Writer 1879: Solitary Journey in France

Chapter 594 A Bustling Crowd!

On July 15, 1883, Parisian newspapers all turned their attention to the unassuming country villa in Verneve-la-Garenne.

Le Parisien used two full pages. The front-page headline was "The Future Has Arrived – Lionel Sorel Defines 'Modern Life'".

The article writes:

Last night in Vernef, Mr. Lionel Sorel showed us what real "progress" is.

There are no cold machines, no bloody massacres, only comfort and health that every ordinary family can enjoy!

Electricity 25 kilometers away illuminates hundreds of lights, filtered Seine water is drinkable, and electrically powered ventilation systems cool summer nights...

All of this tells us that technology should serve people, not create fear.

The article also commented:

[I saw a writer's genuine concern for society. Lionel Sorel isn't showing off technology; he's outlining a new way of life—clean, bright, and convenient. This is the "modernity" we should be pursuing!]

The second edition details the various facilities within the villa, from the three-stage filtration water supply system to the electric water heater, from ventilation equipment to garden lighting.

The article concludes by saying:
Unlike some who use the death of elephants to frighten the public, Mr. Sorel speaks with facts: alternating current can be transmitted safely and efficiently, creating real convenience for life.

It's crystal clear who is driving progress and who is creating panic!

The headline of Le Figaro is "The Elephant Executioner & The Architect of Life".

The article compares Thomas Edison's exhibition in London with Lionel Sorel's salon in Paris:
Thomas Edison chose to kill an elephant with alternating current, attempting to defend his business empire through fear.

Lionel Sorel, on the other hand, chose to light up a villa, showcasing the potential of alternating current through comfort and convenience.

While Mr. Edison was still threatening the public with death, Mr. Sorel had already laid out a blueprint for the future of life for the world.

The article also quoted comments from several guests present that evening.

"I drank the cleanest water I've ever had in my life there."

"Hot water available 24/7? Who would want to wash themselves with cold water then?"

Even Jean-Baptiste Laval, the usually conservative head of the Public Lighting Authority, said, "The efficiency of this system is impressive."

The editorial in the Morning Post was even more incisive:

Edison tried to stifle the competition with a bloody performance, but he forgot that Parisians were not so easily intimidated.

We've seen guillotines, we've seen barricades, we've seen war—the death of an elephant won't make us give up on a better life.

Lionel Sorel offered an alternative: not death, but safety; not fear, but hope.

This is the path France should take!

In Parisian cafes, salons, and stock exchanges, everyone is talking about the same topic.

"Did you go see it? That villa?"

"I didn't manage to get a spot. I heard the waiting list is already two months in advance."

"Can water really be filtered that clean from the Seine?"

“If Mr. Zola said it himself, how could it be false?”

"What about an electric water heater? It should have hot water in twenty minutes?"

“My cousin is a journalist for Le Figaro, and he saw it with his own eyes.”

"Ventilation system... God, just think how hot this summer is!"

People stopped talking about the elephant that died in London; they started talking about clean water, bright light, and cool breezes.

Fear was replaced by curiosity, and doubt was overwhelmed by expectation.

The title "elephant executioner" stuck firmly to Thomas Edison like freshly melted rubber.

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At 9 p.m. on July 16, the second group of visitors arrived at No. 7 Linden Path.

This time, it wasn't Lionel's friends, but twelve officials from the Paris City Hall and eight engineers from the Journal of the French Engineering Society.

They were no longer greeted by Lionel, but by François Leclerc, a specialist from the "Modern Living Architecture Studio," and Charles Garnier's assistant.

"Please follow me. The tour will last one hour, and we will be showing you the first floor area of ​​the villa. Please do not touch any equipment, and feel free to ask any questions."

From that day on, the villa's tour process became characterized by standardization and efficiency.

Starting with the light switch in the foyer, then moving to the lighting system and ventilation grilles in the living room, the water filter faucet in the dining room, the electric water heater in the kitchen, and finally the toilet and shower in the bathroom…

Each step has a concise technical explanation, but it doesn't go into excessive detail.

"This filtration system is based on the principle of slow sand filtration, and the three-stage treatment ensures that the water quality meets drinking standards."

"The ventilation system is driven by two electric motors, and four hidden rotating fans are installed in the living room. If the speed is controlled, the noise is almost negligible."

"The electric water heater adopts a double-insulation design, and the heating element is completely isolated from the water tank to ensure safety."

Officials and engineers listened attentively, asking questions from time to time.

Some people wiped the water from the faucet with a handkerchief and then smelled it; some people stood on tiptoe to observe the fan blades behind the ventilation grille; some people stared at the instrument panel of the electric water heater to record the heating time... An hour later, the tour ended on time.

François Leclerc bowed slightly: "Thank you all for coming. For further collaboration, please contact Modern Living Architecture Studio."

The carriages carried the visitors away. One by one, the lights in the villa went out, leaving only a silent silhouette in the darkness.

Then, Nikola Tesla appeared with his team.

"Inspect all connections. Especially the output of the transformer's secondary coil; it was running too hot last night," he calmly ordered.

Five electrical engineers entered the villa carrying toolboxes. They disassembled switch panels to inspect wire connections; tested light bulb resistance and recorded attenuation data; measured motor bearing temperature and added lubricant…

Pierre Curie and Henri Poincaré also arrived with their own teams of engineers, but they were in charge of a different part.

Pierre Curie crouched in the water treatment area in the corner of the garden, shining a flashlight on the water level gauge.

Then he began to give instructions: "The flow rate in the filter tank needs to be adjusted. The pressure differential in the sand layer is increasing too quickly, which may be causing caking."

Henri Poincaré noted in his notebook: "Flush tomorrow morning. Also, the iron shavings in the secondary filter need to be replaced; the oxidation is a bit higher than expected. The Seine is really dirty this time of year."

In the study on the second floor of the villa, Lionel sat at his desk, listening to the sounds coming from downstairs.

Sophie brought over a cup of coffee: "Twenty people came today, and twenty more tomorrow. François said the appointment list is already booked until the end of August."

Lionel took the coffee and took a sip: "This is just the beginning."

"Tesla will be busy until midnight again." Sophie looked out the window, where the light from a handheld lamp flickered in the garden. "Are those devices really that fragile?"

"It's not that it's fragile, it's that it's not mature enough. Transformers can be more efficient, electric motors can be quieter, filtration systems can be more durable... but we need time and money to improve them."

"Money isn't a problem now, is it?"

Lionel laughed: "Yes, money is no longer a problem."

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On July 17, the visitors turned into six representatives from the Lyon Textile Association, four officials from the Marseille Port Authority, and ten members from the Bordeaux Wine Merchants Association.

July 18th is the date of the Paris Bankers' Association, which comprises twenty bankers and their families who hold significant positions of power throughout Europe.

On July 19, three Prussian engineers from Berlin, two Austrian architects from Vienna, and an Italian municipal official from Rome joined the group—they had obtained special places through their respective countries' embassies in France.

Only twenty people are allowed per day; each day, the tour is a one-hour standardized visit; and each day, several hours of inspection and maintenance are conducted after the tour.

But every visitor goes out of their way to boast to those who see them about what they saw and experienced, and just how amazing this villa is...

As a result, the people who came became increasingly distinguished.

Finally, on the afternoon of July 29, four black carriages without any family crests stopped in front of No. 7 Linden Path.

Twelve men in dark coats got off the bus, their expressions serious and their steps synchronized.

François Leclerc had been notified in advance. He stood at the door and bowed respectfully: "Welcome, everyone, please come in."

The man at the head of the group did not introduce himself, but François Leclerc easily recognized him as Jules Ferri, the current chairman of the Council of Ministers.

The tour itinerary remained unchanged. Jules Ferry listened attentively to each technical explanation—

He turned on the tap, filled a glass with water, and took a sip; he stood under the ventilation grille, feeling the cool breeze; he carefully checked the safety features of the electric water heater…

In the living room, he pointed to the chandelier on the ceiling: "Are all these lights powered by a power plant 25 kilometers away?"

François Leclerc nodded: "Yes, Mr. Prime Minister. The voltage is transmitted at two thousand volts, then reduced to one hundred and ten volts by a transformer, which is safe enough."

"How much damage is there?"

"The actual measurement is 28.7%."

Jules Ferry paused for a few seconds, then asked, "How many of these power plants would be needed to supply electricity to the entire city of Paris?"

"Preliminary estimates suggest that five to six large AC power plants would be sufficient to cover the city and suburbs of Paris. With a DC power system, at least three hundred small power plants would be needed."

Jules Ferri nodded and asked no further questions.

An hour later, the Prime Minister and his entourage left. François Leclerc saw them off, closed the door, and let out a long sigh of relief.

That evening, the Tesla team discovered a problem during their inspection:
During the demonstration for Jules Ferry, the insulation varnish on the main transformer showed signs of melting because all the lighting and ventilation equipment were turned on at the same time.

Nikola Tesla frowned: “The load is too heavy. We need thicker enameled wire, or better insulation.”

Pierre Curie suggested: "We could try impregnating it with rubber."

Henri Poincaré shook his head: "Rubber ages quickly. I suggest testing shellac; although it's expensive, it's more heat-resistant."

Lionel appeared behind them: "Expensive? We're not afraid of being expensive right now; what we're most afraid of is slow iteration. The equipment used for demonstrations is worth using no matter how expensive the materials are."

Tesla was overjoyed and immediately took out his notebook to note down this area that needed improvement.

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In London, however, the atmosphere was completely different.

Both the mainstream media and Thomas Edison, who was still doing business with imperial bureaucrats in London, were in a worse mood than the Thames water.

(First update, thank you everyone.)
(End of this chapter)