he is taken up, without any effort, to the
landing on which he may alight quite steadily. When this idea, which
has already been brought into operation, has been more fully
developed, it will be seen that a large circular slowly-revolving
disc, set at an angle and properly furnished, will supply a more
convenient form of free elevator. One side will be used by those who
are going up and the other by those who wish to come down. The "well"
of the staircase for such a lift is made in elliptical form, like the
shadow projection of a circle. Steps can be provided so that, when not
in motion, the lift will be a staircase not differing much from the
old style.

CHAPTER X.

ELECTRIC MESSAGES, ETC.

The telegraphic wire in the home and street will fulfil a very
important part in the economy of the twentieth century. For conveying
intelligence, as well as for heating, cooking and lighting, the
electric current will become one of the most familiar of all the
forces called in to assist in domestic arrangements. The rapidity with
which the electric bell-push has taken the place of the old-fashioned
knocker and the bell-hanger's system affords one indication of the
readiness with which those forms of electric apparatus which are
adapted to all the purposes of communicating and reminding will
recommend themselves to the public during the twentieth century.

In another direction the eagerness with which every advance in the
telephone is hailed by the people may well offer an augury of rapid
progress in the immediate future. In this department invention will
aim just as much at simplification as at elaboration; and some of the
pieces of domestic electrical apparatus universally used during the
twentieth century will be astonishingly cheap.

The call to awake in the morning will, in cities and towns, be made by
wireless telegraphy, which will also be used for the purpose of
regulating the domestic clocks, so that if desired any suitable form
of clock alarm may be used with the most perfect confidence. A
tentative system of this kind has been adopted in connection with
certain telephone exchanges, in which special officers are told off
whose duty it is to call those subscribers who have paid the small fee
covering the expense. These officers are required to time their
intimations according to the previously expressed wishes of
subscribers. This kind of service, as well a