The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1877-08-23
Double Boats.

This old form of boat, modified to meet
modern requirements, has been revived
in number of yachts in our eastern wa
tiers. The boat consists of two distinct
hulls exactly alike and placed side by
side and securely joined by deck that
covers both and all the space between.
The hulls are long and narrow with deep
straight bows and very short stern-pOsts,
the keel rising quickly at stern. Each
hull may have centre-board or not, as
seems desirable, and the deck frames for
each extend over the space between the
hulls. Extra timbers, braced by knees
at the ends, are also put in, SO that as far
as possible the two huls are united by
one deck over all. Cabins are placed in
each hull, and thus all the deck between
the hulls is clear and open. The deck is
square at the end and flush with the stern
of each hull, and at the bows it is brought
to point, and at the end Of this projec
ton is placed the bowsprit. The masts
are placed on a line with the centre of
the deck, and to furnish step for the
foot of the masts an iron frame extends
from the bulls on either side below the
deck, and, if necessary, below the water
The standing rigging is brought to the
outer side of each hull, and the single
rudder is placed on a stern-post placed
between the two hulls. When af1oat such
boat as this is designed to rest high out
of water, and to give clear, dry deck.
The advantages claimed for this class OF
yachts are, steadiness in the water under
a side-wind, increased space on deck and
increased speed. The steadiness of the
boat admits of lofty masts and very
large spread of canvass favorable to high
speed with Increased safety. Two ocean
steamers for the English Channel service,
the "Castalia," and the Express" built
upon this plan, are now in active service.
The paddle wheels are placed in the CEN
ter between the bulls, and the steamers
are in favor on account of their steadi-
ness, great capacity and light draft. This
form of boat might also be useful in river
barges where capacity and light draft are
Observation-Disclosures Holiday Scribner.
A RUSSIAN BABY.-Russian babies are
always swaddled and rolled up in band
| ages, SO that they may conveniently be
put away without risk of getting them
selves into mischief or danger. On en-
tering one of their homes, an enthusi-
astic traveller thinks he has come upon
some pagan tribe, having their idols and
penates, with the heads we'll carved out,
and the rest of the body left in block.
He looks curiously at one laid upon a
shelf, another hung on wall on peg,
third slung over one of the main beams
of the roof, and rocked by the mother,
who has the cord Topped over her foot.
"Why, is that child9" cries the trav-
eller, with a feeling similar to that expe-
rienced on treading upon toad, which
was supposed to be stone.
"Why, what else should it be2" quietly
answers the mother.
| Having learnt SO much in so short a
time, the inquisitive traveller wishes to
inform himself about the habits OF the
creature; but his curiosity being some
what dampened by the extreme dirt OF
the little figure, he mildly inquiries Of the
parent when it was washed.
"Washed !" shrieks the Mortified moth
er; washed what, wash a child9 You'd
kill it."