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Story
November 5, 1904
Grand Rapids Herald Review
Grand Rapids, Itasca County, Minnesota
What is this article about?
Sir William Ramsay visits Philadelphia and comments on impure London water versus Philadelphia's future supply, then criticizes a new pumping system by analogy to a maid's silly fix for a wrongly set dinner table.
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THE LONGER WAY ROUND.
Scientist's Comparison in Condemning New System of Pumping.
Sir William Ramsay visited Philadelphia recently with the Society of Chemical Industry, and during his visit a reporter questioned him about the drinking water of the world's great cities.
"London's drinking water is most impure," the scientist said. "They hold that the English take more baths than any other nation, but it is nevertheless a fact that you Philadelphians, when your filtration plants shall be completed, will have a larger water supply than London, notwithstanding the big difference in the two cities' populations."
The reporter explained a new system for pumping water.
"What do you think of that system, Sir William?" he concluded.
"I think it is a slow, roundabout and awkward way of remedying impure water's evils," said the scientist. "It reminds me of the way a parlor maid of mine once tried to remedy the evil of a wrongly set table.
"This maid was left-handed, and in laying the cloth for a certain party she put the knives on the left of the plates and the forks on the right. All wrong, you see.
"The housekeeper, coming in to look the table over, noticed the error at once.
" 'Why, Harriet,' she said, 'you have placed all the knives and forks left handed.'
" 'Ah, so I have,' sighed Harriet. 'Would you be kind enough now, ma'am, to help me turn the table?'"
Scientist's Comparison in Condemning New System of Pumping.
Sir William Ramsay visited Philadelphia recently with the Society of Chemical Industry, and during his visit a reporter questioned him about the drinking water of the world's great cities.
"London's drinking water is most impure," the scientist said. "They hold that the English take more baths than any other nation, but it is nevertheless a fact that you Philadelphians, when your filtration plants shall be completed, will have a larger water supply than London, notwithstanding the big difference in the two cities' populations."
The reporter explained a new system for pumping water.
"What do you think of that system, Sir William?" he concluded.
"I think it is a slow, roundabout and awkward way of remedying impure water's evils," said the scientist. "It reminds me of the way a parlor maid of mine once tried to remedy the evil of a wrongly set table.
"This maid was left-handed, and in laying the cloth for a certain party she put the knives on the left of the plates and the forks on the right. All wrong, you see.
"The housekeeper, coming in to look the table over, noticed the error at once.
" 'Why, Harriet,' she said, 'you have placed all the knives and forks left handed.'
" 'Ah, so I have,' sighed Harriet. 'Would you be kind enough now, ma'am, to help me turn the table?'"
What sub-type of article is it?
Curiosity
What themes does it cover?
Social Manners
Misfortune
What keywords are associated?
Drinking Water
Filtration Plants
Pumping System
Left Handed Maid
Table Setting
What entities or persons were involved?
Sir William Ramsay
Harriet
Where did it happen?
Philadelphia
Story Details
Key Persons
Sir William Ramsay
Harriet
Location
Philadelphia
Story Details
Sir William Ramsay criticizes London's impure water and a new Philadelphia pumping system as roundabout, comparing it to a left-handed maid who misplaced knives and forks and suggested turning the table instead of correcting them.