the path leading to the 
 Gulch, and arrived in Luzerne just in time to 
 meet the rest of the party and go down to the 
 Cathedral and listen to the great organ, about 
 which they had heard so much. 
 
 They were impressed with the beauty of the 
 interior of the church. It was especially well 
 lighted, had a cheerful atmosphere, and it was 
 a pleasure to sit there absorbing all the beauti- 
 ful things which everywhere met their gaze. 
 Just before the organ-concert there was a grand 
 concert of birds, which could be heard outside 
 the windows, and while the program was not 
 systematically arranged, nevertheless the chorus 
 produced a harmony sweet and rich in tone, 
 delightfully pleasing to hear. The first selection 
 on the program was over, and they were well 
 pleased. They could now understand why every- 
 body who had heard this organ, so loudly praised 
 its tone and power. During the Alpine Storm 
 selection, when the thunder roared, the tones 
 fairly rattled the windows in the building, the 
 vibrating sounds were so powerful. They re- 
 membered well the evening at Phelps ' house, and 
 the skillful rendering of this piece by the 
 Telharmonium. The execution of the organist 
 was wonderful, the capabilities of the large 
 organ were skillfully exhibited, and best of all, 
 there was a comfortable cathedral in which the 
 concert was held. Think of a cathedral being 
 comfortable ; then add beauty, architectural and 
 sculptural skill; then paintings of the masters, 
 glass windows of great value and interest, bronze 
 castings unmatched anywhere in the world, and 
 
226 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 you have a combination that can be equalled 
 nowhere except in Europe. Comfort and 
 convenience make life. With them, people are 
 congenial; without them, dyspeptic. Cultivate 
 the ways and means of securing comfort and 
 convenience! When the masses of the people 
 commence to study the great benefits of light, 
 and the priests give more attention to this 
 world, instead of acting as ushers for the next 
 world, there will be more real, honest worship 
 in the cathedral, because it will then be properly 
 lighted and heated, and will be cheerful as well 
 as dignified and sanctimonious. 
 
 The party left the Luzerne Cathedral on that 
 Summer evening in 1912, satisfied that the 
 streams flowing down the mountain sides of the 
 Alps, had not only been harnessed, but the 
 power was used for the very practical purposes 
 of heating and lighting cathedrals. 
 
CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 UNDER THE ALPS MOUNTAINS. 
 
 A few mornings later the party left Luzerne 
 for Milan, Italy, over the famous St. Gothard 
 Railroad. To the men, particularly, this rep- 
 resented a great treat. They had heard a good 
 deal about this remarkable railroad, cut through 
 the Alps Mountains. 
 
 In describing this railway in 1912, Baedeker 's 
 new book claimed that the entire road was 
 operated by electricity, with the ivery finest train 
 equipments in the world. It further stated that 
 while the engineering connected with the con- 
 struction of the tunnels, was of a wonderful 
 character, the modern electrical engineering 
 referring to the electric lighting, heating and 
 ventilating of the tunnels, and the special equip- 
 ment of the trains was worthy of equal con- 
 sideration and attention by tourists. 
 
 Upon entering the first tunnel Mrs. Tyler said : 
 
 "Why, this is not bad at all! I had been 
 somewhat fearful of the tunnels, but if they are 
 all like this, we shall hardly know we are going 
 through any tunnels." 
 
 "The new incandescent lamps are installed 
 so closely together, that the light is most 
 excellently distributed, " said Mr. Tyler. 
 
 "Are the lights burned twenty-four hours 
 continuously, whether the trains are passing 
 through or not?" asked Evelyn. 
 
228 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 "No!" answered Tom. "All the lamps are 
 lighted, during the passing of the trains, but an 
 automatic signal indicates when the train has 
 come out of the tunnel, and 75 per cent of the 
 lights cut off. This permits of economizing 
 electricity when all the lights are not required, 
 yet there is no time when the tunnel is dark. ' ' 
 
 "All these tunnels, Evelyn, are large and 
 roomy. You will see there are double tracks, 
 and plenty of room on either side, for an 
 individual to walk. There are spaces, also, at 
 frequent intervals for employees to stand out of 
 the way when a train is passing. ' ' 
 
 One of the passengers opposite, heard their 
 discussion, and volunteered some interesting 
 information. He said that in 1906 he had 
 traveled over the road, and while it was con- 
 sidered that the tunnels were well ventilated at 
 that time, and no trouble experienced from 
 smoke, yet he said .that the windows had to be 
 continually closed and opened, to be comfortable. 
 If open in the tunnel, the smoke came in the 
 car, and it was exceedingly disagreeable. If 
 they were closed, it was hot and stuffy. 
 
 However, when the railroad was electrified, 
 the system of ventilation was greatly improved. 
 There was an entire absence of smoke so that 
 the windows could be left open constantly. 
 
 Our friend continued, "Another bad feature 
 before the tunnels were modernized, referred 
 to the dampness. Electricity is now turned on 
 for a part of the day, to offset this chilly 
 atmosphere. ' ' 
 
 After the train had entered the famous nine 
 mile St. Gothard tunnel, and had reached the 
 highest point on the road, they commenced going 
 down grade at a considerable speed. The ladies 
 
UNDER THE ALPS MOUNTAINS 229 
 
 were slightly nervous, especially while in the 
 big tunnel. They felt better, however, when 
 Tom informed them that the electric train 
 system had three different methods for stopping, 
 and it was next to impossible for a train to run 
 away, even on any kind of down grade. 
 
 In regard to the construction of the tunnels, 
 some engineers had felt there was somewhat of 
 a sameness in the engineering, which finally 
 resolved itself into a matter of money, time and 
 labor. But in the electrical equipment of this 
 great railway line, the lighting of all the tunnels, 
 the electric signals, the motor applications, the 
 heating, and the many electrical appliances on 
 the trains; all being operated from water falls 
 down the mountain sides; power harnessed to 
 electrical machinery so that it was absolutely 
 controlled for light, heat and power; this was 
 the most wonderful piece of engineering the 
 world had ever witnessed. 
 
 In an endeavor to divide the credit among 
 the engineers, Tom felt like stating that the 
 skill exhibited, which permitted travelers to go 
 by train direct through tunnels under the Alps, 
 surely represented a great advance in the art 
 of engineering; but it was of great importance 
 to the world, to have travelers go over this 
 road, in comfort and with pleasure, because 
 many of them were seeking pleasure with plenty 
 of money to pay .for ease and luxury. Those 
 who were on business from Switzerland to Italy, 
 and vice versa, .could fully appreciate the 
 modern conveniences, and in time it meant a 
 great increase in travel, bringing financial gain 
 to the merchants of Italy and Switzerland. 
 
 Our German friend also said, "The Railroad 
 advertised its equipment very generally, and 
 
230 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 those who traveled and used the many electrical 
 appliances on the train v soon demanded them for 
 their homes, and their own industries at home. 
 People from all nations also toured that section, 
 and soon there was an international clamor for 
 modern conveniences such as they saw on ^the 
 famous St. Gothard Electric Road. I, myself, 
 remember the impression it made on me. One 
 evening after dinner, I came from the dining 
 car into the smoker, and I saw everybody using 
 electric cigar lighters. I tried one and was 
 surprised at its simplicity. A circular was on 
 the table and I read all about the device, and 
 when I returned to Berlin I purchased from 
 the local Electric Company, a half dozen of 
 them. It led me into a very interesting study 
 of the subject. I found that I could use a good 
 many such articles, and my next venture was 
 one of those new kind of coffee machines. We 
 always use it now. And then when Christmas 
 time came around, I saved myself a lot of worry 
 about a present for my wife, by purchasing 
 a chafing dish. We have had delightful even- 
 ings at home with our friends dropping in, and 
 they always take interest in those new devices. 
 
 "When taking long rides on the train I 
 frequently meet gentlemen who have said that 
 they became interested in a similar way, while 
 crossing the ocean on the Cunard Steamers. 
 Only yesterday I met a gentleman who crossed 
 on the Electrania, and he told me it was wonder- 
 ful the number of uses which they make of elec- 
 tricity. 
 
 " While on the subject he told me about a little 
 shaving mug he carried with him. In fact, he 
 showed it to me. It was in a neat, black leather 
 case, like a Gillette Safety Razor, and I shall 
 
UNDER THE ALPS MOUNTAINS 231 
 
 have one of them as soon as I can get one. He 
 says it is made particularly for traveling, 
 adjustable for any voltage, so he has never found 
 a place yet where he could not use it. ' ' 
 
 "Yes, it is all very interesting/' said Mr. 
 Tyler, "and I quite agree with you that such 
 Companies as the St. Gothard Railroad and the 
 Cunard Company are much benefited by their 
 liberal policy in adopting all such appliances, 
 and the benefit is shared by all mankind. 
 
 "I heard a good illustration recently in 
 regard to the value of such a small article as 
 an Electric Baby Milk Warmer. It seems that 
 sometimes trouble has arisen in the steerage on 
 the Cunard Steamers, because passengers going 
 over with babies, would bring on board a lamp 
 to heat the baby's milk, and endeavor to hide 
 the lamp from the officers of the boat. On one 
 trip a lamp exploded and a small fire was caused. 
 You will see that a small matter worked up into 
 quite an important point. Well the Purchas- 
 ing Agent was instructed to equip the steerage, 
 as well as the first and second cabins, with 
 Electric Baby Milk Warmers, and the deck 
 steward's duty is to call the roll of babies as 
 soon as they leave the dock. Here again, notice 
 how the education extends from day to day, all 
 over the world. The Cunard Company does this 
 to protect its boats, but, think, what a fine 
 opportunity it offers to educate the poor classes 
 of people, in all countries, regarding convenient 
 ways of living. The Hungarian woman who uses 
 a Baby Milk Warmer on board a steamer, for a 
 week or ten days, will find some way of having 
 one when she reaches home. They cost but two 
 or three dollars, and can be operated cheaper 
 than oil, coal or gas." 
 
232 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 "Yes," replied the German, "I don't doubt 
 it. It is surprising how economical those devices 
 are. Why, I don't see any difference in my 
 light bill since I commenced using them. They 
 must consume only a small amount of electricity, 
 or else they are very efficient. My wife uses an 
 electric sewing machine motor a great deal, and 
 they tell me it only costs one cent an hour to 
 run it. She says she would never be without 
 one, and all the neighbors became greatly 
 excited about it, and rushed down to the office 
 of the Electrical Company to get their machines 
 equipped. ' ' 
 
 "Do you live in the city of Berlin, or out in 
 the suburbs?" asked Tom. 
 
 "I have two houses, one in the city, a Winter 
 House, and a Summer home in Potsdam. At 
 first I met with some little difficulty equipping 
 my Summer -home. In Berlin they were very 
 glad to see my house filled with electrical 
 appliances, but at Potsdam they had not quite 
 taken hold of the business in an aggressive man- 
 ner. The introduction of them in my residence 
 established their policy, and now their heating 
 business is as large as their lighting. I think 
 the manager told me recently that it is larger 
 this past year." 
 
 "I am quite well acquainted," he continued, 
 "with Herr Rathnung, President of the Ellege- 
 meine Electrical Company at Berlin. He has 
 kept a personal eye on these small devices in a 
 most surprising manner." 
 
 "Yes, I met him," said Tom; "a month ago 
 I went through their works. They have always 
 led the world in the application of motors. 
 Their motor factories are marvelously large. 
 Every working day of the week they turn out 
 
UNDER THE ALPS MOUNTAINS 233 
 
 three hundred and fifty complete motors, or over 
 two thousand each week. It is a great pleasure 
 to go through their works. " 
 
 "Herr Eathnung told me only a few weeks 
 ago," said the German acquaintance, "that it 
 was one of the pleasantest features of his work 
 to watch the constant building up and spread- 
 ing of electrical devices for the industrial arts 
 and all kinds of work with which our daily 
 lives are associated. " 
 
 He ( was about to leave them at the next station. 
 He had evidently enjoyed their conversation a 
 good deal. He seemed pleased when Tom told 
 him about some of their experiences, and 
 particularly so when he became aware that Mr. 
 Tyler was President of the National Electrical 
 Association of America and a Delegate to the 
 International Electrical Congress. To emphasize 
 his respect for Mr. Tyler, and following a char- 
 acteristic of his race, he politely rose, stood 
 erect, heels together, and bowed low. 
 
 "Herr Tyler, sir, I am honored," he said. 
 
 After this he gave them his card, and Tom 
 was not a little surprised to know that it was 
 Herr Wadlington, a financier of Paris and 
 Berlin fame. He spent part of his time in each 
 place, and, in fact, had been in New York 
 frequently during the years 1906, 1907 and 1908 
 when the new developments were so rapid in 
 electrical matters. He was a very tall 
 man, slightly stooping, indicative of scholarly 
 instincts, rather thin drawn face, but this 
 feature hidden by a heavy beard. While not a 
 handsome man, his dark eyes flashed and spar- 
 kled, becoming brilliant and lustrous, thoroughly 
 illuminating a pleasing countenance. When talk- 
 ing on electrical matters, he became enthused, 
 
234 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 and his face became radiant, reflecting to the 
 mind of one who watched him closely, a 
 high degree of scientific knowledge and a 
 deep regard for the industry. He became 
 inspired as he talked. Tom said he was a 
 thorough engineer and a scholar. 
 
 They bade good-bye to him with deep regret, 
 and he promised, when next in America, to 
 surely call on them. 
 
 The impression he left with them was that 
 the Germans were the most clever scientific 
 engineers in the world, and, after considering 
 all the different industries, and then applying 
 the statement, it may be nearly true, but taking 
 the electrical industry separately, the American 
 Engineers have unquestionably a long lead com- 
 pared with other nations. 
 
 The party arrived at Milan safely, took much 
 interest in the famous Cathedral, finished by 
 Napoleon, visited the Art Galleries, and a few 
 days later were at Florence. 
 
 Much time was spent in the Uffizzi Gallery, 
 in driving through the beautiful parks, and, 
 particularly, in the examination of the Floren- 
 tine mosaics. The most magnificent specimens 
 of mosaic handiwork were on exhibition there, 
 and they were so thoroughly enthused that Mr. 
 Tyler presented each member of the party with 
 a picture in mosaic as a souvenir of the city and 
 their pleasant sojourn there. He bought for 
 his own home a very large copy of President 
 Roosevelt in mosaics, of the most delicate colors, 
 and representing a wonderful amount of skill 
 in the art. For the reader 's benefit, President 
 Roosevelt had been re-elected in 1908 and was 
 still administering the affairs of the American 
 Nation in the year 1912. 
 
UNDEB THE ALPS MOUNTAINS 235 
 
 \ 
 
 The party spent a week in Borne, and then 
 took train for Naples, where they remained 
 for several days, visiting Pompeii and Vesu- 
 vius, but preparing to leave early the following 
 week on a Cunard Ship for New York. 
 
CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 ERUPTIONS OF MT. VESUVIUS 1906-8. 
 
 The party arrived at Naples late one afternoon. 
 As they were approaching the city, from the 
 train window, Mt. Vesuvius could be seen, and 
 at a distance sufficiently close to satisfy the 
 passengers. Clouds were hovering around the 
 top of the mountain, and occasionally puffs of 
 smoke could be seen, curling their way up 
 admidst the clouds. Evelyn thought, for some 
 reason, she could not tell why, the mountain 
 looked ugly, and she was glad when the train 
 pulled into the railroad station, and they were 
 driven to the hotel. 
 
 At dinner, that evening, they were fortunate 
 in meeting Mr. Burton Holman, the famous 
 American lecturer. He told them a great many 
 interesting things about the volcanic mountain, 
 to which they listened with much real pleasure. 
 His presentation of the subject, indicated great 
 familiarity with the history of Mt. Vesuvius, 
 and the many remarkable scenes which its erup- 
 tions had produced. 
 
 "I was at Athens in April, 1906, " he said, 
 "attending the great athletic games, when news 
 reached us that Mt. Vesuvius was spitting fire 
 in a somewhat furious manner. We had 
 intended going straight back to America, but 
 hearing of this eruption, we packed off 
 
 236 
 
MT. VESUVIUS 1906-8 237 
 
 immediately to Naples. It was on Friday night, 
 April 6, that we arrived in the bay, and it was 
 the most wonderful, the most magnificent, 
 spectacle, I ever expect to view. The top of the 
 mountain looked like one great, terrific, light- 
 ning storm. From one side of the crater rim to 
 the other, was a continual stream of fire, shoot- 
 ing backwards and forwards, interrupted 
 occasionally by a terrific explosion, sending fire, 
 smoke, stones and dirt, far up into the heavens. 
 Awful thunderings could be heard, and as the 
 darkness deepened, the sky above the mountain 
 grew red, with the reflection of the fire light 
 from the volcanic crater. If it had not been for 
 the magnificently beautiful sight before our eyes, 
 and our* desire to take advantage of every change 
 of scene, I think we should have been overcome 
 with fear. On the contrary, we looked on the 
 scene, with awe-inspiring interest. " 
 
 "The next morning, by four o'clock, we were 
 over at the foot of the mountain, as near to the 
 lava-flowing spot as the red hot lava would allow 
 us, and with our Biograph Machine set up, 
 commenced taking the first of, what will surely 
 be granted, the finest collection of pictures in 
 the world. The lava was flowing down the 
 mountain sides in great streams, and we could 
 see that the day, ahead of us, would be of 
 unusual interest, and valuable. The top of the 
 mountain was also spitting fire the same as the 
 night before, and it required considerable 
 thought to determine, which pictures were most 
 to be desired. It was a lucky thing for us that 
 the machine was pointed toward the mountain, 
 because before long, the entire top of the moun- 
 tain fell in, with a tremendous crash. In all 
 my life experience, I never saw anything so 
 
238 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 terrible. In my lectures during 1906-7, this one 
 view received the greatest applause, from the 
 many audiences before which the pictures were 
 exhibited. 
 
 In the afternoon we secured most interesting 
 views of the people leaving their homes and 
 fleeing to places of safety. My experience in 
 taking these pictures was exceedingly varied. 
 At times we did not know but what our efforts 
 would be in vain, for we were continually fear- 
 ful about the light. The air was filled with 
 ashes and dust, which were being carried along 
 in the form of one great, black cloud. We were 
 able, however, to get on the extreme edge of this 
 cloud, and while the procession of people was 
 trying to get out of the cloud of ashes and dust, 
 into the light, clear atmosphere, we were con- 
 tinually taking pictures. It was remarkable 
 that we were so fortunate, but as the ash cloud 
 moved slowly on, we kept moving the machine 
 back several hundred feet, and by this means 
 succeeded in getting not only a great many 
 views, representing the actual flight of the 
 refugees from their homes, but also views of a 
 most remarkable character. " 
 
 These biographic views shown by Burton Hoi- 
 man during 1906 and 1907 were the most 
 remarkable pictures ever produced. Maga- 
 zines and newspapers made most favor- 
 able comments upon the Holman lectures. 
 They gave him credit, not only for the remark- 
 able character of the views, but mentioned 
 particularly the energetic and heroic efforts 
 which must have been put forth, during those 
 days and nights, when his aim seemed to be to 
 get nearer to the scene, while everybody else was 
 fleeing with fear, in the opposite direction. 
 
MT. VESUVIUS 1906-8 239 
 
 The next day they went over to Pompeii. 
 They secured a guide at Cooker and Sons tourist 
 office, in Naples, and went by electric road, 
 which was preferable to the steam road, as the 
 cars were open and much better equipped. The 
 guide told them many interesting stories about 
 the life of the people who had lived in the small 
 towns around the base of the mountain. 
 
 He said, "Even the 1906 eruption did not 
 have sufficient terror to prevent them from 
 returning to their homes, and again settling down 
 to a peaceful life just as if nothing had 
 happened; but when in August 1907, an erup- 
 tion occurred (more terrible than any recorded 
 in the previous history of the mountain) the 
 government took hold of the matter, and insisted 
 upon the absolute abandonment of the territory 
 all around the base of the mountain for a radius 
 sufficiently distant to protect everybody from 
 harm or injury to person or property. This 
 was evidently the only way that the natives 
 could ever be induced to leave that section. By 
 remaining there, they were continually in 
 danger, and at every out-break of the volcano 
 they were not only terrorized, but frequently 
 lost their homes, and property. Other people were 
 also affected. The cities and towns throughout 
 Italy, and in fact the people in all sections of 
 the world were continually on the anxious seat 
 for fear of these people, who still had persisted 
 in re-establishing homes there under the moun- 
 tain, regardless of pre-historic warnings suffi- 
 cient to permanently frighten people of ordinary 
 sense. ' ' 
 
 They returned from Naples with a feeling 
 that while they were glad to have seen Pompeii, 
 and glad to have been so close to Mt. Vesuvius, 
 
240 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 yet it was a relief to be back again in a locality 
 which was supposed to be safe from the fangs 
 of that monster. 
 
 In the evening after dinner they again met 
 Mr. Holman, who kept them continually 
 interested with his description of the Olympian 
 games. 
 
 1 ' It was a most interesting spectacle, ' ' said Mr. 
 Holman, "to see 60,000 people congregated in 
 one place, and to hear their cheering and 
 enthusiastic applause whenever an exhibition of 
 exceptional skill attracted their attention. Every 
 opportunity was offered to us to secure biograph 
 views of all the games. However, the more 
 experience I gain in connection with this work, 
 the more wonderful does the biograph machine 
 appear to me. It seems almost impossible to 
 realize that we can go over to Athens with a lit- 
 tle small piece of apparatus, and take back to 
 America an absolutely accurate reproduction of 
 the contests as they were actually conducted. 
 More and more each day I am convinced that the 
 biograph method of transmitting important 
 scenes, and occasions, from one country to 
 another will become exceedingly popular and 
 valuable. For example, I have a friend who has 
 a contract now with a large organization in 
 America to make biographic pictures of 
 the prominent electrical transmission plants 
 throughout Switzerland. Definite arrangements 
 are made with the Swiss companies to take views 
 of the entire system, commencing with the 
 mountain stream, and continuing over its 
 course to the power house; from there, along 
 the transmission lines, showing the character of 
 construction, and finally ending with views such 
 as the electric lighting, heating, and power 
 
MT. VESUVIUS 1906-8 241 
 
 supply of the St. Gothard Railway, including 
 its tunnels, etc. This method keeps the electrical 
 organizations of America thoroughly posted 
 continually in regard to the latest developments 
 in electrical power transmission schemes. 
 
 "The industry as a whole has been much 
 benefitted also by the biograph machine. At first 
 the method was a very popular one in America 
 in connection with lectures given by the Ameri- 
 can Electrical Companies. During the winter 
 evenings they would give free lectures to the 
 public, showing with the biograph machine, the 
 extensive and varied applications of electricity 
 in the home, and in the industrial world. One 
 evening would be devoted to the illustration of 
 motors, including a view of factory practice, 
 showing different rooms in the mill, and cover- 
 ing dozens of very interesting electrical motor 
 applications. Another view showed how the 
 wood was sawed and split at one of the 
 prominent wood yards. A third view showed 
 the use of the motor in the home for the sew- 
 ing room, the work shop, the lawn mower, the 
 wheel-barrow, etc. 
 
 * ' The next lecture would refer to the electrical 
 applications of heat, and the city officials were 
 much pleased to have the views illustrate the 
 up-to-date electrical apparatus used in connec- 
 tion with the city government buildings. Views 
 of hotels, and residences were shown, and the 
 lecturer intermingled interesting bits of informa- 
 tion along with the pictures, so that about a half 
 dozen instructive lectures of this nature, were 
 given during the winter, which were considered 
 to be exceedingly advantageous to all the people. 
 This method of acquainting the public with the 
 many electrical appliances, and their applica- 
 
242 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 tions, was not only utilized extensively, and to 
 the great advantage of the electrical companies 
 of America, but as soon as the English and Ger- 
 man companies heard about its advantages, they 
 adopted the plan, and the biograph was the 
 means of greatly extending the electrical busi- 
 ness all over the world very much to the benefit 
 of the people, in general, as well as the industry 
 in particular. " 
 
 "I can understand now," said Mr. Tyler to 
 Mr. Holman, "why the electrical cooking and 
 baking materials, and electric heating devices 
 became so quickly introduced. In the first place 
 they were actually superior in a great many ways 
 to other methods for cooking and baking, and 
 the question was simply to disseminate the 
 advantages, and acquaint the people in the most 
 direct and effective manner. There is no 
 industry in the world which is more aggressive 
 than the electrical, and while it seems almost 
 incredible that so much progress could have 
 been made in electrical matters in this short time, 
 yet I am beginning to appreciate how it was 
 done. 
 
 "I do not believe that anyone living in 1887 
 would have believed that in 1912 the electrical 
 street railways, and the electrical trunk lines, 
 would have been so much extended as we see 
 them today. One reason for such great results, 
 in the short time, was because the people played 
 such an important part in the affair. The peo- 
 ple became quickly educated on the subject. 
 They learned to ride a block to save time, and 
 before the electrical railway was built it would 
 have been next to impossible to expect such a 
 thing would happen." 
 
 Eethyl interrupted, "don't you 
 
MT. VESUVIUS 1906-8 243 
 
 remember, Tom, the old horse-railway of the 
 Northington Company which was operating as 
 late as 1890? It was a line two miles long, and 
 the ride from one end to the other cost twelve 
 cents. I shall never forget the old school-house 
 hill, where "Fatty Green" was located with his 
 horse, ready to hitch on to the car, at the bottom 
 of the grade, and help the two horses mount the 
 hill. What a time they used to have with balky 
 horses, and in the winter time the cars were not 
 taken out of the barn at all; they operated one 
 big buss on runners, and their time schedule was 
 "knocked into a cocked hat." 
 
 "You are right," said Tom, "I remember it 
 well, but now the line extends clear to Wilmings- 
 burg, a distance of twelve-miles, and then to 
 Springvale, a distance of seventeen miles, where 
 the people ride for pleasure during the summer 
 months. They can take their whole family down 
 to the park, or the mountain house, and spend 
 the day for less than fifty cents, and through 
 the efforts of these electrical companies all the 
 people of their class and condition are able to 
 secure pleasure from the ride, the delightful 
 air, and the beautiful scenery. Every railway 
 company in America established one or two 
 pleasure parks at the end of its lines, and made 
 these parks so attractive that the people 
 appreciated their efforts, and it was the people 
 of America who made the electric railway so 
 quickly popular, which resulted in the attain- 
 ment of a marvelous growth in the electric rail- 
 way industry. About 1906 the electric lighting 
 companies commenced to realize the value of 
 such a policy, and it was through their energetic 
 efforts, combined with the demands of the people 
 for popular up-to-date devices, which has 
 
244 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 resulted in the marvelous growth of electricity. " 
 Saying good night, and good-bye to Mr. Hoi- 
 man, they retired, and the next morning took the 
 Cunard steamer for New York, where they 
 arrived safe and sound fifteen days later. 
 
CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 ELECTRICITY DOWN ON THE FARM. 
 
 They were at home again, in Northington. It 
 was on a Saturday evening, and the entire party 
 was assembled in the Tyler home, with Eethyl's 
 father and mother present. 
 
 For the hundredth time they had been talk- 
 ing over their European travels, and still Father 
 and Mother Appleton listened with the utmost 
 patience, but whenever they touched upon the 
 airship excursion or the submarine boat 
 experience, they all found themselves lost 
 in wonder, and actually listening again with the 
 greatest interest. 
 
 The door-bell was heard, and Evelyn ran to 
 meet Tom, who was expected up from New York 
 on the evening train. Evelyn was glad to see 
 him, and did not hesitate to throw her arms 
 around his neck and shower him with kisses. It 
 had been known for some time that they were 
 engaged. Evelyn's father and mother were not 
 at all surprised, and when she and Tom talked 
 the matter over with them, they said they were 
 glad and wished them great joy and happiness. 
 
 The past two months had been filled with 
 pleasure, for Eethyl and Charlie also were to be 
 married. It was to be a double wedding, and 
 Thanksgiving eve was set as the exact date. The 
 door-bell sounded again, and Uncle Ed Fielding 
 
 245 
 
246 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 was ushered into the room. He had not seen 
 them since their return, and was eager to hear 
 the news. It was with much pleasure that he 
 listened to their stories, and, as reference was 
 made to Frank Sheldon and his malicious capers, 
 Uncle Ed. got right up from his chair, and, in 
 an excited tone, exclaimed, "The scoundrel! By 
 Gosh, I wish I could have laid my hands on 
 him." This was very strong language for 
 him, as he had never been heard to swear be- 
 fore. 
 
 Finally the conversation changed slightly, 
 and Uncle Ed. asked, 
 
 "Did you see any farms over there which 
 equal mine?" 
 
 "Well, no," said Tom, "although there may 
 be many farms which are electrified. We could 
 not possibly investigate anything more, and so 
 we are not posted in detail to answer your ques- 
 tion." 
 
 "Uncle Ed." said Eethyl, "tell us all about 
 your farm. It is a long time since I was there, 
 and some of the rest have never seen it." 
 
 So Uncle Ed. started. He had been farming 
 for more than fifty years, and it was of the 
 keenest interest to hear him tell of his experience 
 with electrical appliances. He said that he was 
 first induced to commence using a few small de- 
 vices by reason of circulars issued by a firm 
 up in Wisconsin, called theNorthwestern Electri- 
 cal Manufacturing Company. All the farmers 
 were continually receiving circulars from this 
 concern, advising them to use electrical appli- 
 ances on the farm and save much labor, time 
 and expense. "These circulars," said Uncle 
 Ed., "were exceedingly attractive. They were 
 filled with illustrations of farm life, and each 
 
DOWN ON THE FARM 247 
 
 and every application was illustrated with great 
 clearness, and the cost of operation was made 
 very plain. In fact," he said, "we became 
 so much interested that it was a common occur- 
 rence to stop our horses on the road when meet- 
 ing neighbors, and the first thing we said was: 
 'Well, have you seen the latest circular from 
 the Northwestern Electrical Company?' and the 
 usual reply, 'Yes, it was pretty good. We must 
 do something about that. If we had electricity 
 in this neighborhood, all the devices would be 
 splendid for us to use/ But the circulars kept 
 coming along every month, and before long, a 
 half dozen of us fellows got together one evening, 
 and discussed the matter very carefully. We 
 wrote to the Manager of the Railway Company 
 in Capfield, a few miles away, asking him to be 
 present at the meeting, and it was then and 
 there determined that six of us together would 
 take a minimum amount of electricity from the 
 Capfield Company per month, and at least give 
 the plan a trial. 
 
 ' * The next month was a pretty busy one with 
 us. The wires were being strung, and we were 
 holding meetings again once a week to be sure 
 that we were starting out right. At such meet- 
 ings we fully discussed every point. We deter- 
 mined to have our houses and barns well lighted 
 by electricity, and to have all the wiring done 
 in the very best manner possible. We all be- 
 came very much interested to know about the 
 fire risks, and by the time we had finished our 
 investigation, I tell you we felt that the way 
 our work was being done, our property was a 
 thousand 1 times safer with electricity on the farm 
 than it had ever been before with oil lanterns 
 knocking about everywhere. Why ; when I think 
 
248 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 of all the years we used those lanterns, and the 
 careless manner in which we handled them I 
 wonder that our homes were not destroyed long 
 ago. It makes me nervous now to think how 
 we allowed ourselves to travel all over our barns 
 in the early evening during the winter seasons, 
 feeding and caring for stock, pulling down hay, 
 bedding, etc. Well, I tell you that it was the 
 pleasantest sensation I ever experienced when 
 the electric lights were first turned on in North 
 Capfield; I shall never forget it. It was in the 
 early evening of a cold November day. I was 
 just about to tell Sam that we had better go out 
 and feed, when the telephone rang, and we were 
 advised that the current was just being thrown 
 on. They had been able to finish the work a day 
 earlier, and said that we were to have the light 
 that night. You bet we were pleased, and Sam 
 went to the first switch he could reach and the 
 light shown forth from those little incandescent 
 lamps as I had never before appreciated. Then 
 he turned another switch which lighted the front 
 piazza. There was another lamp which was in 
 front of the old barn door, and there from the 
 window we could see whether the barn doors had 
 been closed and locked for the night. In the past 
 years there had been many an evening when 
 Sam and I had entirely forgotten whether we 
 locked the barn doors or not, and rather than go 
 to bed with such a feeling in our minds, Sam 
 would put on his boots, and go out ; most always 
 to find that they were securely locked, and he 
 and I were too nervous. 
 
 "After we had used electricity for some time, 
 and became familiar with it, Sam drew a sketch 
 of the old barn doors, and the room in which the 
 switch was located, and sent it on to the North- 
 
DOWN ON THE FABM 249 
 
 western Electrical Company with a little story 
 of our first experience with electricity. A 
 few months after their circulars showed the il- 
 lustration Sam had drawn, together with the 
 story. It looked real good, and the idea is 
 such a practical one, I am sure that many farm- 
 ers all over the country will adopt the same 
 plan. 
 
 "Around this section of the country we have 
 become as well acquainted with the Northwest- 
 ern Electrical Company in Wisconsin as we have 
 always been with the Poultry Journal people. 
 We had correspondence with them frequently, 
 and occasionally their man comes here to see us. 
 Of course it is a long distance, but it pays him 
 to come once in a while, as there are so many 
 farmers now who have electricity on the farm. 
 The experience of our first six pioneers, soon 
 led to all the farms being wired so that we are 
 quite an electrical community. 
 
 * ' It was a pleasure to saw and chop our wood 
 that winter. It seemed to me that we accom- 
 plished more during that season, and were hap- 
 pier than at any previous time in my farm ex- 
 perience. The work was interesting. We had 
 no trouble whatever. We ordered all -our elec- 
 trical material from the Northwestern Company, 
 and they were very particular to ship it. Why 
 they actually sent a .man on here for a month 
 to show us how to operate -each piece, and in all 
 this section there has never been a single article 
 that has gone .wrong. We have a large dairy, 
 and it is entirely equipped with electrical ap- 
 pliances ; the girls never worry nowadays about 
 washing the milk pans. They have a dish .wash- 
 ing machine which saves them lots of time, and 
 trouble. 
 
250 LOOKING FORWABD 
 
 1 1 Then the wind-mill is operated by an electric 
 motor, which is thrown on and off automatically, 
 thus keeping us well supplied with water at all 
 times, yet economizing in current when it is not 
 necessary to be pumping. 
 
 ' ' One of the best things I think is the refrig- 
 erating apparatus. I had heard a good deal about 
 that before we had electricity. One time I was 
 visiting some relatives in Hardcord, Conn., and 
 while there, I saw several stores where they had 
 the electrical refrigerating plant in service. I 
 made up my mind that if we ever had electri- 
 city, I should certainly stop cutting ice and make 
 our own cold air for refrigerating purposes. Just 
 think of the time we saved in this way. Why it 
 used to take us weeks and weeks tot get in the ice, 
 and we never could tell when we were going to 
 do it; the season was so variable. Sometimes 
 the irregularity of the season interfered with 
 our other duties, to a very annoying extent. 
 
 "Well Sam attended school at the Amherst 
 Agricultural College all that winter, without in- 
 terfering with our farm work whatever, and not- 
 withstanding that we had more head of cattle, 
 and live stock than at any previous year, we got 
 along with two less men than we had had during 
 any winter before. " 
 
 "How did you light your barn?" asked Mr. 
 Tyler. 
 
 ' * Well it was very interesting to see how thor- 
 oughly well acquainted with the subject this 
 engineer from the Northwestern Company was. 
 He had blue prints and photographs of other 
 farms particularly in the west, and we found it 
 a very easy matter to locate the lights. As I 
 remember, there was but one change after they 
 were once installed. We had a light over each 
 
DOWN ON THE FARM 251 
 
 manger in the stables. Each, light was arranged 
 horizontally, or at right angles from the side 
 wall, equipped with a reflector, and served to 
 light up-stairs above the mangers as well as 
 down stairs in the stall and manger. At the time 
 of feeding, by turning a handle all the reflectors 
 were turned to throw the light up stairs, and 
 vice versa when the light was required in the 
 manger. In back of the stables, there were two 
 lights located one at either end with a diffuser 
 for throwing the light down back of all the stalls. 
 The wagon sheds, the grain room, the harness 
 room, and all such places were lighted by locat- 
 ing the lamps where Sam thought the most light 
 would be required. In such places we studied 
 over the matter considerably, with a desire to 
 save in the number of lights where we could, 
 and yet secure enough illumination to be conven- 
 ient in connection with our work. 
 
 " During the summer time, we used the motor 
 hoists to splendid advantage. It did not take 
 us any time to unload our hay. Another great 
 advantage was in connection with getting into 
 the barn with the hay. There is considerable 
 of a rise just before entering the barn door, and 
 we had often thought of grading it differently, 
 but had never gotten to it. Well, sometimes if 
 we had too much of a load, we had great diffi- 
 culty in getting into the barn ; but with the elec- 
 tric motors, no matter how heavy the load, we 
 would attach a loop to the axle of the hay wagon 
 and turn the switch. I tell you there was not 
 much time wasted in reaching the barn floor 
 after that motor started. " 
 
 "Have you used electricty in the meadows 
 and fields very much?" asked Tom. 
 
 "Well, of course it is not so handy as it is 
 
252 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 around the house and barn, but I was much 
 surprised to find how many opportunities there 
 were to use the motors for loading. One of our 
 largest fields is located near, and parallel to the 
 road where the main wires come up from Cap- 
 field, and here we use the motors, a good deal. 
 When loading hay, we have a motor wagon 
 which is driven up to the hay wagon, and by 
 means of tackle, and the motor, it does not take 
 long to get in our hay from that field. Instead 
 of making various trips, we keep the motor going 
 continuously, and hire a few extra teams to work 
 for us, so that we load all the while, and the hay 
 is 'gotten in' in no time. Since we have 
 adopted this plan, I do not remember of ever 
 having our hay get wet, because we could get it 
 in so quickly. 
 
 "Our apples can be picked and handled to 
 great advantage. It does not take any time to 
 load and unload barrels, and we have been very 
 successful in the handling of the apples. You 
 see our apples now command the highest prices, 
 because we are so particular about our store- 
 house. When wiring for electricity, we gave 
 much attention to the apple storehouse, arrang- 
 ing so that we could keep a uniform tempera- 
 ture throughout the entire season. Our experi- 
 ence has shown that it has never been necessary 
 to inspect the apples any more. The automatic 
 control of the cool air from the refrigerator 
 appartus has been so successful that we 
 can depend absolutely upon its results. This 
 arrangement is very valuable to us, as it is a 
 crop on which we can now count with a great de- 
 gree of security. 
 
 "I made a special study of hanging tobacco in 
 the barns. Before installing electricity, it re- 
 
DOWN ON THE FARM 253 
 
 quired several men to handle the stalks from the 
 wagon to the top poles in the barn, and required 
 a great deal of valuable time as well. I con- 
 structed our wagon so as to accommodate a great 
 many specially designed poles which would fit 
 into the special wagon rack. Motor hoists on the 
 wagon would raise the poles to the ground racks, 
 when the tobacco would be quickly strung, and 
 as soon as the poles were filled, they would be 
 hoisted back again on to the wagon. When all 
 the poles were full, the wagon load would be 
 drawn back to the barn, and very quickly un- 
 loaded by hoisting each pole into its respective 
 rack in the barn loft. When I worked this out 
 with Sam, we made blue prints and drawings 
 and finally sent them to the Northwestern 
 Company, where they were received with much 
 interest and enthusiasm. The tobacco journals, 
 and the farming periodicals wrote articles about 
 this system of getting in tobacco, and Sam and I 
 felt that after all, we must be pretty good engi- 
 neers. To tell the truth, we did not know much 
 about electrical matters, but when it comes to 
 talking farming, or how to get in tobacco, then 
 you better look out for us, because you cannot 
 very well fool a man who has been fifty years in 
 the business night and day constantly studying 
 out many interesting features." 
 
 "How about that new factory you erected 
 some two years ago?" asked E ethyl. 
 
 "Oh! You mean the electrical insulator fac- 
 tory ! ' ' exclaimed Uncle Ed. ' ' Well that is very 
 interesting. It don't belong to me you know. 
 It's a stock company, and I'm simply the Presi- 
 dent. You see, back in 1907, us farmers were 
 trying hard to find any practical way of making 
 money, and when we learned all about the 
 
254 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 advantages of all of Tom's electric articles, we 
 adopted them as fast as we could. I had an 
 electric machine which would milk fifty cows at 
 once, and as I kept one hundred head or there- 
 abouts, I'll tell you it was not only convenient 
 but it was a great saving to us. 
 
 Well, all of a sudden, one bright morning I 
 read in the electrical department columns of 
 the Farmers Journal that some smart Dutchman 
 over there in Berlin had been able to make in- 
 sulating compound from milk, and by jingo I 
 was interested. I went right down to Luther 
 Bartlett's, and I remember distinctly Luther 
 was sawing up wood. Just as he caught sight of 
 me he says, " 'Say, Ed, this electric saw beats 
 anything I ever tried before on my farm. ' : 
 
 4 ' I says, oh shaw ! Luther lets not waste time 
 talking about things which we positively know, 
 but what do you think of that Dutchman over in 
 Europe who can make a pound of insulating 
 material from a few quarts of milk?" 
 
 " 'You don't mean it,' " said Luther, "By 
 George that's important to you and me Ed." 
 
 " * Just as sure as you're born, Luther, if that 
 Dutchman is right, we will form a stock com- 
 pany here, and compete with the world in mak- 
 ing those little wiring devices which have been 
 made from porcelain so long.' 
 
 "Well, Tom, we farmers watched that develop- 
 ment very carefully, and when the first samples 
 were sold in this country, we had them analized 
 and tested. Then we looked up the scientific 
 papers thoroughly, and finally one day Sam 
 made some samples in our laboratory. They 
 were pretty good, and Luther and I made up 
 our minds to get more cows. We organized a 
 company and now we employ three hundred 
 
DOWN ON THE FARM 255 
 
 hands and -have hard work to fill our orders. 
 That same Dutchman discovered later that peas 
 could be used also for certain compounds, and 
 then Luther Bartlett and I were the first to grow 
 a double crop of peas and we have been very 
 successful. 
 
 "You see there 's nobody like a farmer to 
 raise peas and milk. Why I keep five hundred 
 head of cows, and if I didn't have these modern 
 devices for milking and other things I could 'nt 
 compete with other manufacturers and keep in 
 the business. 
 
 "However, I never would have believed that 
 in such a few short years us farmers would have 
 an electric insulator factory and take such an 
 active part in the electrical industry. " 
 
 "How did you happen to put in the electric 
 cooking and baking outfit?" said Evelyn. 
 
 "Well, you see we gradually became accus- 
 tomed to the convenience which the electrical de- 
 vices offered us, and as we studied from week to 
 week and month to month, the farming papers, 
 and the circulars from the Northwestern Com- 
 pany which spoke in such high terms of the cook- 
 ing outfit, my wife figured out that it would be 
 economical after all to use it. She convinced me 
 that if we did not do something, she would have 
 to buy a new kitchen stove, or else they would 
 not have anything to eat around the house. I 
 asked the price of a stove when I was down to 
 the city one day, and learned that the one we 
 wanted was $65, while the Northwestern Com- 
 pany advertised a complete cooking and baking 
 outfit for $60. So we decided to have all the 
 electrical appliances which the household really 
 demanded. When we ordered the outfit, they 
 sent us an electric flat iron with it, and you could 
 
256 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 not take that iron out of the house now with 
 a yoke of oxen. I never saw anything so popu- 
 lar as that iron has been with the girls. 
 
 1 'Then I got excited one day, and ordered one 
 of those electric shaving mugs, and a Gillette 
 Safety Razor. Sam and I went halves on that 
 deal, and I would not take $100 for those two 
 articles if I knew that I could not get others to 
 replace them. Say, there is not a hot water bot- 
 tle within ten miles of our house, and before we 
 became electrified, you could not drive by a house 
 which was not equipped with that old-time ne- 
 cessity. The electric pad now hangs in its place, 
 and all the Capfield homes swear by it. 
 
 1 ' Well it is getting late, and I must surely catch 
 the last car to Capfield. Come up before you re- 
 turn, the folks will want to see you, and I have 
 some fine music for you. You know we have one 
 of the Telharmoniums. I wish I could stay 
 longer and tell you all about it." 
 
 They said good night, and the electrical 
 farmer started for the Capfield car, cheerful and 
 happy ; the monotony of his life on the farm had 
 been broken, and it would not be fair to omit 
 that the Northwestern Electrical Company had 
 effectively exerted its electrical educating in- 
 fluence among the farmers all over the country 
 to their mutual benefit. The farmers in the 
 United States played a very important part in 
 the great electrical era of 1907. 
 
CHAPTER XX. 
 
 THE PEOPLE AND THE ELECTRICAL COMPANIES. 
 
 The next day, in the afternoon, Tom had a 
 visit from a young man by the name of Wallis- 
 ton, who was an old Northington boy, but had 
 been located in New York for some years. He 
 was also well connected with the electrical busi- 
 ness, and the conversation was of mutual interest 
 to them. They were discussing the attitude of 
 the people in connection with electricity, and 
 why the people in certain localities were so much 
 better acquainted with appliances than in other 
 sections. They both agreed that the people 
 wanted electricity ; that they liked it, and talked 
 about it. That they liked to read about it, and 
 above all enjoyed using it in their homes and 
 their business. They took an added interest, 
 however, in an almost direct proportion to the 
 aggressiveness of the Local Electrical Company. 
 
 At this point in the conversation, Tom said: 
 "I always enjoy visiting the City of Hardcord, 
 Ct. It is one of the most progressive places in 
 the world, and particularly does it represent the 
 extent to which the people will use electricity 
 when properly presented to them. The Presi- 
 dent and Manager of the Electrical Company at 
 Hardcord has been for years, and is today, a 
 leader in electrical matters. He was one of the first 
 to install a large water power system for trans- 
 
 857 
 
258 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 mitting electrical power from a distance of 11 
 miles into the city. From the start he kept be- 
 fore him at all times the demands of the people, 
 and adopted the policy of giving them the bene- 
 fit of all improvements which the advance in 
 the art introduced. Such for example, as more 
 light at no increase in cost. I have heard him 
 talk with the greatest enthusiasm about their 
 system for maintaining the highest quality of 
 light by sending employees out among their cus- 
 tomers, and changing incandescent lamps in the 
 residences and business houses at intervals of not 
 more than 300 hours. In this way the people 
 were much benefited, because, without any in- 
 convenience to themselves, or bother in changing 
 the lights, they were favored at frequent, and 
 regular intervals, with brand new incandescent 
 bulbs. The people of Hardcord noticed these 
 things in their favor, and a feeling of confidence 
 was at once established. 
 
 1 1 For many years they had the best arc lighting 
 system which was known to the art, but when 
 the new alternating long burning arc lamps 
 were offered as a commercial article, the Hard- 
 cord Company was the first to install a trial sys- 
 tem. The action of the people was here 
 again emphasized. They watched the test 
 on the streets, and appreciated at once that the 
 electric company was endeavoring to place their 
 city in the lead from the standpoint of street 
 lighting by electricty. They therefore helped 
 the situation by approving the new lights, and re- 
 questing that they be installed, and Hardcord 
 started early in the history of this system, with 
 the best lighted streets in the world. Electrical 
 men from far and near visited the place to in- 
 spect this new method of street lighting. 
 
ELECTRICAL COMPANIES 259 
 
 "They were also leaders in the storage battery 
 field by equipping their station with a large bat- 
 tery plant. To those familiar with electrical 
 engineering, it was plain to be seen that the 
 Hardcord Electrical Company was fast getting 
 into a position where the gas company would 
 have to go out of business. In 1912 gas lighting 
 was a thing of the past, and all the factories of 
 the city were operated by electric motors. The 
 great electrical vehicle manufacturer at Hard- 
 cord was one of the largest customers of the 
 Electrical Company, and all the baker shops, 
 and the hotels of the city did their cooking and 
 baking by electricity furnished from the plant of 
 the Hardcord Electrical Company. All the years 
 of study and preparation which the active mana- 
 ger had given to the subject was fast proving the 
 superiority of electric light, heat, and power 
 }iver any other form or system. The most inter- 
 esting evidence of the complete down-fall of the 
 gtts business was in connection with the introduc- 
 tion of the electric cooking and baking outfits 
 for homes. For ten years, between 1895 and 
 1905, the gas people had successfully pushed the 
 gas stove business, which kept them in the field, 
 notwithstanding that gas for lighting purposes 
 had been almost entirely replaced by electricity ; 
 tut where the electrical companies showed 
 Strength and superiority, was in connection 
 with the extent of their business. With 
 /electricity they handled great illumination 
 /deals, as well as marvelous schemes con- 
 nected with power engineering. They made 
 customers of all the factories; they furnished 
 light for all the homes, and were easily in posi- 
 tion to take on the one remaining branch of the 
 business; namely, electric heating; so the Hard- 
 
260 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 cord Company commenced a campaign among 
 the people for replacing gas stoves, and exten- 
 sively introducing electric kitchen outfits. It 
 was not long before the true state of affairs was 
 advertised in all parts of the city. Upon a fair 
 trial among many homes, it was shown that the 
 electric system of cooking and baking was in 
 every way superior to gas, and not more than 
 10 per cent or 15 per cent more expensive. As 
 a matter of fact in some cases the conditions 
 were very much in favor of the electric system, 
 and resulted in electricity being much cheaper. 
 As soon as these facts became known among the 
 people, they became very enthusiastic, and the 
 homes as well as the factories were arranged for 
 electric light, heat, and power. The days of the 
 gas company were numbered. Before 1909, the 
 few small customers they had left, using gas 
 stoves, were won over by the Electrical Com- 
 pany and now in 1912 there is not a foot of gas 
 made or sold in the City of Hardcord, and the 
 people have benefited as well as the Electrical 
 Company. Physicians and scientific men who 
 have studied the subject for years, have proven 
 to the people that health and happiness have in- 
 creased among the homes since the use of gas 
 was discontinued." 
 
 ''Then the people of Hardcord are the best 
 educated people in the world on electrical mat- 
 ters, " said young Walliston. 
 
 "Yes, it is true," answered Tom, and the elec- 
 trical profession has been benefited by the aggres- 
 siveness and the experience of that very suc- 
 cessful manager at Hardcord. He set the pace 
 for the electrical companies of the world, and is 
 recognized today, without question, as one of 
 the grandest, and most eloquent representatives 
 
ELECTRICAL COMPANIES 261 
 
 with which the electrical industry is favored." 
 It was suggested that they go out on the 
 piazza, and continue their talk, as it was much 
 cooler, and pleasanter. Tom opened a box of 
 cigars, and after securing a light, explained that 
 this was one of the first 'boxes of cigars which 
 had been sold with bands that were -applied by 
 machinery. 
 
 "You see," said Tom, "all cigar bands in the 
 past have been placed upon cigars by hand, 
 which is very expensive. An electrical engineer 
 who had been studying the subject for some time 
 invented a mechanical contrivance operated by 
 an electric motor, which picks up and holds the 
 cigar while another operation places the band 
 around it, and fastens the two ends together. A 
 large electrical manufacturer purchased the pat- 
 ents controlling this device, and makes all the 
 machinery for the cigar manufacturers. Unless 
 one has thought of the subject somewhat, it is 
 difficult to realize how important this machine 
 has become to the cigar people, who save hun- 
 dreds of thousands of dollars each year by the 
 new method of applying the bands. 
 
 "I have a great admiration for the large 
 power companies up through Michigan," said 
 Tom. "They have won the confidence of the 
 people in the same way that the Hardcord Com- 
 pany did. I have in mind one particularly large 
 company, which has been very successful. Two 
 brothers started in the electrical business more 
 than twenty years ago. They were formerly in 
 the grist mill trade, but purchased a dynamo 
 for operating arc lights, and doing the street 
 lighting in Johnstown, Michigan. They soon saw 
 the opportunities which the electrical business 
 offered for the future, 'and dropped the grist 
 
262 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 mill branch to devote their entire energies to the 
 .electrical business. The principles on which 
 these two brothers did business were such as to 
 make them successful. They treated the people 
 right. Of course they studied the engineering 
 features of the business very thoroughly, keeping 
 in close touch with the new ideas which the in- 
 dustry introduced. Soon the incandescent light- 
 ing machinery was on the market, and the stores 
 and homes of Johnstown were favored with 
 electric lights, at a figure sufficiently reasonable 
 so that they could afford to use them, and from 
 year to year increase their demands without un- 
 due extravagance. Then came the industrial 
 motor branch of electrical engineering, and 
 Johnstown was not far behind in the many ap- 
 plications for which electrical motors were 
 designed. Manufacturers and merchants came 
 to know that these electrical men in John- 
 stown were leaders in electrical matters in the 
 West. They had the utmost confidence in them, 
 and when the great electrical era struck Michi- 
 gan, the people in their homes were waiting, 
 ready to respond to the appeals of the Electrical 
 Company. By 1912 these brothers had acquired 
 more than a dozen large water powers, and with 
 the great facilities which the power, and their 
 experience afforded, they accomplished the most 
 wonderful results among the homes and factories 
 down through the cities and towns where their 
 wires reached, and carried the electric fluid. 
 They put the strength of their whole organiza- 
 tion behind the plan, and the people who had 
 been treated well in all their transactions in the 
 past, were now eager to enter into further ne- 
 gotiations. Nowhere in the whole country was 
 the campaign with electrical appliances more 
 
ELECTRICAL COMPANIES 263 
 
 successful than through the cities and towns of 
 Michigan. I was visiting there some time ago, 
 and saw the finest freight depot I have ever seen 
 in my life. It was a new building erected and 
 finished in 1909. Ordinarily freight depots were 
 simply lighted with electricity, but these broth- 
 ers were away in advance of the times, on elec- 
 trical motors especially, and before the plans 
 were completed they called upon the railroad 
 company, and asked to be allowed to submit a 
 proposition for electrifying the new freight de- 
 pot. After explaining their position fully, they 
 were told to go ahead and submit plans with a 
 proposition. As a result, the electrical work in 
 that depot is of much importance to the railroad 
 company. The large doors opening on to the 
 platform are opened and closed by motors. 
 Every section of the depot is equipped with an 
 electric crane controlled from the floor. These 
 cranes can be run right through the doors both 
 in front on the freight platform, and in the rear, 
 approaching up close to the freight cars. Where 
 they had twenty-five men to handle freight every 
 day, there was congestion and delay among the 
 teams waiting for freight. The railroad com- 
 pany now employs one-half the number of men, 
 handles much more freight, and the work is con- 
 ducted with promptness and despatch. The men 
 who had heretofore handled the freight were 
 greatly pleased over the new plan, because they 
 were able to utilize their brains more than be- 
 fore, and the work was of a higher order than 
 simply wheeling freight on trucks from one end 
 of the freight house to the other. 
 
 4 'This was an engineering feature which was 
 looked upon with great favor. It was of ad- 
 vantage to the Electrical Company, as the peo- 
 
264 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 pie all visited the place to see the work done. 
 These brothers were continually studying ways 
 and means for doing things by electricity, which 
 would be appreciated by the people. For ex- 
 ample, they were among the first to make ar- 
 rangements with the dentists of Johnstown to 
 use electrical appliances. They understood that 
 their dentists had on their books at least 2,000 
 customers, and every day in the year, the people 
 came to the dentist's office to get their teeth 
 fixed; and while there, they watched the elec- 
 trical appliances operate, and asked questions 
 about electricity. They were told how conveni- 
 ent the dentists considered them, and the small 
 boys, young men, ladies, and wives of the com- 
 munity, soon came to know all about electrical 
 appliances. 
 
 ''The monthly bulletins of the Electrical Com- 
 pany were read as regularly in the homes and 
 industrial classes, as Scribner's Monthly, or Har- 
 per's Weekly, or McClure's, or Munsey's maga- 
 zines. In fact they were read more, because 
 they were mailed free to the people. One very 
 interesting plan started by the Johnstown Com- 
 pany, was to offer prizes among the young peo- 
 ple for the best application of an electric appli- 
 ance in the home. They did not care how large 
 or small the electrical article, or whether it was 
 a puzzle, or a plaything, or what it was, so long 
 as it represented an electric appliance used in 
 the home. I knew one boy who secured the first 
 prize of $100 for describing his playroom, which 
 was equipped with all kinds of electrical contri- 
 vances. He had a photograph taken and sent on 
 with his description, and for months the John- 
 stown Electrical Company was besieged with let- 
 ters and questions from all the young boys in 
 
ELECTRICAL COMPANIES 265 
 
 Michigan, desiring to know more about this little 
 fellow's playroom. Another interesting part of 
 their monthly bulletin was the nursery depart- 
 ment. A former kindergarten teacher had 
 charge of this department, and she seemed to 
 make it a most interesting class of work. The 
 little ones awaited anxiously the next bulletin, 
 and the nurse girls and mothers had to read over 
 and over again, about the little girls and boys 
 who had electrical toys for their birthdays, and 
 on their Christmas trees. And it did not stop 
 there, because they soon found out that these 
 pretty toys could be used on their electric wires, 
 and little by little, all the children in Michigan 
 became possessors of electrical toys, much to 
 their amusement, and greatly to their benefit. 
 
 "So the people became all powerful in 1912 in 
 regard to the electrical industry. There was no 
 more agitation for municipal ownership, for 
 electrical companies. On the contrary, the great 
 electrical era had been so aggressively promoted 
 by the private electrical companies that the com- 
 parison between private and municipally con- 
 trolled companies was exceedingly bad. The peo- 
 ple were the first to complain, and careful in- 
 vestigation proved that their claims were just. 
 They showed conclusively that the organization 
 of the municipal companies was not sufficient to 
 take care of their requirements for light, heat, 
 and power in the homes, the factories, and the 
 stores. The municipal companies did not keep 
 the people informed ; they did not issue monthly 
 bulletins; and were far behind in the art of 
 handling electrical appliances. As a result, there 
 was constant agitation by the people, in favor of 
 private electrical companies, which finally de- 
 manded that the cities should sell out at a fair 
 
266 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 price to some good first-class company, and now 
 there is hardly a municipal electrical plant in 
 the whole of the United States." 
 
 " Which do you consider the largest and most 
 aggressive individual electrical company in the 
 world?" asked young Walliston. 
 
 " It is my understanding, ' ' replied Tom, * ' that 
 the Shecargon Edmunds Company of Shecargon, 
 111., is the largest and most progressive. The lat- 
 est advices show that they have 50,000 customers 
 on their books. Their methods have been the 
 cause of much admiration, not only among the 
 electrical people, but all the people in general. 
 As early as 1900, they issued their monthly bul- 
 letin, and from year to year have been studying 
 the best ways and means of keeping the people 
 informed about their facilities. This company 
 studied the business from all sides. It not only 
 kept pace with the demands of the people, but 
 it was the first company in the world to install 
 the largest combination steam turbine, and elec- 
 trical generator. It has been said that the man- 
 agement of this company was the best, most 
 energetic, and successful, of any company in the 
 world. Those who have been connected with 
 that company state that the President had edu- 
 cated his heads of departments so effectually, 
 that his own aggressive, up-to-date ideas could 
 be seen in all branches of their business. He 
 knew the business in all its details; had been 
 personally associated with the great Thos. Ed- 
 munds in the early days of electricity; and it 
 was the detailed knowledge of the business, 
 coupled with his executive ability, which kept 
 the Shecargon Edmunds Company far in the 
 lead as an electrical corporation. First in light, 
 first in heat, and first in the power of the indus- 
 
ELECTRICAL COMPANIES 267 
 
 trial world. When this man's biography shall 
 have been written, and the people shall have 
 known the ability which he possessed, they will 
 understand why his company led the world dur- 
 ing the great electrical era of 1907. When 
 the command was given to push electrical 
 heating devices among the homes of the 
 people, there was no let-up until this com- 
 pany towered away above every other elec- 
 trical company, in its results. Their com- 
 mercial organization showed wonderful aggres- 
 siveness in presenting the subject. There was 
 no detail too small for the careful presentation 
 of these solicitors of electricity. So thoroughly 
 were the devices exhibited, that the people be- 
 came tolerably well versed in electrical engineer- 
 ing, and never before in the history of the in- 
 dustry had they become so familiar with the ear- 
 nest efforts of the Shecargon Edmunds Com- 
 pany to educate them regarding their home ap- 
 pliances. The wiring contractors, and the sup- 
 ply houses all noticed the great impetus which 
 their end of the business had acquired, and every 
 proprietor, manager, and assistant manager con- 
 nected with the electrical business did his share 
 in experimenting with the appliances. They 
 took it up first as a matter of duty, then as a 
 matter of interest, and finally became so en- 
 thused that their homes demanded the devices 
 for all time." 
 
 "Well," said Walliston, "I am afraid I must 
 go. The discussion is very interesting. I do not 
 know where it will end. When you stop to think 
 of the part which electricity now plays in our 
 lives, and the ever-increasing use of electricity 
 in all its branches, it is well that our boys and 
 girls are educated young to undertsand the sub- 
 
268 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 ject. The next generation will breed many elec- 
 trical engineers of marked ability, so that as the 
 industry grows, and takes on marvelous propor- 
 tions, the young men of the country will be able 
 to cope with it, to the great advantage of them- 
 selves, and all the people of the world," 
 
CHAPTER XXL 
 
 MILLVILLE, THE ELECTRIC CITY OF THE WORLD. 
 
 Tom wished to go back to Millville for a cou- 
 ple of days, and see s'ome of his old factory 
 friends, before the wedding, and he therefore 
 left Northington one afternoon, promising to re- 
 turn in a day or two. 
 
 It was a great pleasure to meet them all again 
 and it was with deep regret that he was leaving 
 the place where so many interesting, happy years 
 were spent. 
 
 The city was located on the banks of the Mo- 
 hegan River in a beautiful valley bearing the 
 same name. The population in 1912 had reached 
 the 100,000 mark, representing the largest pro- 
 portionate increase between 1900 and 1910 of 
 any city in the United States. 
 
 One of the best boat houses 'anywhere in the 
 country might be found only a few minutes' walk 
 from the city's center. There, one- may rent 
 a sail boat, motor boat, row boat or a canoe, de- 
 pending upon the individual's previous marine 
 experience. Many are the tales of love which 
 those boats might relate, were it not for the fact 
 that when the boat is hired, while the man- 
 agement does not guarantee that the boats will 
 not listen, he will positively assume all respon- 
 sibility for any tales that might be thereafter 
 related. 
 
270 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 Near the main street, within a short distance, 
 may be seen a livery stable, famous throughout 
 the entire State of New York for its fine turn- 
 outs. This stable was one of the first to carry a 
 line of automobiles, motor cycles, and horseless 
 vehicles, thus offering to the people, conveniences 
 of all kinds, from which they might take their 
 choice. Electrical vehicles were exceedingly 
 popular as the Millville Electrical Company had 
 installed electrants freely throughout the city, 
 sparing no expense to encourage the use of elec- 
 tricity in every way. 
 
 Millville was proud of its pavements. It had 
 more miles of asphalt laid, in proportion to its 
 population, than any other city in New York 
 State, and its park system, while not very old, 
 had the advantage of being laid out on the most 
 modern plans, free from mistakes which other 
 cities had made, and gaining all the advantages 
 which the latest experience had offered. Visi- 
 tors to Millville were driven for miles through 
 these parks, and finally passing beyond the park 
 system, entered into the grounds of the Mohegan 
 Country Club. During the first few years of 
 this club's existence, it had become well known 
 throughout the State, but it now possessed an 
 unparalleled reputation. It had a membership 
 of between 1,500 and 2,000, including non-resi- 
 dent members, and still a long waiting list. With 
 miles of driveways, all kinds of sporting games, 
 and $75,000 invested in the house and grounds, 
 the club offered exercises and amusements of a 
 very high order. The associations of this club 
 were likewise exceedingly pleasant. It had 
 twenty or twenty-five sleeping-rooms available, 
 so that visitors from many parts of the country 
 frequently made their headquarters there. Many 
 
, MILLVILLE THE ELECTRIC CITY 271 
 
 of the prominent electrical engineers in Boston, 
 New York, and Chicago had driven into the 
 woods at the right of the tenth hole tee, and with 
 the tall grass hazards, and the brooklets on the 
 course, they had here been taught to swear in 
 graceful form. One other thing may be said; 
 namely, that it was one of the most popular as- 
 sociations in the city, and much of its success was 
 due to the untiring efforts of the several able 
 presidents which had been elected. It was a good 
 thing for the electrical industry that such a fine 
 place was available for so many young electrical 
 men to exercise, and preserve their best energies, 
 mentally and physically, for problems sure to 
 come later in life, and sure to be handled better 
 because of those early years of part pleasure 
 and part work. 
 
 The city was also proud of its magnificent new 
 railway station, including with its erection, the 
 abandonment of the grade crossing. This station 
 was considered one of the best along the lines of 
 the New York Central Road. Its lighting had 
 been commented upon with much favor. The 
 type of lighting was the well-known metal ceil- 
 ing arc diffuser system. The company had made 
 a specialty of this particular installation, because 
 of its location, and the many famous engineers 
 who would pass through this station from all 
 parts of the world. It was said that the results 
 of this engineering caused more favorable com- 
 ment among the engineers of various railroads 
 than any other one class of engineering during 
 that year. 
 
 Just before Tom returned from Europe, a 
 large new department store had been opened in 
 the city. This was a magnificent building, nearly 
 twice as large in size compared with any other 
 
272 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 building previously erected there. He had been 
 very much interested in this store. The building 
 was famous for its construction. The pile driver 
 which first started the foundation was driven by 
 an electric motor, the electricity for which was 
 supplied by the Millville Electric Light, Heat 
 and Power Company. When the steel structures 
 were received, they were handled by electric mo- 
 tors, and cranes, and every one of the rivets were 
 driven and headed by electric hammers, or elec- 
 tric riveters. The electric wiring plans were five 
 times rejected, and changed to suit the owner, 
 and more than 100 detailed prints of the wiring 
 alone, were made to suit him. Before the ceil- 
 ings 'and side walls were commenced, the archi- 
 tect and illuminating engineer had had many 
 conferences, with the result that the illumina- 
 tion for that building, both for daylight distri- 
 bution, and artificial light, was the best which 
 they could possibly offer. 
 
 After the store was finished there was one 
 room which for a time was very popular. It was 
 called the " Light Exhibition Room." The illu- 
 minating engineer had planned this room, with 
 instruments to show the public how various col- 
 ored cloths and garments appeared under the 
 many forms of light common to all classes of 
 merchants. The idea of this department store 
 in educating the public was to try and induce 
 customers to avoid purchasing colored material 
 in any store except that one, where the illumi- 
 nation during the day time, or from artificial 
 light, was sure to result in -a satisfactory pur- 
 chase. 
 
 There were no fixtures of any kind whatever 
 in this store. The cash register apparatus was 
 concealed ; the incandescent and arc lighting ma- 
 
MILLVILLE THE ELECTRIC CITY 273 
 
 terial was part of the ceiling, and arranged as a 
 part of the decorations. The building was 
 equipped with four electric elevators, and one of 
 the best restaurants in the city. Every bit of 
 food was cooked by electricity, and in this store 
 all the electrical applications were set forth in 
 practical form. The Telharmonium was a most 
 popular addition to the many other devices, and 
 in the restaurant particularly. 
 
 The Woman's Club of Millville was another 
 organization which was famous for the aggres- 
 sive manner in which it followed subjects of 
 importance to the country at large. About the 
 year 1906 this had been one of the first organi- 
 zations to agitate the subject of "Good House- 
 keeping." In their cooking schools the electric 
 method of cooking was used for demonstration. 
 They claimed that any housewife living in the 
 "Electric City of the World," who was anx- 
 ious to promote and advance good housekeeping 
 should use electricity for cooking and baking, 
 and continually be studying the different devices 
 which would make her home pleasanter for her 
 husband and family. A story had been passed 
 along regarding this Woman's Club, which is 
 worth repeating, as it indicates the progressive 
 character of its members. It seems that an 
 old speaker from one of the large cities had 
 been invited to give them a talk on good house- 
 keeping, but for some reason, had not sized up 
 the audience with proper care, and many refer- 
 ences were made to the use of a gas stove. She 
 likewise failed to exhibit any degree of experi- 
 ence with electric devices, which showed that 
 her education had been limited, and that she 
 was not a representative speaker for promoting 
 the best interests of good housekeeping. It is 
 
274 LOOKING FOKWARD 
 
 said that the members were so much put out 
 about this affair that an Executive Committee 
 meeting was held, and a resolution passed, re- 
 quiring a very close investigation thereafter, 
 when extending an invitaton to outsiders to speak 
 before that club. In fact the Woman's Club of 
 Millville possessed such a reputation for the 
 manner in which it had promoted the subject of 
 "Good Housekeeping" that their secretary was 
 besieged by letters requesting articles for print- 
 ing in the Woman 's Club papers and magazines, 
 for the benefit of other clubs studying the same 
 subjects. This particular subject was given 
 great emphasis by the Millville Club, because all 
 the members determined to see electrical devices 
 put forward to the front. They knew from their 
 own experience that they possessed merit over 
 all other former devices, and as Millville was 
 ranked as the "Electric City of the World," 
 they felt that the entire club, as well as the cook- 
 ing department, should bend every energy to 
 advance and promote good housekeeping. This 
 was one strong reason why the club was so suc- 
 cessful in all its papers, and demonstrations on 
 the subject. 
 
 Another excellent feature about which Mill- 
 ville could talk boastingly, and in a proud man- 
 ner, related to the number and character of its 
 schools. While the remarkable increase in pop- 
 ulation had taxed the School Board's ability to 
 build schools fast enough, yet they had kept pace 
 with the requirements, and now they could boast 
 of their schools without complaint, or criticism 
 from any party. The School Board of Millville 
 was famous for its daring character in undertak- 
 ing new schemes, and in every case the results 
 bad been so excellent that they began to feel that 
 
MILLVILLE THE ELECTRIC CITY 275 
 
 what others called risk and daring, represented 
 after all, a knowledge of the times and the 
 proper care of the public '& children. 
 
 Early in the year 1907, the School Board 
 adopted the plan of studying geography by 
 means of the biograph. All the new schoolhouses 
 had been provided with a large Assembly Room, 
 and a good sized stage. A biograph machine 
 was purchased, and a teacher employed who had 
 made a special study of the biograph method of 
 teaching geography. He visited the schools once 
 a week, at which time the different classes were 
 sent to the Assembly Room for instructions. A 
 class studying 'about Italy for example, would 
 first take up such cities as Milan, Venice, Flor- 
 ence, Rome, and Naples, in connection with which 
 places the teacher would show biograph pictures 
 relating to the special, prominent features for 
 which they had long been noted. It is easy to 
 understand how much the school children would 
 appreciate moving pictures of the eruption of 
 Mt. Vesuvius, or a trip through the St. Gothard 
 tunnel, and it was soon noticed that the examina- 
 tion papers in geography showed remarkable 
 improvement. The plan seemed to rivet their at- 
 tention to the subject, and dates, as no other pre- 
 vious method had done. 
 
 Millville was to be congratulated upon having 
 such a broad-minded School Board, and through- 
 out the entire State of New York, there was no 
 Board of Education which enjoyed greater dis- 
 tinction. Their enviable reputation was well 
 earned, because they were continually intro- 
 ducing some new feature of practical value, in 
 the schools. 
 
 An electrical man of broad experience was for 
 several years the president of the Board. Mr. 
 
276 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 A. L. Roland's interest in the welfare of Mill- 
 ville had long since been proved. Having gone 
 there to live early in 1890, he was well qualified 
 as to the needs of the city, and had taken no 
 little share in the improvements which had been 
 made from year to year. Through his effort, 
 the Carnegie Library was successfully under- 
 taken, and erected, probably several years before 
 it otherwise would have been built. 
 
 Not long after he became president of the 
 School Board, he brought before that body, the 
 introduction of a mechanical and electrical 
 course for the boys. It was one of the most pop- 
 ular features that could have been raised at that 
 time, and before the Board realized the situation 
 the newspapers expressed the views of the public 
 and the plan was an assured success from the 
 start. It was a matter of common knowledge, 
 among the parents of thau community, that when 
 their boys reached the age of twelve or thirteen, 
 it was with difficulty that they could hold their 
 attention to the school studies. A great many of 
 the boys had a bent for mechanical or electrical 
 matters. It was said that they were always tinker- 
 ing around the house, fixing the electric door 
 bells, etc., and before they realized it, the boys 
 had left school, and were working in the shops. 
 This new branch at school consisted of a good 
 model room with lathe, and tools. It was custo- 
 mary to study the design of the smaller electri- 
 cal devices like small motors, fan motors, incan- 
 descent lamps, wiring devices, preparatory to con- 
 tinuing to study the subject on a larger scale 
 later at Yoonyun College. The constant aim of 
 the School Board was to study ways and means 
 of holding the attention of the boys during a 
 period when they were inclined to be restless. It 
 
MILLVILLE THE ELECTRIC CITY 277 
 
 was at such, a period the parents were anxious 
 to have them continue school, if it were not a 
 waste of time, and they were glad to hear of 
 this new departure in the public schools, and 
 supported it in every way. It was not long be- 
 fore other schools in the State adopted the same 
 course, and now electricity is brought to the at- 
 tention of the people during their early school 
 days. 
 
 But electricity was not to stop here, for the 
 kindergarten teacher saw the splendid oppor- 
 tunities of interesting little four-year-olds, by 
 fitting up her schoolroom with little electrical 
 games. One small contrivance for the baby 
 girls was to have a motor turning a spindle, or 
 bobbin, on to which a ball of yarn could be 
 wound. She had a miniature sized Christmas 
 tree on which the tiniest incandescent lamps 
 were placed, in little sockets and electric lights 
 were produced, much to the amusement of the 
 children. Still another device interested them 
 much, in the form of a motor arranged by the 
 teacher so that when a little one turned a switch, 
 a big toy elephant, on the end of a line, would be 
 hoisted up to the ceiling. At first it took some 
 patience on the part of the teacher to under- 
 stand the devices, and teach the children how to 
 operate them. Her plan was to teach such games 
 only twice a week, and the parents noticed that 
 the children talked continually about these play- 
 things, and could not wait for the day to come 
 when the next kindergarten lesson would 
 include the playing of electrical games. 
 
 While the Millville kindergarten teacher was 
 the first to introduce this method of interesting 
 children, yet it was not long before the scheme 
 was adopted in all the cities, and towns. The 
 
278 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 merchants gave some study to the subject also, 
 and continually demanded new electrical con- 
 trivances, and playthings, for birthday and 
 holiday trade. Fathers and mothers who had 
 always found it difficult to know what to buy for 
 their children, commenced to fill up their play- 
 room with electrical playthings. They were 
 pleased to do it, not alone for the pleasure which 
 the children derived, but they felt that it was 
 a splendid and easy way to educate the boy 
 along a certain branch of science, which would 
 help him later in school, college, and in fact his 
 life work. 
 
 Nor did electricity stop here at the age of four 
 year-olds, because the physicians of Millville 
 became enthusiastic on the subject, and made a 
 special study of the applications which were 
 suitable for their profession. In this way the 
 very young babies were taught to use electricity, 
 and derived therefrom the greatest amount of 
 pleasure. The electric baby milk warmer 
 became so popular that the physicians urged the 
 electrical companies to carry more of them in 
 stock. They were used much for heating milk, 
 and all the babies in the country recognized 
 their superiority, and would use no other kind 
 of a milk warmer. They claimed that the milk 
 did not taste as good when heated over gas, and 
 vowed they would never drink any more milk 
 except that which was heated in the electric 
 milk warmer. The nurses studied and became 
 familiar with the electrical articles which were 
 necessary for them to use. In one case in Mill- 
 ville, the nurse used an electric heating pad for 
 seven weeks, keeping a new born babe 
 thoroughly warm, and comfortable in its basket. 
 It was exceptionally small, weighing only four 
 
MILLVILLE, THE ELECTRIC CITY 279 
 
 and one-half pounds, and with its delicate little 
 body there was considerable concern lest it 
 should be unable to stand the slight changes in 
 temperature to which it must be continually 
 subjected. The doctor had said that it must be 
 kept warm, and that the easiest, most effective, 
 and least expensive way to do it, was to use an 
 electric heating pad. 
 
 So the city of Millville was first in all the 
 world to commonize electricity, and its great 
 multitude of devices. Throughout all life it 
 became a dependence. In a speech made by 
 Mark Twain in Boston, in the year 1906, at a 
 public meeting for the benefit of the San Fran- 
 cisco earthquake sufferers, he dwelt at length 
 upon the habits of his twin brother and himself, 
 when they were two weeks old. It created great 
 amusement in the audience when he mentioned 
 the ease with which his brother always got his 
 milk first. He was stronger, and the electric 
 switch was nearer to him than it was to Mark, 
 so that about every meal his brother was nearly 
 through eating before Mark commenced. He 
 said that they both looked back upon their early 
 electrical training as being of inestimable value 
 to them, later in life. 
 
 From the cradle to the kindergarten, in the 
 early home life, then at the public schools, in 
 the libraries, in the colleges, in the industrial 
 world, the commercial life, and throughout 
 one's entire existence, electricity plays a most 
 important part. 
 
CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 THE DENTIST AND PROF. STOENMITZ. 
 
 Tom stopped in, before leaving Millville, to 
 see Dr. Warden, a very prominent dentist in 
 Millville. He had known him for several years. 
 
 " Doctor," said Tom, after a while, "I wish 
 you would show me all the electrical 'appliances 
 you have here in the office. I am much 
 interested in them." 
 
 "I should be glad to do so," said Doctor. 
 "By the way, I have just received a splendid 
 letter from the President of the American 
 Dentists' Association, thanking me kindly for 
 the paper I recently read, at their annual meet- 
 ing, regarding electrical appliances for dentists' 
 offices." 
 
 "Well, it is surprising to see how many 
 instruments you use, in this business, which are 
 electrically operated, ' ' said Tom. ' ' I was count- 
 ing up the other day," responded the Doctor, 
 "and I was surprised myself to find twenty- 
 five different electrical devices, which I have in 
 use almost daily. It makes our work much 
 pleasanter, and vastly more interesting. The 
 Dental Magazines now devote considerable space 
 to the electrical department of their papers." 
 
 "Yes, and I have noticed," said Tom, "that 
 the electrical manufacturers and the electrical 
 people in general, take a great interest in this 
 
DENTIST AND PROF. STOENMITZ 281 
 
 branch of their business. For example, the 
 electrical companies, in their monthly bulletins, 
 are devoting a good deal of space to the Dental 
 Offices. You know those bulletins are now 
 divided up in accordance with classes of busi- 
 ness. When they were first printed, they were 
 of a general character, but as the applications 
 of electricity became so varied, it was found 
 that the bulletins should be classified, to be 
 easily handled and intelligently read. ' ' 
 
 "The bulletin of the Millville Company is 
 very popular," said the doctor, "here at our 
 house, we look for it each month. There is always 
 interesting reading about some new electrical 
 installation. Their representative calls in here 
 occasionally, and I am glad to give him any- 
 thing of interest, which is going on in my line. ' ' 
 
 Tom inquired as to the best tooth powder to 
 use, and the Doctor remarked "that here again 
 it was necessary for him to talk about electricity, 
 because the powder which had been, by all 
 means, the most successful, was Calox, a 
 preparation made from Electrolysis. 
 
 "In fact," said Dr. Warden, "the paper 
 package in which the material is boxed, has a 
 picture of Niagara Falls on either end of it. 
 The advantage which this tooth powder possesses 
 over other forms, is in connection with its ability 
 to clean the teeth, even though the tooth brush 
 does not touch the hidden particles surround- 
 ing the teeth. The powder when mixed with the 
 saliva of the mouth, causes a chemical -action, 
 cutting away *any impurities around the teeth, 
 and cleaning them effectively." 
 
 "Does it injure the enamel of the teeth?" 
 asked Tom. 
 
 "No," replied the doctor, "that is the reason 
 
282 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 it is such a popular article. At a meeting of the 
 National Dental Association of America, held in 
 Chicago in 1906, this tooth powder was com- 
 mented upon with great favor. The patented 
 principle involved, was considered as one of the 
 greatest discoveries in the dental line, for many 
 years. A box will last a long time, and it costs 
 only twenty-five cents, so that millions of boxes 
 have been sold. It is distinctly an electrical 
 combination, and the electrical era has given 
 Calox a considerable boom, which it might not 
 otherwise have enjoyed." 
 
 The doctor said, "Tom, do you know Mill- 
 ville now possesses an enviable reputation, as 
 far as electrical matters are concerned. It ranks 
 every city in the world for its variety of 
 applications. Personally I am much interested 
 in the new Allis Hospital, which was opened in 
 1907. Much thought and attention was given 
 to the many conveniences made possible by the 
 use of electricity. The wiring is the very best 
 which the Electrical Engineers could specify. In 
 all the wards there are electrical radiators which 
 are appreciated very highly, for if there is 
 anything which pleases a physician, it is to 
 avoid dampness, .and have heat just at the time 
 when it is wanted. Near each cot there is an 
 electric table. It answers the purpose for hold- 
 ing books, flowers, magazines, etc., but also is 
 wired with outlets, and devices for heating 
 water and milk, and keeping foods warm. It 
 seems simple now to see how useful such a table 
 is, and there is no reason why all tables of the 
 kind should not be made electrical for the 
 conveniences which we all enjoy. 
 
 "All the kitchens are equipped with electrical 
 cooking and baking outfits, and the big ironings 
 
DENTIST AND PROF. STOENMITZ 283 
 
 are handled by the electric flat irons which are 
 especially pleasing. 
 
 * ' The operating-rooms are lighted in a manner 
 which reflects credit upon the surgeon who 
 arranged it. There is no possibility of being 
 without light, even for three seconds, and the 
 lighting is so arranged that dust cannot fall by 
 the movement of fixtures. 
 
 "It was Dr. McMolton who did so much to 
 make the hospital a model, as far as electrical 
 conveniences were concerned. He had visited 
 many of the most important hospitals in the 
 country, and knew what they lacked, as well as 
 their good features. He claims that the Allis 
 Hospital, of Millville, is the latest and most 
 up-to-date of any institution of its kind in the 
 country. It is said that many Committees of 
 other hospitals in the North, East, "West and 
 South, have visited our hospital, and expressed 
 great satisfaction at the many new ideas gained 
 by such visit." 
 
 Tom left Dr. Warden's office, after expressing 
 his hearty appreciation for the interesting 
 things he had told him. 
 
 That evening he had an invitation up to the 
 Chapter House at the College to dinner. He 
 had always been a great favorite among the 
 college boys. 
 
 About 7 o 'clock they sat down to dinner. The 
 conversation naturally drifted on to the subject 
 of Yoonyun College. A young man, by the 
 name of Mr. Wood, spoke very highly of the 
 electrical course at Yoonyun. He said he was 
 taking a post-graduate course in electrical 
 engineering. Before deciding upon his course, 
 he had investigated the subject with much care. 
 He said it was surprising what a great reputa- 
 
284 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 tion this college possessed, and the name of 
 Professor Stoenmitz was upon the lips of every 
 student, far and wide, who had any intention 
 of attending Yoonyun. This young man's home 
 was out in Michigan, yet Dr. Stoenmitz 's name 
 was as well known in that section as in the East. 
 Mr. Wood felt that such feelings were warranted, 
 when considering the character of the course 
 which Yoonyun offered and the facilities with 
 which the young men were favored. Their 
 laboratory apparatus was of the latest and most 
 approved type, and Dr. Stoenmitz had made a 
 special point of educating young men particu- 
 larly on current consuming devices, and the 
 latest and best samples of all kinds of instru- 
 ments and meters, transformers, arc lamps, 
 incandescent lamps, fan motors, wires and cables 
 and heating devices, were to be found in that 
 famous electrical engineering laboratory. 
 
 Mr. Wood said, "The boys look forward with 
 the keenest interest to the lectures by Dr. 
 Stoenmitz. No matter what the subject is, he 
 surrounds it with such attractiveness, and 
 makes it so plain to us that we all listen 
 intently. 
 
 "And, after the lecture, we discuss among 
 ourselves, how he can possibly keep so well 
 posted on all kinds of electric material. He 
 never uses notes, and yet his detailed familiarity 
 with the smallest parts of small devices, is 
 remarkable. There are many, among the classes, 
 who have found difficulty in appreciating 
 certain points well, until Dr. Stoenmitz had 
 made them perfectly clear, in a few words. He 
 has a way of presenting a subject, which attracts 
 our attention at once, and gives us a clear 
 understanding, of the matter. Of course, we 
 
DENTIST AND PROF. STOENMITZ 285 
 
 feel that Dr. Stoenmitz 's experience, past and 
 present, is such, as to render him a very able 
 man on electrical matters. 
 
 ''The popularity which he enjoys among the 
 students, proves the truth of this statement. 
 Students admire ability, and when a Professor 
 combines ability with a wonderful way of 
 presenting his ideas, then is his reputation 
 established. 
 
 "Of course each year the reputation of the 
 Yoonyun Engineering course, is extending 
 throughout the world, and the college may be 
 heartily congratulated upon having such a man 
 associated with its interests." 
 
 "What you have said, Mr. Wood, interests 
 me very much/' said Tom. "I have often 
 listened to Dr. Stoenmitz talk before large elec- 
 trical conventions. The impression he always 
 creates is long remembered, and talked about, by 
 those who were present. As he rises to speak, 
 there is silence in the hall. His presence on the 
 floor commands immediate attention. Some of 
 the audience listen because they enjoy the clever 
 manner in which he presents his arguments. 
 Others, however, have told me, that they always 
 learn a great deal when Dr. Stoenmitz talks at 
 a convention. It makes little difference what 
 subject is being discussed, he usually presents 
 some point of interest, which has not been 
 raised. ' ' 
 
 Tom further continued, "Asdde from the elec- 
 trical business Dr. Stoenmitz is also a genial 
 person. I have spent many a pleasant evening 
 with him, and have met him occasionally on the 
 train traveling to Boston, or perhaps on the 
 way to some convention. I never knew him to 
 show any signs of annoyance at the questions on 
 
286 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 electrical matters, which are put to him, and 
 some of them are almost foolish; and many 
 persons step up and speak to him, without any 
 object in view, except to say that they have 
 talked to him. 
 
 "Considering the character of his work, his 
 accomplishments and the great amount of time 
 which he has given to the electrical subject to 
 effect such accomplishments, it is wonderful that 
 he is able to exhibit such a happy disposition 
 at all times. 
 
 "His home life is exceedingly pleasant. The 
 residence of Dr. Stoenmitz is one of the best in 
 Millville, surrounded by several acres of wood- 
 land territory. Much taste and botanical skill 
 has been exhibited in the arrangement of the 
 gardens, the beautiful hedge in the front, and 
 the tall poplars extending back into the yard, 
 where hundreds of tall pines perfume the air 
 and are conducive in great degree to vigor and 
 health. 
 
 "But all of these are minor considerations 
 compared with the electrical features of Dr. 
 Stoenmitz 's residence. It is probably the most 
 wonderful in the world, as far as electricity is 
 concerned. He personally laid out the wiring, 
 planned his switchboard, and arranged the 
 lights. Every conceivable kind of device must 
 have been seen, sat some time or other, in his 
 laboratory. I have seen there, all kinds of light, 
 from all kinds of current, and from multitudes 
 of shapes and styles and forms of lamps. His 
 conservatory contains a large variety of cacti, 
 which are rich in many shades of green. To 
 that which already appeared beautiful and 
 thrifty in its own world of green color, he added 
 a remarkable richness by illuminating the room 
 
DENTIST AND PROF. STOENMITZ 287 
 
 with electric lights, producing rich shades of 
 green. 
 
 1 'In an auxiliary greenhouse ten feet away 
 from the large one, there is a large geranium 
 bed, with blossoms abundant and rich in red. 
 In this room he had installed lights which had a 
 spectrum rich in the red, and lent brilliancy in 
 color to the geraniums, which were beautiful 
 under the ordinary light of day. 
 
 "And in the wall decorations in his house, 
 special study was given to the colors of the 
 tapestries and the character of the furniture, so 
 as to harmonize with the electrical fixtures and 
 the color of the illumination. 
 
 "I have always taken much interest in this 
 house," continued Tom, "because it has been 
 distinctly electrical, from the time the first stone 
 in the foundation was laid. I do not know of 
 any place in the world, which, has been so 
 identified with electrical subjects, <as this home 
 and laboratory of Dr. Stoenmitz." 
 
 The evening drew to a close all too soon, and 
 as the boys bade him good night and good-bye 
 for a time at least, Tom felt that surely he was 
 leaving behind many good friends in the dear 
 old city of Millville. 
 
CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 ELECTRIC ARC LIGHTING. 
 
 Just before leaving for Northington, Tom 
 walked up toward the new section of the city, 
 in the hope of meeting one or two of 'his old 
 friends. He was just passing the house of Mr. 
 E. J. Bergmann, when he called to him from 
 the piazza to come up and sit down. 
 
 Mr. Bergmann was one of the most prominent 
 political men in Millville, having been for many 
 years a very popular alderman, and this 
 particular year had just been elected Mayor of 
 the city. It was an honor which he had earned 
 by the exercise of principles in politics, which 
 met with the hearty approval of the people. He 
 was a candidate of the people, and combined 
 with a character and habits based upon the best 
 principles of life, he soon became a political 
 power. He had been connected with the elec- 
 trical industry for nearly twenty-five years, 
 having been associated with Thomas A. 
 Edmunds in the early days of electricity. It 
 was a treat to hear 'him reminisce about the 
 experiments and trials, through which they 
 passed, way back in the early 80 's. 
 
 The conversation drifted onto the subject of 
 street lighting, when he said, "that luminometer 
 which we have in the office of the Street Light- 
 ing Committee, is one of the best illumination 
 
ELECTRIC ARC LIGHTING 289 
 
 instruments I have ever seen. The city has a 
 contract with the Illuminating Company, and I 
 do not know of any other contract on its files, 
 which is so easy to interpret, and so mutually 
 satisfactory, as that one. 
 
 Before the Lighting Committee knew of that 
 instrument, there was a feeling on the part of 
 the city officers, that we had no good oppor- 
 tunity of checking up the rating of our street 
 lamps. But with this luminometer a test can 
 be made at any time, upon the order of the 
 Chairman of the Lighting Committee. By 
 reference to the contract, it is known, just what 
 size of print can be read with a luminometer, 
 and it is the simplest method of rating illumina- 
 tion. Every test we have ever made, has shown 
 our lamps to be exactly in accordance with the 
 contract. The city has never been concerned 
 about the candlepower of the lamp, near it and 
 under it. What we have and need, is the lamp 
 giving the best distribution and light, on all 
 sides, at the distance of 150 to 200 feet from its 
 location. Then you see, by having lamps every 
 300 or 400 feet apart, all through the city, we 
 are especially well lighted. There is not a fire 
 hydrant in our entire city, which is not well 
 illuminated. Our fire chief has advised me 
 many times, that he was much pleased with the 
 street illumination in Millville. We have now 
 about 2,000 arc lamps, and I understand that 
 they are the best which the art affords. " 
 
 "Yes," said Tom, "this is a well-lighted city, 
 and it ought to be. The officers of the city, and 
 the people in general, have taken a great interest 
 in electrical matters here, and they have had 
 faith in the Electrical Company to do what was 
 right and for their mutual interest. Many cities 
 
290 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 have felt in the past, that whenever the elec- 
 trical companies had a new arc lighting system 
 in view, that they must look sharp, or the candle- 
 power of the lamp would not be up where it 
 should be. If every alderman in the country, who 
 is considering the approval of a street lamp for 
 his city or town, would study the street-light 
 luminometer, there would be no more difficulties 
 between the city and the Illuminating Company, 
 in regard to the volume of light from electric 
 street arcs. 
 
 "How about that long burning luminous 
 arc/' asked Mr. Bergmann, "has it been as 
 popular throughout the country as it has been 
 here?" 
 
 "Yes," replied Tom, "it took a big start in 
 1907. The lamps are particularly well adapted 
 to certain circuits like those in Millville.' They 
 operate direct from this circuit, without the use 
 of revolving machinery in the station. 
 
 "The system is remarkable. The best elec- 
 trical engineers in the country have shown their 
 approval, by adopting it for their street 
 illumination requirements. ' ' 
 
 "The people, however, are most interested in 
 the character of the arc," said Mr. Bergmann. 
 "When our Lighting Committee investigated the 
 subject, they were much impressed with the 
 brilliancy which the arc exhibited, and its rich 
 silvery color. Its ability to distribute the light 
 just where it is wanted, on the street, was also 
 noted carefully. Another point, which makes 
 it popular, is its long burning feature. It 
 burns the longest of any arc lamp which was 
 ever designed. 
 
 "That is an excellent point, in connection 
 with busy city streets, because the lamps are 
 
ELECTRIC ABC LIGHTING 291 
 
 not disturbed, but once in about fifteen days, 
 and longer than this in Summer time. I can 
 well understand why they have been so 
 popular. ' ' 
 
 "All the large cities in the country have 
 adopted them, ' ' said Tom, * * and several hundred 
 thousand lamps are now burning nightly, 
 throughout our cities and towns. Considering 
 the great field for these lamps, -and the desire 
 on the part of Illuminating Companies and 
 Cities to adopt them, it is a pleasure to have -an 
 instrument, like the luminometer, for accurately 
 and properly presenting the light to the non- 
 technical public. 
 
 "Prof. W. D. A. Rhine first introduced the 
 device, in its commercial form, and it is only 
 one of many scientific illumination instruments, 
 designed by him, which have been of much value 
 to the electrical industry, to the merchants, to 
 industrial concerns and the people in general. 
 
 "His most recent invention relates to an 
 instrument for measuring the illumination of 
 interiors. It is called an interior photometer. 
 
 "With this instrument electrical companies 
 have been able to visit a merchant's store, tell 
 him quickly how much illumination he already 
 has, and take his order for so much more, 
 rearranged and properly distributed, in accord- 
 ance with the requirements. 
 
 "This instrument has been particularly 
 popular with the merchants, in all parts of the 
 country. ' ' 
 
 "Another scheme of Prof. Rhine/' said Tom, 
 "has been to combine the use of the biograph 
 machine, with his scientific illumination instru- 
 ments, for the purpose of proving absolutely 
 the theory of colors in connection with the 
 
292 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 electric arc. He was able to take most beautiful 
 views of the arc, in colors, by reason of the 
 inventions of the biograph engineers, who have 
 recently made a great success of color motion 
 pictures. In his lectures, Prof. Rhine would 
 throw on the screen all kinds of electric lights, 
 in colors, then show and describe their 
 respective spectroscopic views, making it very 
 plain to his audience that the electric arc could 
 be relied upon, absolutely, for the reproduction 
 of colors, whereas much difficulty would be 
 experienced with all other forms of light." 
 
 "I suppose/' said Mr. Bergmann, "that it 
 was this character of work, upon Prof. Rhine's 
 part, which led the Glendale Electric Company 
 to establish the great Illuminating Engineering 
 Laboratory here which I understand has made 
 a great reputation for itself. " 
 
 "Yes," replied Tom, "the illuminating 
 engineering between the years of 1900 and 1906 
 involved a great deal of hard work, much 
 expense and a vast amount of patience, but as 
 we now look back upon those years, it is most 
 interesting to reflect upon many of the 
 problems. At times, they seemed very compli- 
 cated and exceedingly difficult to solve, but the 
 great value of those years was in connection 
 with the firm foundation established for 
 illuminating engineering. It was that founda- 
 tion which has made the large laboratory a 
 marked success, and it is known all over the 
 country to be equipped with the latest and 
 most up-to-date light measuring instruments 
 and capable of rendering expert opinion on any 
 part of the subject of illumination. Best of 
 all, however, it has men experienced in tha 
 study of the subject, so that large illumination 
 
CO-OPERATIVE ASSOCIATION 293 
 
 problems can be undertaken, and carried out 
 practically, with the best results possible to 
 obtain. This is the kind of reputation which 
 the laboratory is known to enjoy, and every bit 
 of it has been earned and is deserved/' 
 
 And the afternoon gradually stole upon the 
 twilight. Tom had reached his old boarding- 
 house and went out on the piazza to smoke his 
 cigar. He caught a last glimpse of the sun as 
 it went down behind the mountains. It was 
 just at the gap between the hills, where all the 
 trains passed through to the West. In the years 
 gone by, it had been a common sight to see the 
 great black clouds of smoke, curling up in 
 peculiar fashion, from the smokestack of steam 
 engines, puffing and steaming with their heavy 
 loads, and wending their weary way along the 
 famous railroad, so well known to Millville 
 people and the world in general. 
 
 But now, the smoke curls no more. Like the 
 camp fire of the Indian, through the Mohegan 
 Valley, it has gone forever. The hills have taken 
 on a fresher appearance. The trees, on the 
 mountain sides, look more thrifty. For more 
 than half a century they had been absorbing 
 the smoke and dust of the old steam brutes, 
 and . were gradually being choked out of 
 existence. Nor was there any smoke from the 
 old Locomotive Works, which lay in between the 
 piazza view and the mountains, for these great 
 shops were now operated by Electric Motors, 
 and all applications of light, heat and power 
 were electric. 
 
 So, on this particular evening, he enjoyed the 
 gorgeous sunset in all its glory, neither 
 obstructed by smoke, nor dirt, nor dust, but 
 clear and brilliant, filled with richness in color. 
 
294 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 And the afterglow was wonderfully beautiful. 
 The reds took on a higher tone of color, and 
 the sky was filled with richer and more gorgeous 
 blues than in times past, because the atmosphere 
 was so purely free from smoke and dust that the 
 light possessed marvelous strength and intensity, 
 unhampered by the smoke, steam and cinders, 
 through which, colors, originally rich and 
 brilliant, lose their intensity, becoming sluggish, 
 pale and faint. 
 
 The beautiful Mohegan Valley lay stretched 
 before him, and beyond, in the distance, the 
 Adirondacks furnished the background for a 
 grand, picturesque scene. But what are those 
 objects moving along the Erie Canal which can 
 be seen so plainly ! Why, they are Electric Motor 
 Boats, so commonly used nowadays along that 
 new highway for commercial transportation. 
 The grass is not growing in the Erie Canal, for 
 the people of York State, having spent their 
 money for vast improvements, have successfully 
 commercialized the scheme, and a marvelously 
 extensive business is being conducted on this 
 famous old waterway. 
 
 Early in the morning Tom took train for 
 Northington, sorry to leave his dear old friends, 
 but glad to return to Evelyn, who, within a few 
 days, would be his own wife and lifelong com- 
 panion. 
 
CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 THE COOPERATIVE ELECTRICAL IMPROVEMENT 
 ASSOCIATION. 
 
 Tom Appleton had returned from Millville 
 and found everybody exceedingly busy arrang- 
 ing for the wedding. Many guests had already 
 arrived, and among them Tom and Evelyn 
 were very much pleased to have Mr. and Mrs. 
 Giddings, of San Francisco, present. 
 
 One evening 'after dinner, Tom and Giddings 
 sat down to talk over matters. 
 
 "Well," said Giddings, "it seems incredible 
 that such a tremendous gain could be made in 
 any one industry in such a short time. There 
 must have been some very particularly, 
 aggressive and concerted action to bring about 
 such results." 
 
 "There was," said Tom. "A plan of co- 
 operation was conceived by J. Robert Grossman 
 as early as the year 1904. His ideas were 
 nursed in a practical manner through the manu- 
 facturing organization in which he was 
 associated. In 1905 he appeared before the 
 National Electric Light Association, and pre- 
 sented his views very broadly in a paper before 
 that body. A committee was appointed by the 
 association to co-operate with the Manufacturers 
 Committee, and during the year an organization 
 was formed, known as the Co-operative Elec- 
 trical Improvement Association." 
 
 295 
 
296 LOOKING FORWAKD 
 
 "What was the exact object of this associa- 
 tion?" asked Giddings. 
 
 ' ' The scheme was essentially a cooperative one, 
 having for its object the growth of the industry ; 
 also to popularize and commonize the use of the 
 electric current among all classes of the people, ' ' 
 said Tom. 
 
 "This 'association, " continued Tom, "had 
 representative members, on its Board, from 
 every branch of the industry interested. For 
 example, the furniture dealer took a keen 
 interest in the organization because the electrical 
 engineers had studied ( a way for electrifying 
 furniture. The McDowall Cabinet Company 
 was the first to popularize the plan by advertis- 
 ing Electric Kitchen Cabinets. Then a Mirror 
 Concern introduced a line of mirrors with 
 incandescent lights mounted on either side. It 
 became very common to purchase dining-room 
 tables all wired for convenient use of electric 
 appliances. ' ' 
 
 "I presume, 1 " said Giddings, "that the 
 Wiring Contractors, Jobbers, Dealers and Elec- 
 trical Salesmen were interested." 
 
 "Yes," replied Tom, "and so were the Trades 
 Papers, Magazines, and even the Contractors 
 who built houses. The Association advanced 
 arguments in favor of contractors using electric 
 tools among their carpenters. Much time and 
 labor could be saved, and when bidding on a 
 new house, the contractor who was up-to-date 
 on such matters usually secured the contract. 
 As soon as he broke ground for the cellar, his 
 electric tool wagon was brought on the scene. A 
 large electric hoist and crane were included in 
 the outfit, and boulders and large stones were 
 quickly removed, as well as the excavation of 
 
CO-OPERATIVE ASSOCIATION 297 
 
 dirt. Heavy stones for foundations were raised 
 and lowered, and moved sideways, and it seems 
 nowadays as if a house could not be built with- 
 out this electrical tool wagon." 
 
 "Did the Electrical Company consider such 
 contractors as good customers, as merchants and 
 residents?" asked Giddings. 
 
 "Yes, they were considered particularly good, 
 because they used all the current during the day 
 time and very large quantities during the Sum- 
 mer Season when Electrical Companies were 
 looking for such business." 
 
 "The people," said Giddings, "seldom stop to 
 think that in the early days of electricity, the 
 electrical companies had no other business but 
 furnishing light at night." 
 
 ' ' But, now-a-days, ' ' said Tom, ' ' their business 
 is like the railroad business, a twenty-four-hour 
 service , and better than the merchant 's line, 
 which deals mostly with daylight customers. 
 The electrical business today, covers the entire 
 twenty-four hours, and it is so arranged that the 
 load is practically as large at night as during 
 the day ; although in 1908 and '09 the motor and 
 heating business had grown so rapidly that 
 everybody had to hustle to bring up the lighting 
 end of the industry. 
 
 "You see, Giddings," said Tom, "how beauti- 
 ful is the principle of the scheme of co-operation. 
 In quoting from Mr. J. Robert Grossman's 
 paper in 1906, he referred to the objects of the 
 new association as follows: 
 
 "One of the most important objects is the 
 establishment of co-operative relations, both 
 moral and financial, among the different elec- 
 trical interests, the manufacturer and the peo- 
 ple, to the end that each may contribute in 
 
298 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 some measure toward bringing about the results 
 desired in common by all." 
 
 "But why did he include the people/' said 
 Giddings, ' ' what interest have they ? ' ' 
 
 ' ' They have a very great interest, and by all 
 means are properly included. I will give one 
 illustration to show how the plans cooperate 
 with the daily lives of the people. The New 
 York American and Journal sent out, with their 
 Sunday papers a set of postal cards, regarding 
 Buster Brown and Tige, with instructions to all 
 children, that if they would run a hot flat iron 
 over the blank spots on the cards, a picture 
 would appear, showing what Buster and Tige 
 were doing. Well, this became very popular, 
 but it increased greatly in favor, when the 
 paper offered Miniature Electric Flat-Irons to 
 do the heating, called 'The Children's Iron.' 
 Every child in our neighborhood sent for one, 
 and the little girls used the iron for pressing 
 their dolls' clothes. It was the most popular elec- 
 tric device introduced that year, and the people 
 began to feel a great interest in such things. ' ' 
 
 * ' Yes, I can understand what you mean, ' ' said 
 Giddings. "It is practically a covenant on the 
 part of the electrical industry that its engineers 
 and other representatives, will study the 
 demands of the people for conveniences. ' ' 
 
 "Some of Grossman's ideas were considered 
 a trifle advanced, especially by the conservative. 
 One idea, in particular seemed at that time, to 
 be unusually radical, but it has turned out 
 especially well. It was the idea of each member 
 of an association passing on to some other mem- 
 ber, the advantages which electricity offered in 
 all phases of life. Traveling men would agree 
 to patronize those hotels, shops and stores, 
 
CO-OPERATIVE ASSOCIATION 299 
 
 where electricity was found to be most plenti- 
 fully used. It was a cooperative idea, and 
 created the phrase, 'All Together, all the Time, 
 for Everything Electrical/ " 
 
 * ' Grossman must have been a very aggressive 
 man," said Giddings. 
 
 ''He was," replied Tom, "and he was well 
 qualified to make a grand success, which 
 this year of 1912 has shown. He seemed to be 
 an indefatigable worker, and had studied the 
 subject so thoroughly, and accumulated so much 
 data for illustrating his points, that skillful 
 presentation was cultivated in a marked degree, 
 and was not the least important part of his suc- 
 cess. 
 
 "In one of his papers, he said, ' There are 
 additional to those in the electrical field, who are 
 naturally directly interested in the wiring of new 
 construction work, the following list in other 
 fields, having more or less to do with the ques- 
 tion of wiring buildings: 
 5,206 Architects 
 
 2,433 Large Building Companies 
 2,786 General Contractors 
 
 42,516 Real Estate Agents 
 
 40,416 Carpenters and Builders 
 
 93,357 Total/ 3 
 
 "I can commence to appreciate," said Gid- 
 dings, "the great opportunity for such an 
 association. ' ' 
 
 "It was well organized, on co-operative lines," 
 said Tom, "and behind it there was a 
 tremendous power in the form of the Electrical 
 Engineering Society with its great organization ; 
 also great inventions were continually being 
 introduced, and this Association appreciated that 
 
300 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 the field for their work would ever be an 
 enormously increasing one. They also had 
 studied the power and force of advertising 
 mediums, such as periodicals, magazines and 
 newspapers issued to the American people/' 
 
 "I can appreciate that," said Giddings, "for 
 I had opportunity some six years ago to investi- 
 gate the mediums through which advertisements 
 might reach the people. I was surprised to 
 learn that between 8,000,000 and 9,000,000 
 pieces of literature were issued annually to the 
 people. Think of the great opportunity of 
 acquainting the public with electrical matters, 
 after deciding that it was a good plan to do so. ' ' 
 
 "When this Association was formed the elec- 
 trical business had been under-advertised. The 
 business had grown so rapidly and so much 
 engineering work had been necessary, that the 
 electrical companies had met with difficulty in 
 arranging large supplies of current for pushing 
 the commercial side of its business. But at the 
 time this Association was formed, great changes 
 had taken place. The Electrical Companies had 
 studied their requirements and planned for 
 surplus current, so as to pronounce to the people 
 that they were ready to offer them great con- 
 veniences. Therefore when the plan started, 
 the organization was large and equipped to 
 handle the business well." 
 
 "Were the manufacturers ready, also?" said 
 Giddings. 
 
 "Yes, they were," replied Tom, "and here, 
 at this point in our talk, I should tell you that 
 among the organizations of the electrical manu- 
 facturing companies there were exceedingly 
 bright men, fully the equal of the personnel 
 among the local electrical companies. The 
 
CO-OPERATIVE ASSOCIATION 301 
 
 factories had men studying the subject from the 
 standpoint of the people; and likewise the 
 engineers of the local companies possessed a 
 fund of information regarding the design of 
 new material, its testing, inspecting, etc. 
 The foundation had been well laid for a grand 
 campaign, and the Co-operative Electrical 
 Improvement Association was born just at the 
 right time/' 
 
 Tom continued further: "An excellent illus- 
 tration of the manner in which the people's de- 
 mands were studied refers to the Hylo Lamp. 
 The Company that developed and manufactured 
 this lamp knew positively that it had merit. It 
 was convenient in a bed room, a hall, or for a 
 dozen different purposes in the home. It was 
 economical, and the people applaud an economi- 
 cal device. The Co-operative Developmental Im- 
 provement Association helped the people to 
 know about this lamp earlier than they might 
 have known otherwise. ' ? 
 
 "Wasn't it likewise true about the glower 
 lamp?" asked Giddings. 
 
 "Quite so," answered Tom, "the manufactur- 
 ers particularly emphasized the distribution of 
 light in a downward direction, because they had 
 studied the use of light practically by the peo- 
 ple. They knew that if light was wanted on the 
 table in front of you, it was foolish to distribute 
 the illumination all over the room in every other 
 direction. This glower lamp furnished a beauti- 
 ful light, which was demanded by the merchants 
 quite generally as early as the years 1905 and 
 '06. It represented an advance in the art of 
 illumination, which the Co-operative Association 
 helped the people to understand in many 
 practical ways," 
 
302 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 "What about the foreign countries ?" asked 
 Giddings. 
 
 ' * They watched the progress of the American 
 Association and by 1907 the results were such as 
 to induce them to organize along similar lines. 
 England and Germany were first to study the 
 matter. Mr. J. Robert Grossman was given a 
 most cordial invitation to meet prominent elec- 
 trical men in London and Berlin, which he 
 gladly accepted, and helped them to get started. ' ' 
 
 "They all must have been very serious, " said 
 Giddings, "only great earnestness and persist- 
 ency could bring about the marvelous results so 
 quickly. ' ' 
 
 "All the electrical men were earnest, " said 
 Tom, "they wore a pin on the lapel of their 
 coat, emblematical of the organization, and like 
 a college fraternity, there was a certain dignity 
 surrounding it which kept the profession 'All 
 Together, all the Time, for Everything Elec- 
 trical. '" 
 
 "The National Electrical Association, was 
 formerly known by another name, was it not?" 
 asked Giddings. 
 
 "Yes, its name was changed to the National 
 Electrical Association in 1907. At each annual 
 meeting a Progress Report was read, to which 
 great importance was attached. These reports 
 not only gave many statistics which were valu- 
 able, regarding old branches of the business, but 
 were particularly of value in connection with 
 the new fields. For example, it was the Progress 
 Report which attracted so much attention be- 
 fore the Convention in 1907, on Electric Heat- 
 ing Devices, that led to a change in the Associa- 
 tion's name. This branch of the business had 
 grown so large, as well as the Motor business, 
 
CO-OPERATIVE ASSOCIATION 303 
 
 that it was not considered right and proper any 
 longer to call it the National Electric Light 
 Association. ' ' 
 
 "What was the attitude of this organization, 
 in regard to the Cooperative Electrical Improve- 
 ment Association ? ' ' asked Giddings. 
 
 "It was very favorable to it," replied Tom. 
 "I remember well that the 1906 Progress 
 Report made special reference to the new 
 point of departure. It said that that year 
 seemed to mark tihe beginning of a new period in 
 the development of electric light, heat and 
 power in the United States; that the Elec- 
 trical Companies had united upon a commercial 
 propaganda to sell much larger quantities of 
 current than ever before, because they were so 
 well prepared to do it. It was further pointed 
 out that while technical changes and engineering 
 improvements would not cease, a marvelous 
 interest was being evinced in connection with 
 the development of the commercial side of the 
 industry. Ample evidences were offered to 
 illustrate these points, among which was the 
 great interest exhibited by everybody in con- 
 nection with the work of the Electrical Co- 
 operative Improvement Association." 
 
 "The individual who made these Progress 
 Reports must have been well informed and very 
 capable," said Giddings. 
 
 "Yes, indeed," replied Tom. "He possessed 
 remarkable ability, which was continually 
 stimulated and highly cultivated by broad 
 experience. For years he had been associated 
 with a large prosperous technical newspaper, 
 which had gained and maintained an enviable 
 reputation for its technical reports. The elec- 
 trical companies in the United States owe a debt 
 
304 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 of gratitude to the technical press for the many 
 years and the very successful manner in which 
 important engineering problems have been 
 promulgated and agitated. They were one of 
 the first organizations to -approve and offer 
 hearty support to the Cooperative Electrical 
 Improvement Association, and it may be said in 
 their praise, that the very successful start which 
 that valuable Association made, was due in no 
 small measure, to the assistance from the 
 Technical Press." 
 
 "Well," said Giddings, "I have been very 
 glad indeed to know all about this great 
 cooperative plan having to do with the electrical 
 industry, from its start to this present time." 
 
 Shortly after, Giddings retired, but Tom 
 wandered out on the piazza for a few moments 
 before going to bed. He had hardly closed the 
 screen door when a great illumination display 
 could be seen across the sky. It was one of the 
 large searchlights on the through trains which 
 were nowadays equipped with signals for night 
 running, to thoroughly protect all travelers. 
 
 As he looked out upon those wonderful 
 illumination effects, there passed through his 
 mind the marvelous character of electrical work 
 which was going on in the world, and he was 
 glad that an organization had been formed for 
 the purpose of keeping the people informed 
 about electrical matters. 
 
 The train had passed on, and, with a last 
 glance out over the quiet meadow city, he turned 
 and walked into the house. The Co-operative 
 Electrical Improvement Association was destined 
 to live long after his usefulness would have 
 
CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 At last the happy day had arrived, and the 
 with a dear, blue sky. It was 
 for Evelyn and EethyL They 
 up and dressed at an early hour, and the 
 first thing Evelyn did was to call Eethyl on the 
 'phone and congratulate her upon the weather. 
 Tom and Charlie Kingsley were happy fellows, 
 and each thought himself to be the luckiest 
 person in the world. 
 
 At an early hour, Tom came rushing through 
 Ac hall to the dining-room door at the Tyler 
 home, where he was brought to a standstill 
 abruptly, when the girl of his choice plunged 
 gracefully into his arms, making no effort to 
 conceal the joy and happhiean which she felt 
 Having shaken hands, and received a cordial 
 Father and Mother Tyler, they 
 the decorations and details 
 of the wedding ceremony. The trophies for the 
 DnoesmaiuS and best men were inspect ed and 
 aproved, and the hour set for the rehearsal. 
 The floral decorations had been received, and 
 friends were just returning from the woods 
 where beautiful specimens of natural flowers 
 had been gathered. The bay-window in the 
 had been selected as the exact 
 
306 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 location for the ceremony, and they all set to 
 work decorating this bay for the first celebration 
 of its kind. 
 
 By eleven o'clock the decorations had been 
 finished, and Tom left for the city, promising 
 to return promptly after lunch for the rehearsal, 
 which would take place at two o'clock. He 
 boarded the electric car in front of the house, 
 and, in about ten minutes, had reached the main 
 street, or so-called " shop-row. " 
 
 He had just alighted from the car when some- 
 one grabbed him by the 'arm. Turning around 
 he saw it was Sheldon. In a second Tom's eyes 
 were ablaze with anger, but intuitively he held 
 back any rash words, for there was a new light 
 in Frank Sheldon's eyes. A marked change was 
 easily noted in his demeanor. 
 
 "Tom," he said, "come over to the club a 
 moment and give me one final opportunity to 
 explain." The tone was submissive and was an 
 appeal that Tom could not deny. So they went 
 over to the Club, and there Sheldon told him 
 all about his last attempt on board the sub- 
 marine boat to destroy them, if possible; how 
 he had been severely burned and had received 
 an awful cut in the head where he had fallen. 
 Then the days and days in the hospital at 
 Venice, when, lingering between life and death, 
 he had been led to see the awfulness of his 
 deeds, and earnestly prayed that God would help 
 him to start afresh. From that date, there was 
 a change in his condition, and he commenced to 
 improve, and finally was well enough to leave. 
 He said that upon his return he found that his 
 father had died, and he and his mother had 
 been left penniless. He asked Tom to forgive 
 him, that he might haye a clear conscience, and 
 
THE WEDDING 307 
 
 again face the world for an uphill struggle to 
 make a man of himself. 
 
 He held out his hand, which Tom clasped, 
 and promised him that he would explain it all 
 to Evelyn, whom he knew would willingly 
 extend her sympathies to him. 
 
 This was the last Tom ever saw or heard of 
 Sheldon. He stopped to make a few small pur- 
 chases; also met Charlie Kingsley and they 
 went in to secure their marriage licenses, after 
 which they went back to the Tyler mansion to 
 take quite a prominent part in the rehearsal. 
 
 Promptly at two o'clock, a switch was turned 
 in the music-room, and the strains of Mendels- 
 sohn's Wedding March made them all realize 
 that only a few hours remained before the four 
 young people would become inseparably joined 
 for companionship through the swift gliding 
 years of life. Amidst the happy thoughts of 
 those who keenly enjoyed the entertainment 
 were mingled the sad feelings of father, mother 
 and friends who could not help but think that 
 the occasion, after all, meant -a loss to them. The 
 girl who had been with them through all the 
 years of babyhood, childhood and early woman- 
 hood, would be with them no longer. She was 
 leaving them to become a part of a new home. It 
 is true that she would come home for occasional 
 visits, for Thanksgiving, Christmas and other 
 holidays, but she would not be with them each 
 day at breakfast, lunch, and dinner; the even- 
 ings, on Sundays and in and out, living amongst 
 them as in the old days. Yes, indeed, she would 
 ]be missed, and on the faces of those who dearly 
 loved her, the appearance of tears was plainly 
 visible. But the day had now come, and the 
 party made every effort to enjoy the remaining 
 
308 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 hours as much as possible. Much fun was dis- 
 played in matching up the couples, the young 
 girls exhibiting some embarrassment in disclosing 
 their identity with certain young men, and 
 many were the blushings and hiding of faces 
 during that memorable afternoon. 
 
 The procession finally started, winding its 
 way down the front stairs through the lower hall. 
 Evelyn and Father Tyler were ahead with 
 Eethyl and her father following. In the bay- 
 window, under the wedding bell, the minister 
 awaited them, and Tom and Charlie were near 
 him, ready to take their rightful places at the 
 side of those sweet young girls whose happiness 
 would this day be assured by association with 
 such reliable -and honorable young fellows. 
 
 The afternoon passed, and with the evening 
 came the actual ceremony, which was reported 
 in the local papers of Northington. Below is an 
 account of the wedding, as it was copied from 
 a clipping taken from the Northington Gazette, 
 morning issue of November 30th, 1912. 
 
 DOUBLE WEDDING. 
 
 APPLETON-TYLER KINGSLEY-APPLETON. 
 
 About one hundred guests were present at the 
 residence of Mr. and Mrs. Horman Tyler, Thurs- 
 day evening, when their daughter, Evelyn, was 
 married to Mr. Tom Appleton, formerly of 
 Northington, for many years at Millville, but 
 now a resident of New York City. 
 
 The sister of the bridegroom, Miss Eethyl 
 Appleton, was also married, at the same time, 
 to Mr. Charles Kingsley, a former resident 
 of this city. 
 
THE WEDDING 309 
 
 About seven o'clock Mendelssohn's Wedding 
 March was beautifully rendered by the Telhar- 
 monium, and the bridal party entered the parlor 
 where the ceremony was performed. The brides 
 and grooms were joined in matrimony under 
 the marriage bell, which decorated the old bay- 
 window. 
 
 The ceremony was performed with a ring, and 
 Reverend F. T. Pomerell officiated. 
 
 Miss Tyler was beautifully gowned in white 
 India silk, and her bridesmaid was Miss Clara 
 Newman of Chicago. 
 
 Miss Appleton presented a lovely appearance 
 in a gown of Canary silk, her cousin, Miss White 
 of this city, acting as bridesmaid. 
 
 Mr. Cameron, of Millville, was best man to 
 Mr. Appleton, while Mr. Devereaux acted as best 
 man to Mr. Kingsley. 
 
 Charles Marlow and Henry Hartwell were 
 ushers. 
 
 There was a large num'ber of valuable presents. 
 The two happy couples left on the nine o'clock 
 train for the South, where they will remain for 
 several weeks. 
 
 It will be remembered that both of these 
 young ladies were graduated from South Holley 
 Falls College this past year, having secured the 
 degree of electrical engineer. 
 
 The career of Tom Appleton is well known 
 here in Northington, and his recent new position 
 in New York City was well deserved. The peo- 
 ple of this city all join in wishing these two 
 couples the greatest amount of happiness. 
 
CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AFTER. 
 
 Shortly after their return from the South, 
 Tom and Evelyn were one evening sitting alone 
 in their parlor. Evelyn had been reading over 
 again the story of Edward Bellamy's "Looking 
 Backward. ' ' 
 
 She had just stopped at the point where 
 Julian West had fitted up that wonderful sub- 
 terranean room as a sleeping chamber, when 
 Tom asked her to read that again. She started 
 reading, therefore, as follows: 
 
 "This was the sleeping chamber I had built 
 under the foundations. I could not have slept 
 in the city at all, with its never-ceasing nightly 
 noises, if I had been obliged to use an upstairs 
 chamber, but to this subterranean room no mur- 
 mur ever penetrated. When I had entered it and 
 closed the door, I was surrounded by the silence 
 of the tomb. In order to prevent the dampness 
 of the sub-soil from penetrating the chamber, 
 the walls had been laid in hydraulic cement, and 
 were very thick, and the floor was likewise 
 protected. In order that the room might serve 
 also as a vault equally proof against violence 
 and flames, for the storage of valuables, I had 
 roofed it with stone slabs hermetically sealed, 
 and the outer door was of iron, with a thick 
 coating of asbestos. A small pipe, communi- 
 
 310 
 
THE LATE EDWARD BELLAMY 
 
TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AFTER 311 
 
 eating with a windmill on the top of the house, 
 insured the renewal of air." 
 
 " There's the point," interrupted Tom. "If 
 Bellamy were planning for Julian West in 1912, 
 he would have said, that an electric motor was 
 connected to an electric exhaust fan, which in- 
 sured the renewal of air to the chamber. ' ' 
 
 Evelyn had read on to Page 40 where Julian 
 West was again himself, physically, after 
 awakening in the year 2000, or 113 years after 
 1887. Where Tom interrupted again Evelyn 
 had read, "The impressions of amazement and 
 curiosity which my new surroundings produced, 
 occupied my mind. For the time the memory 
 of my former life was, as it were, in abeyance. 
 After Dr. Leete had responded to numerous 
 questions on my part, as to the ancient land- 
 marks I missed, and the new ones which had 
 replaced them, he asked me what point of the 
 contrast between the new and the old city struck 
 me most forcibly. ' ' 
 
 Julian West responded as follows, "I really 
 think that the complete absence of chimneys and 
 their smoke is the detail that first impressed 
 me." 
 
 "You see," said Tom, "that Bellamy's ideas 
 are carried out in San Francisco. You remem- 
 ber when we were there I showed you how com- 
 pletely they had abandoned chimneys. Elec- 
 tricity has been the means of meeting many of 
 Bellamy's ideas." 
 
 "Yes," said Evelyn, "and in England we 
 heard of so many new houses having been built 
 without chimneys. Also throughout the South- 
 ern States of America, chimneys are no more, 
 and electric heat has replaced coal and gas. I 
 wonder if Bellamy expected that_in_twenty-five 
 
312 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 years, so many of his prophecies would come 
 true?" 
 
 Evelyn read on, and had reached page 43, 
 with the following description by Bellamy : ' ' The 
 apartment in which we found the wife and 
 daughter of my host, as well as the entire 
 interior of the house, was filled with a mellow 
 light, which I knew must be artificial, although 
 I could not discover the source from which it 
 was diffused." 
 
 " Those words were written by Bellamy in 
 1887," said Tom. "I am curious to know what 
 he would think of the marvelous progress in the 
 art of lighting in 1912. Twenty-five years have 
 produced most wonderful improvements in 
 artificial lighting by electricity." 
 
 She had continued to read as far as page 66, 
 when Tom again interrupted: "That is interest- 
 ing, please read it over!" 
 
 So Evelyn read, "As an individual's satis- 
 faction during his term of service depends on his 
 having an occupation to his taste, parents and 
 teachers watch from early years for indications 
 of special aptitudes in children. A thorough 
 study of the National industrial system, with the 
 history and rudiments of all the great trades, is 
 an essential part of our educational system. 
 While manual training is not allowed to 
 encroach upon the general intellectual culture, 
 to which our schools are devoted, it is carried 
 far enough to give our youth, in addition to 
 their theoretical knowledge of the national 
 industries, mechanical and agricultural, a 
 certain familiarity with their tools and methods. 
 Our schools are constantly visiting our work- 
 shops and often are taken on long excursions to 
 inspect particular industrial enterprises." 
 
TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AFTER 313 
 
 1 'There," said Tom, "I told you about the 
 great strides of the Millville Schools, and the 
 aggressive administration of Mr. A. L. Roland 
 as President of the Board. I guess that Bell- 
 amy would be pleased if he could n'ow step in 
 and see the progress that has been made." 
 
 Evelyn again read on to a point in regard to 
 hours of labor for workmen, which interested 
 Tom greatly. It read as follows: "The hours 
 of labor in different trades differ 'according to 
 their arduousness. The lighter trades, prosecuted 
 under the most agreeable circumstances, have 
 the longest hours, while an arduous trade has 
 very short hours." 
 
 Here Tom said, "Evelyn, I wish Bellamy 
 could have lived to see the universal Saturday 
 half-holiday. It would have done his heart 
 good to see the splendid manner in which the 
 laboring men utilize their privileges on Satur- 
 day afternoons." 
 
 "You are right," said Evelyn, "the laboring 
 men of the country have become vastly more 
 intelligent in the past twenty-five years." 
 
 "I admit it," replied Tom, "but electricity 
 has been the most potent factor toward the 
 better condition of the working men. Factories 
 with healthful light, pure air and improved 
 machines, have benefited the average workmen. 
 On the railroad, the electric hoist, shovel, work- 
 car and spike driver, have educated the railroad 
 laborers. In twenty-five years electric labor- 
 saving devices, have increased with remarkable 
 rapidity, and the working men have learned to 
 operate' electrical machinery, gaining not only 
 higher wages, but also by snorter hours. Many 
 of the so-called laborers of Bellamy's day are 
 now electrical and mechanical engineers, due to 
 
314 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 the influence which labor-saving devices have 
 had upon their lives. 
 
 As Evelyn read on, Tom listened with interest, 
 and noted particularly what Bellamy said about 
 the choosing of a profession in the year 2000. 
 "It is for the man to choose in accordance with 
 his natural 'tastes, whether he will fit himself 
 for an art or profession, or be a farmer or 
 mechanic. The schools of technology, of 
 medicine, of art, of music, of histrionics, and 
 of higher liberal learning, are always open to 
 aspirants without condition. " 
 
 "At this point," said Tom, "we are both 
 agreed that the profession of music has under- 
 gone a radical change. There is no excuse today 
 for children spending an hour a day practising 
 on a piano, or violin, or any string or brass 
 instrument, when the Telharmonium has proven 
 so successful. I wish that Bellamy could be 
 here with us tonight and talk over these matters. 
 Surely he did not believe that in 1912 instead 
 of the year 2000, you and I could reach over 
 to a side wall switch, and secure music by simply 
 turning a handle." 
 
 "Yes, this point is exceedingly interesting," 
 said Evelyn, "but Bellamy was clear in his 
 mind on this subject, even though he may not 
 have expected that it would come to pass in 
 1912. See what he says, "I followed her into 
 an apartment finished, without hangings, in 
 wood, with a floor of polished wood. I was 
 prepared for new devices in musical instruments, 
 but I saw nothing in the room, which by any 
 stretch of imagination could be conceived as 
 such. It was evident that my puzzled appear- 
 ance was affording intense amusement to Edith. 
 * Please look at today's music/ she said, 'and 
 
TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AFTER 315 
 
 tell me what you would prefer. ' The card bore 
 the date September 12, 2000, and contained the 
 longest programme of music I had ever seen. 
 It was as various as it was long, including a 
 most extraordinary range of vocal and instru- 
 mental solos, duets, quartettes, and various 
 orchestral combinations. ' ' 
 
 ' ' How much that sounds like the writings and 
 descriptions about the Telharmonium/ ' said 
 Tom, "and again the electrical industry has 
 produced Bellamy's idea. The difference is that 
 the Telharmonium plan is much less expensive 
 than Bellamy's telephonic scheme, and is in 
 commercial use in the year 1912 instead of the 
 year 2000. " 
 
 When Evelyn had reached page 106, she said, 
 "We saw in San Francisco, the large central 
 warehouses of the merchants, the distributing 
 tubes and electric delivery wagons. Those con- 
 ditions tally very closely with the Bellamy store 
 plans. ' ' 
 
 Tom was deep in thought, and finally said, 
 * ' I remember in the first few pages of Bellamy 's 
 book, I think, page 15, he refers to building a 
 house for himself and his intended bride. The 
 strikes of those times delayed its construction, 
 and on May 30, 1887, when he entered his long 
 sleep of 113 years, the house was still unfinished. 
 I was thinking about how it would have been 
 lighted ; probably by kerosene lamps, and heated 
 by coal stoves. What a marvelous change these 
 twenty-five years have brought about. If Bell- 
 amy should walk into our house tonight, and see 
 the illumination, the electric heating system and 
 my workshop, he would go home and write 
 another book entitled 'Twenty-five Years After,' 
 
316 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 or what electricity has done for the people since 
 1887." 
 
 Evelyn straightened up with vigor and vim, 
 "Hold on," she said, "I have been holding 
 back page 119 for this very moment. Bellamy 
 says there that 'Electricity, of course, takes the 
 place of all fires and lighting/ ! 
 
 "Yes, that is good," replied Tom, "and I 
 like what he says about the problem of domestic 
 service. In 1912 we are not doing it exactly 
 the way he planned for the year 2000, but it 
 closely approaches an ideal kitchen arrange- 
 ment. He says 'we choose houses no larger 
 than we need, and furnish them so as to involve 
 the minimum amount of trouble to keep them in 
 order/ Now the electric kitchen cabinet 
 permits of a small pantry and a small kitchen. 
 It is one cabinet taking the place of a large 
 pantry, a large kitchen, a coal stove, a gas range, 
 and an ordinary table, and the kitchen girl is 
 now a cultivated, highly intelligent domestic 
 electrician. Our washing is done by an electric 
 washing machine ; the ironing is made quick and 
 clean, and the cooking is without coal, ashes, dirt, 
 dust or trouble. Surely Bellamy would say we 
 are wise in our generation, and in some respects, 
 perhaps, are bettering his plans." 
 
 "On page 164," said Evelyn, "is the following 
 'The highest of all honors in the nation, higher 
 than the presidency, which calls merely for good 
 sense and devotion to duty, is the red ribbon 
 awarded by the vote of the people to the great 
 authors, artists, engineers, physicians and 
 inventors of the generation.' 3 
 
 "Yes," Tom said, "that is a point of great 
 interest. I was glad to see the question raised 
 this year, as the people showed their very great 
 
TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AFTER 317 
 
 pride in the electrical engineers of this country, 
 and emphasized very strongly the valuable part 
 they had played in the past quarter of a century, 
 in the affairs of our Nation. ' ' 
 
 ''Referring to pages 187 to 191," said he, 
 "the industrial army and its ten great officers, 
 do not exist as yet, exactly as Bellamy outlined, 
 but the President of the United States, Theodore 
 Roosevelt, has been a people 's man, and many of 
 his fearless acts against large corporations, 
 trusts, etc., have led the people to believe in the 
 dawn of a new era. The seed has been sown for 
 an industrial harvest in which the barns of the 
 people will be liberally well stocked. ' ' 
 
 "Further than that," said Tom, "when 
 Theodore Roosevelt was elected in 1908, almost 
 by acclamation, it was well known among the 
 people that their rights would be protected; 
 and in selecting a candidate for the next Presi- 
 dent, the utmost care was exercised that he 
 should be a man representative of the people, in 
 whose hands the interests of the people would 
 be safe-guarded." 
 
 As Evelyn closed the book, they dwelt upon 
 the universal liberality of employers, manu- 
 facturers and railroad executives toward long- 
 service men; reference was made to the large 
 numbers being continually pensioned as their 
 days of usefulness were almost ended. 
 
 Tom called attention to the date of May 30, 
 Decoration Day in the year 2000. They 
 wondered what kind of a procession would 
 parade the streets, and of what event it would 
 be commemorative. They referred to the 
 Decoration Day of 1912 when such a small 
 number of the old Civil War Veterans were in 
 line, and the few short years to pass when all of 
 
318 LOOKING FORWARD 
 
 them would march together once more, free 
 from old age, with its attendant cares and 
 troubles, and assured of peace and happiness 
 during all eternity. 
 
 It was midnight, and as the reader is planning 
 soon to say good-night to Tom and Evelyn, with 
 the ending of the chapter, their youthful 
 appearance indicates that with good luck and 
 health they will be living in 1937, and will see 
 the dawn of a half century added to the year 
 1887. Their chances are fair, also, for existence 
 here on earth in the year 1962, or seventy-five 
 years after. Yea, let us hope that by means of 
 electricity, there may be discovered an elixir 
 of life, which will prolong the years of these 
 two young people, and with the full exercise of 
 their physical and mental powers, may they be 
 living to enjoy the ideal conditions prophesied 
 for the year 2000 by Edward Bellamy. 
 
 THE END, 
 
AUTHOR'S NOTE. 
 
 Reference is frequently made in this book to the Elec- 
 tric Heating System for residences and buildings in 
 general, in the year 1912. The author fully believes 
 that the Electric Heating System will be quite com- 
 monly used, by that date; and adopted, to a limited 
 extent much sooner, especially in the Southern States, 
 the Pacific Coast, certain sections of England, and 
 wherever the average temperature, during all seasons 
 is high. 
 
 The author further believes that the Electric Heating 
 System will be used, considerably, even in the colder 
 climates, in the North, where the conditions of the 
 business of many electrical companies will permit of a 
 very low price for current; for example, a large water 
 power plant; or isolated plants, furnishing current for 
 large estates; or for ocean liners, and lake boats. 
 
 Experience in his own house, coupled with a consid- 
 erable study of the subject, leads the author to believe 
 the foregoing statements are fair and reasonable. 
 
 Readers may be interested in the following quotation 
 from "The New Knowledge," by Robert Kennedy Dun- 
 can, a book published about a 'year ago. 
 
 "It has been playfully suggested by Prof. Rutherford 
 that some day it might be possible to construct a deto- 
 nator which would send a wave of atomic disintegration 
 through the earth, and decompose the whole round 
 world into helium, argon and other gases, leaving liter- 
 ally not one stone upon another. 
 
 "Without being frightened by any such humorous 
 suggestion as this, we can easily grant that with the 
 continuous acceleration of scientific research, where one 
 year of the present counts for a cycle of former time, 
 there will come a day in the unending succession of 
 days, when men will look with mingled horror and 
 Hmuseinent, at the burning of coal and wood, and will 
 date the coming in of their kingdom, to the time when 
 Curie and Laborde demonstrated the existence and ex- 
 tent of interatomic energy." 
 
 To any readers who are inclined to doubt the possi- 
 bility of using light in the many ways the author has 
 suggested and imagined, I would call their attention 
 again to Mr. Duncan's book, "The New Knowledge," 
 pages 193 to 257, Readers who are particularly inter- 
 319 
 
ested in the subjects of light and heat, would, I am sure, 
 enjoy reading "The New Knowledge." 
 
 Many readers will be curious to know what electricity 
 is, and the following quotations from "The New Knowl- 
 edge" may satisfy such curiosity. 
 
 "What positive electricity is, nobody knows. * * * 
 It seems to exist in the form of particles, the size of 
 atoms. In fact, the size of the atom seems to deter- 
 mine the size of the electricity connected with it." 
 
 "Negative electricity is particulate in character; that 
 is, it consists of separate definite units. These units, 
 if they could be obtained in a state of rest, would, it is 
 deemed, have no mass whatever. Whether under these 
 conditions they would have spatial dimension, is not 
 known." , 
 
 "A moving unit of negative electricity, together with 
 its bound ether, has a corpuscle. The mass of a cor- 
 puscle depends upon the amount of bound ether con- 
 nected with the moving unit, and this depends upon the 
 velocity. The average mass of a corpuscle is about one 
 one-thousandth of that of a hydrogen atom." 
 
 "An electric current is nothing but a series of cor- 
 puscles 'handed along* from one atom to another, 
 through the wire. At the beginning of their course, 
 there is a deficiency of corpuscles, and the positive elec- 
 tricity of the atoms thus appears. At the end there is 
 a gain in the corpuscles, and the negative electricity is 
 manifested." , , 
 
 "Magnetism is a force developed at right angles to 
 the direction of motion of the moving corpuscle." 
 
 31. W. HILLMAN. 
 
 320 
 
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