64 



AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



February, 1913 



to the hook and the wire thus 

 made instantly available for 

 another call. 



In writing about the tele- 

 phone in the home it may be 

 helpful to add a few words 

 regarding the placing of the 

 telephone and the disposition 

 of the wooden box which ac- 

 companies it. The telephone 

 company will provide a cord 

 of almost any reasonable 

 length, which makes it pos- 

 sible to place the box in 

 some place where it is en- 

 tirely concealed while the re- 

 ceiver may be in another 

 part of the room. One tele- 

 phone which is very well ar- 

 ranged has the box within a 

 built-in window seat; in an- 

 other instance it is placed be- 

 hind the books in a set of 

 low bookshelves. In both 

 these cases the bells have 

 been so muffled that their 

 ring is only the faintest of 

 tinkles and the receivers, 

 which are of the smallest 

 and most unobtrusive sort 

 are set where they cannot in- 

 terfere with the beauty of 

 their surroundings. When A moment and a step puts the cook in communication with upstairs 

 planning a home, be it in city or country, why not provide kept well sharpened by the 

 a suitable place for the telephone? Its use in the home telephone should be studied 



is now almost as universal as 

 the use of a system for light- 

 ing or heating the house and 

 its importance may as well 

 be recognized and a fitting 

 place made for it. By a suit- 

 able place is meant some spot 

 where one using the tele- 

 phone may enjoy some de- 

 gree of privacy, for nothing 

 is more unsatisfactory than 

 to use the telephone while a 

 number of people are con- 

 versing nearby or while mu- 

 sic of any kind is in progress. 

 A most complete little tele- 

 phone room is part of a 

 house not far from Boston. 

 Here a tiny space some five 

 feet square, ventilated and 

 lighted by a small window, 

 has been arranged under the 

 stairs. The little room is 

 provided with a door which 

 makes it sound proof, the 

 receiver is placed upon a low 

 table, and a small settee is 

 drawn up closely at hand. A 

 clockis just above, andupon a 

 rack are telephone directory, 

 time tables, and memoranda 

 pads, while a drawer contains 

 a supply of pencils which are 

 young son of the family. The 

 to make the most of its utility. 



The telephone is placed most available to the ranges, but the cord can be extended for use while working at the table 





