Ely’s Automatic Housemaid by Elizabeth W. Bellamy Episode #537
Elizabeth W. Bellamy | May 2, 2026-
play_circle_filled
Ely’s Automatic Housemaid by Elizabeth W. Bellamy Episode #537
Elizabeth W. Bellamy
ELY’S AUTOMATIC HOUSEMAID
Episode #537 · Written by Elizabeth W. Bellamy · Narrated by Scott Miller
What if every household task could be handled without complaint, delay, or error? When Harrison Ely offers his “Automatic Household Beneficent Genius,” it promises a home that runs itself—efficient, orderly, and free from the frustrations of unreliable help. The idea is irresistible, especially to a family worn down by one failed servant after another.
At first, the machines seem to justify every hope placed in them. They move quickly, work without hesitation, and complete tasks with a precision no human could match. The house begins to fall into line under their tireless effort, and the appeal of mechanical perfection becomes clear. But there is a difference between doing a job well and knowing when to stop, and that difference soon becomes impossible to ignore.
As the automatons continue their work, their relentless drive begins to override common sense. They cannot pause, cannot adapt, and cannot recognize when their actions cause harm. What was meant to bring comfort instead introduces a new kind of strain, forcing the family to confront a difficult choice: endure the chaos or abandon the promise of effortless living.
Ely’s Automatic Housemaid blends humor with a growing sense of unease, turning a simple domestic experiment into something far more unpredictable. Elizabeth W. Bellamy captures the tension between innovation and control, showing how easily a helpful invention can become a problem when it operates without restraint.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Elizabeth W. Bellamy published Ely’s Automatic Housemaid in The Atlantic Monthly during the late 19th century, a time when new mechanical inventions were beginning to influence everyday life. Her story reflects that era’s fascination with labor-saving devices and the uncertainty surrounding their impact on the home.
While Bellamy is not widely known today, this work remains a notable early example of speculative fiction addressing automation. Through a domestic setting, she presents a clear and memorable vision of what can happen when invention moves faster than understanding.
LISTEN TO THE STORY
Listen to Ely’s Automatic Housemaid by Elizabeth W. Bellamy – a vintage science fiction story of a mechanical servant that refuses to stop working.
LOST SCI-FI PREMIUM
Unlock Ad-Free Listening + Exclusive Bonus Episodes
For less than 17 cents a day, unlock every episode ad-free.
Start Your Free 7-Day Trial →
LOST VOICES OF VINTAGE SCI-FI
Not every science fiction writer built a long career in the field or became a widely recognized name. Some published only a handful of stories before disappearing from the magazines, leaving behind little biographical record and few surviving details. Others may be remembered for work in different genres, while their contribution to science fiction was brief.
Yet these writers helped shape the texture of the pulp era and beyond. Their stories experimented with bold ideas, filled the pages between the famous names, and added depth to the ever-expanding landscape of vintage science fiction.
The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast exists in part to rediscover these voices. The stories below were written by authors who published briefly, sparingly, or whose science fiction output was small - but whose work still deserves to be heard.
- The Ultimate Paradox by Thorp McClusky
- The Ultimate Wish by E. M. Hull
- Welcome to Paradise by Allyn Donnelson
- Day of Reckoning by Morton Klass
- Zeritskys Law by Ann Griffith
- Up For Renewal by Lucius Daniel
- Patch by William Shedenhelm
- Rabbits Have Long Ears by Lawrence F. Willard
- Electronic Landslide by Clyde Hostetter
- They Reached for the Moon by William Oberfield
- Death Walks on Mars by Alan J. Ramm
- When the Moon Fell by Morrison Colladay
- Know They Neighbor by Elisabeth R. Lewis
- The Other One by A. H. Gibson
- No Evidence by Victoria Lincoln
- The Man Who Liked Lions by John Bernard Daley
- Willies Planet by Mike Ellis
- The Short Snorter by Charles Einstein
- Your Servant Sir by Sol Boren
- The Fugitives by Malcolm B. Morehart Jr
- Leave Earthmen or Die by John Massie Davis
- And All the Girls Were Nude by Richard Magruder
- Rabbits Have Long Ears by Lawrence F. Willard
- Dust Unto Dust by Lyman D. Hinckley
- Cosmic Tragedy by Thomas S. Gardiner
- Day of Wrath by Bjarne Kirchhoff
- You Are Forbidden by Jerry Shelton
- Thirty Degrees Cattywonkus by James Bell
- The Small Bears by Gene L. Henderson
- The First Spaceman by Gene L. Henderson
ABOUT THE LOST SCI-FI PODCAST
The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast is the most listened-to vintage science fiction podcast in the world. Ranked the #1 Science Fiction Podcast in 38 countries and heard in more than 190 countries, the show has surpassed 4.2 million listens.
Each episode features carefully selected stories from the Golden Age of science fiction, professionally narrated. Timeless storytelling the way it was meant to be heard.
What listeners are saying:
★★★★★
“Old is gold. Beautiful and professionally read, thank you.”
— HeavyZero
★★★★★
“Expert curation of the golden age. I’ve been a fan of sci-fi for decades, and very much appreciate the quality of the golden age writers. What sets this podcast apart is that the curator and narrator has a perfect discerning eye for the really good stuff--by which I mean his tastes match mine... This is a podcast to cherish.”
— nospammers2010
Vintage science fiction. Professionally narrated. Carefully curated.
📬 JOIN LOST SCI-FI WEEKLY
35,000+ Listeners Can’t Be Wrong
Get vintage sci-fi stories, podcast episodes, and surprises every Monday.
FREE SCI-FI EVERY WEEK
✅ Check your email and confirm — that unlocks your free sci-fi downloads.
No spam in this galaxy. You can eject anytime.
