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The Illuminator was Washington Water Power's
monthly employee publication from the 1920s to the
1980s. |
It’s almost a week into 2011 so you’ve undoubtedly already broken your new year’s resolutions. Don’t feel bad, it happens.
Recently I was digging through Washington Water Power’s employee publication, The Illuminator and ran across some suggested New Year’s resolutions from 1929. The Illuminator was the company’s employee publication from the 1920s to the 1980s.
In the 1920s electric appliances were becoming much more common, but by no means did every home have more than one. People were still learning how to use electricity and WWP was tasked with educating the public about the overall good that electricity would provide daily life.
So, in January 1929 The Illuminator published “Ten Electrical Commandments” for New Year’s resolutions. The crazy thing is, for the most part, these resolutions are all still relevant. Take a look.
1. Thou shalt have no needless drudgery in thy home – delegating to electricity all wearisome tasks.
2. Remember the cellar light – don’t leave it burning.
3. Thou shalt not permit the cords of thy appliances to become frayed and worn, and easy prey to short circuits.
4. Thou shalt not allow the frost to gather to an unseemly depth upon the freezing unit of thy refrigerator.
5. Remember the bag of thy vacuum cleaner to keep it empty.
6. Thou shalt no forget that electricity is cheaper than eyesight, and shall use freely of the first to preserve the second.
7. Thou shalt not tax thy electric circuits beyond their capacity lest they blow out their fuses.
8. Thou shalt not fail to keep extra bulbs in the house against the day when they shall surely be needed.
9. Thou shalt have at least one light in every room controlled by a switch near every door, thus wilt thou save much stubbing of toes and barking of shins.
10. Thou shalt utilize thy toaster and thy percolator and all thy table appliances to the fullest extent for thus wilt thou add to thy own comfort and thy family’s enjoyment.
See the original article below.
If you were to add new electric and natural gas resolutions in 2011, what would they be?
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