HOUSE AND GARDEN 
September, 1911 
155 
cluster, making the room brilliant. A third stop in the switch 
turns out the brilliant lights, leaving only the one to enable the 
maid to “clear off.” The last light is the same as the first, dim, 
but sufficient for working purposes. 
In some small houses the buzzer which summons the maid from 
the kitchen to the dining-room is distinctly heard when there is a 
lull in the conversation. This annoyance may be prevented by 
having a tiny red light instead of a buzzer, placed in so conspicu¬ 
ous a place that the maid will constantly keep her eye upon it. 
Electric table lamps are now provided with a dimming switch 
which increases or diminishes the illumination, giving varied qual¬ 
ity of light and making for economy. This device effects an 
economy in the light consumption of from 30 to 80 per cent. 
No one objects to economy which affects either a gas or an elec¬ 
tric lighting company, nor does the company object. The more 
convenience they can supply to their customers, the more the cus¬ 
tomers' pleasure; also the more investment in the delightful de¬ 
vices which save trouble and use greater quantities of power! 
A reading lamp should be most carefully selected; a scientific 
lamp is of nearly as much value as scientific eye-glasses. No di¬ 
rect rays from electric light should be allowed to meet the naked 
eye. The reading light should be diffused by proper scientific 
globes, which will also control the light rays, so that the greatest 
efficiency may be secured without loss of artistic effect, and with 
no shadows. 
All that is necessary for the installation of proper reading 
lamps is a small switch connection with the main feed wire which 
may be made from either ceiling or floor. 
Where a bedroom is provided with center lights, or with wall 
brackets which do not suit the positions of the furniture, it is ad¬ 
visable to have removable brackets fastened to either side of the 
dresser or bureau with thumb screws, connected with a cande¬ 
labrum switch and wires to the nearest baseboard receptacle. These 
candelabra will throw a splendid light on the glass and upon the 
person before it. It is also a great convenience to have a portable 
electric candle installed on the writing desk. 
A little ingenuity exercised when wiring a house will result in 
the introduction of single useful lights in various places that have 
heretofore been neglected. Why should the garret be dark? Why 
should the cellar be comparatively dark? Why should you carry 
a candle to your closet or storeroom ? There may be a connection 
in every dark closet, which will turn on the light when the door is 
opened. This is accomplished by the switch being set in the back 
of the door hinge; as the door opens wide the hinge presses the 
Ironing holds no terrors when it may be done outdoors with an 
electric iron 
button, keeping the light full till it is closed or partially closed. A 
switch of this sort in the door of an unlighted garret, as well as in 
closets, would be a boon. The installation is simple and any good 
electrician can do the work. A tiny light inside the medicine 
closet and on the old-fashioned wardrobe, would also be a great 
help. 
Who has not had trouble with finding provisions in the icebox, 
because of the dimness of the light? A small electric light so ar¬ 
ranged that it will light the whole box, can be connected with the 
door, as above described. 
Two lights in the bathroom, one on each side of the mirror, are 
possible with only one outlet, concealed by one of the fixtures. The 
extra light is provided by a wire run under the mirror to its op¬ 
posite side. 
Reminder lights are valuable in certain parts of the house. Take, 
for instance, the cellar. Most cellar illumination is controlled 
from the kitchen; but the light consumption is in the control of 
the person who forgets or remembers to turn out the cellar light. 
Coming upstairs in a hurry, the cellar door is closed, and a flood 
of light is perhaps left below to burn all night. To guard against 
this waste, a small red light is set in the kitchen in series with the 
(Continued on page 184) 
The extent to which the use of electrically operated devices are used in the home is shown by the motor-driven wringer, electric washing 
machine and drying room 
